Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and saw his first novel, "The Commitments" published in 1987. It was later adapted for the big screen, a version that saw Star Trek's Colm Meaney and a very young Andrea Corr among the cast. Doyle went on to win the Booker Prize in 1993 with "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha". While he might be best known for his "grown-up" novels, "A Greyhound of a Girl" is aimed at the children's market.
Mary O'Hara is twelve years old when we first meet her, and is thoroughly miserable. Not only has her best friend, Ava, just moved away but her beloved Granny Emer is dying in hospital. Walking home from school in the rain, she meets a woman who she assumes to have moved into Ava's old house. They have a brief chat, and - strangely - she asks Mary to pass on a message to Emer. When they meet following day, Mary discovers her new neighbour is called Tansey...which, as Scarlett tells her later, was also the name of Emer's mother. As it turns out, it's the ghost of her great-grandmother that Mary has met - and Tansey has come back specifically to see her daughter.
A very easily read book overall, and one (I suspect) that'll provide a bit of comfort to kids going through what Mary's going through. While Mary does play the 'lead' role, Tansey, Emer and Scarlett also get their moment in the spotlight - with Tansey, for me, being the most likeable of the four. The choice of names did have me groaning slightly - having called Mary's mother Scarlett O'Hara, I couldn't believe Doyle avoided using the line "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". (I wonder if Mary herself was a nod to Mary O'Hara, the famous harpist ?) Anyway, even in spite of that, I'd absolutely recommend the book - I'll be adding to the list of things to buy for a niece's birthday.
Flip to back
Flip to front
Follow the author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Highly rated by customers
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
-
Apple
-
Android
-
Windows Phone
To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number.
What's On My Bookshelf
With authors Louise Candlish, Catherine Isaac, Simon McCleave and Struan Murray
Click here to see what's on their shelves
