| Man Book Club June 2012 |
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Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
Roddy Doyle was one of the many highlights of Sydney Writers’ Festival 2012. He delighted crowds in his session with Matthew Condon at Sydney Theatre and the in event The Troubles With Ireland alongside Sebastian Barry and Tom Keneally. He ended up as one of the Festival’s top-selling authors through our book - selling partner Gleebooks. For this month’s Man Book Club we have selected one of his earlier works, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, which won the Booker Prize in 1993. ‘Like all great comic writers, Roddy Doyle has become an explorer of the deepest places of the heart, of love and pain and loss. This is one of the most compelling novels I've read in ages, a triumph of style and perception.’ - Irish Times. About the Book Paddy Clarke is ten years old. Paddy Clarke lights fires. Paddy Clarke's name is written in wet cement all over Barrytown, north Dublin. Paddy Clarke's heroes are Father Damien (and the lepers), Geronimo and George Best. Paddy Clarke has a brother called Francis, but Paddy calls him Sinbad and hates him because that's the rule. Paddy Clarke knows the exact moment to knock a dead scab from his knee. Paddy Clarke loves his Ma and Da, but it seems like they don't love each other, and Paddy's world is falling apart. (Courtesy of Random House.) About the Author
Roddy Doyle was born in May 1958 in Dublin. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from University College, Dublin. He spent several years as an English and geography teacher before becoming a full-time writer in 1993. His novels include The Commitments (1987) which was made into a film in 1991, The Van(1991) which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1991 and Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (1993) which won the Booker Prize in 1993. Roddy Doyle lives in Dublin. (Man Booker website)
More from Roddy Doyle Roddy Doyle was interviewed on the ABC’s Lateline whilst he was in Australia. Watch it here. Listen to Roddy Doyle on ABC Radio National here.
Join the Conversation and leave your comments below. What effect does the book’s lack of formal structure have? Is this a story of a child’s loss of innocence? Did you find this book to be funny or sad? |
