Dublin Seven by Frankie Gaffney: Book Review AtoZChallenge
Frankie Gaffney writes in a form of Hiberno-English – Dublin English – made famous by Roddy Doyle. While the excellent Mr Doyle’s writing can be sparse and dialogue-driven (particularly in his early Barrytown trilogy, including The Commitments), Mr Gaffney’s style is somewhat richer. However, Gaffney’s dialogue, like Doyle's, is striking in its comedy. A conversation with his hero Shane's mother before Shane starts college is wonderful; she asks him if he needs his “copies” (copybooks) and other stationery. The scene is very vivid, both unique and typical in respects, evocative of many an 'Irish mammy'. Dublin Seven is published by Liberties Press . A recent review of this book suggested there was too much sex in it. Out of the 300 odd pages, perhaps half a dozen are entirely devoted to shenanigans, and Gaffney won’t be winning any Bad Sex awards. (Although perhaps he wouldn’t mind a Bad Sex Award if it shifted a few units.) Perhaps 50 pages (or maybe more) cover what ...