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John the Revelator
by
Peter Murphy
This is the story of John Devine — stuck in a small town in the eerie landscape of Southeast Ireland, worried over by his single, chain-smoking, bible-quoting mother, Lily, and spied on by the "neighborly" Mrs. Nagle. When Jamey Corboy, a self-styled Rimbaudian boy wonder, arrives in town, John’s life suddenly seems full of possibility. His loneliness dissipates. He is tak...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
April 13th 2010
by Mariner Books
(first published January 1st 2009)
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John the Revelator...the song, the book. John of Patmos. John of Jesus and the Book of Revelation.
I began reading Peter Murphy's first novel and expected to be engaged, even amazed. And sometimes I was. I think I stumbled often because I "saw" more symbolism and myth and Biblical "stuff" than maybe was intended. Maybe not.
Crows...the protagonist John Devine's dream self and symbol of war and recovery to Native-Americans, Celts and pagans. Worms...again, persistent and powerful facts and symbols...more
I began reading Peter Murphy's first novel and expected to be engaged, even amazed. And sometimes I was. I think I stumbled often because I "saw" more symbolism and myth and Biblical "stuff" than maybe was intended. Maybe not.
Crows...the protagonist John Devine's dream self and symbol of war and recovery to Native-Americans, Celts and pagans. Worms...again, persistent and powerful facts and symbols...more
This book didn't really hook me until its second half, where the burden of being Irish finally went from a trickle to a river, eventually eroding the lives depicted therein. The way it speaks to our inability to prepare for the inevitable is sweet and believable. Things generally went down hill the way gravity ordains, and I appreciate that in a narrative. The dialogue was intimate without forcing the reader to don the character as a costume.
That said, I had a hard time placing this book in tim...more
That said, I had a hard time placing this book in tim...more
First, hear this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_veQR...
So, that's a great song, and is in no way reflective of the theme, atmosphere, or context of this book. But I love Blind Willie's raspy vocals, and the way the woman trills the "-or" of revelator.
If there was no God, what would the Irish write about? Maybe in Murphy's world there is no God, just churches and altars and communion wafers and old priests and devoted mothers and old, withered beliefs, and what is left at the end of the tunne...more
So, that's a great song, and is in no way reflective of the theme, atmosphere, or context of this book. But I love Blind Willie's raspy vocals, and the way the woman trills the "-or" of revelator.
If there was no God, what would the Irish write about? Maybe in Murphy's world there is no God, just churches and altars and communion wafers and old priests and devoted mothers and old, withered beliefs, and what is left at the end of the tunne...more
Standards in music journalism ain't what they used to be. Peter Murphy is a music journalist. I probably wouldn't have read this if I'd come across all the promotional wank the publisher had to go with it before finding the book. Faux-gritty peatbog goth trailer (why the f* does a book need a music video?) with Murphy breathily reading a spooky bit over the sound of crows.
Pur-lease. And he had the tree on the cover tattooed on himself somewhere. Why didn't Nabokov think of that? What a demonstr...more
Pur-lease. And he had the tree on the cover tattooed on himself somewhere. Why didn't Nabokov think of that? What a demonstr...more
A cover blurb by Colm Toibin was enough to get me to read this first novel, and by and large, I enjoyed it. I only kept it out of four-star territory because I think the story was meant to be a deeply profound exploration of the protagonist's relationship with his mother, and that didn't come through for me. I also was put off by Murphy's insistence on including dream excerpts that were really much more amateurish than the rest of the novel.
The strong points were his evocation of a small southea...more
There were periods of good writing that shows promise, but the overall impression was of a creative writing class -- stuff being experimented with that didn't really hang together. Things didn't make sense -- the age of John's mother, who at first seems a very young mother, run away from home to follow a band and have a baby, but by the time John is 16 is described as "not a young woman." Her illness -- mental? physical? - remains opaque. Perhaps the greatest offense to narrative logic is John's...more
This poignant coming of age tale is mostly about the atmosphere. Some things happen, and the main character (a teenager growing up in modern day Ireland) weathers them all, but his reaction to these things is so understated that it's hard, as a reader, to empathize with him. My favorite character was actually the mother–she seemed to have a deep wisdom that her son had not yet developed.
Though the book is relatively short, I had a hard time getting through it. Its similar to some French movies...more
Though the book is relatively short, I had a hard time getting through it. Its similar to some French movies...more
Jun 24, 2009
Author Annette Dunlea
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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John The Revelator by Peter Murphy (Book Review)
John The Revelator is a great debut novel by Peter Murphy. It is published by Faber and Faber and its ISBN is 0571240208. This is a quirky coming of age tale. It is well written in evocative and beautiful prose. The story is not original but it is an interesting account of the pain and agony of being an illegitimate child in old rural Ireland and the boy’s desire to escape. It touches other subjects like the power struggle between mother and son, r...more
John The Revelator is a great debut novel by Peter Murphy. It is published by Faber and Faber and its ISBN is 0571240208. This is a quirky coming of age tale. It is well written in evocative and beautiful prose. The story is not original but it is an interesting account of the pain and agony of being an illegitimate child in old rural Ireland and the boy’s desire to escape. It touches other subjects like the power struggle between mother and son, r...more
Well for starters, in Murphy's John the Revelator, coming of age is not a matter of experience with sex, drugs, or even Rock and Roll. It isn't propelled by betrayal, madness, or corruption.
That's not to say that the protagonist, John Devine, doesn't experience all of those things-- he does in some spectacular and horrifyingly human ways. However, they don't transform him so much as push him further and further into himself.
For John, a world caught between the crows that fly too high to help,...more
That's not to say that the protagonist, John Devine, doesn't experience all of those things-- he does in some spectacular and horrifyingly human ways. However, they don't transform him so much as push him further and further into himself.
For John, a world caught between the crows that fly too high to help,...more
This book was a nice change of pace, at least for me. I don't read much on teenagers, and certainly not those in rural, present-day Ireland.
For the most part, I'd say Murphy does a great job balancing the poetic with the base, even combining the two at times. The only detriment, to my mind, was that sometimes it went on too long, or was too frequent. So periodically I got a little bored. The protagonist, John, was quite compelling as a narrator, and the other main characters are pretty vivid, i...more
For the most part, I'd say Murphy does a great job balancing the poetic with the base, even combining the two at times. The only detriment, to my mind, was that sometimes it went on too long, or was too frequent. So periodically I got a little bored. The protagonist, John, was quite compelling as a narrator, and the other main characters are pretty vivid, i...more
John The Revelator is Peter Murphy's first novel and has been nominated for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
A short novel at just over 250 pages, it is narrated by John, a fifteen year old boy who lives with his Mother in rural Ireland. Lily, John's mother spends her time alternating between smoking, quoting from the Bible and telling John stories. John himself is a strange, somewhat mixed up boy, with an obsession with worms and who suffers from nightmares.
There is something...more
A short novel at just over 250 pages, it is narrated by John, a fifteen year old boy who lives with his Mother in rural Ireland. Lily, John's mother spends her time alternating between smoking, quoting from the Bible and telling John stories. John himself is a strange, somewhat mixed up boy, with an obsession with worms and who suffers from nightmares.
There is something...more
This book was very confusing at times. I was sometimes not sure if plot points were dreams or actual happenings. The ending seemed to just...end.
I had hoped this would be a delightful coming of age story set in Ireland, but it was crude and vulgar at times. The plot veered off in a direction I did not expect and was not sure it would be redeemed.
I am still trying to digest the meaning of the book (if there truly was one). I do not think I should have to do "further study" to learn what the plot...more
I had hoped this would be a delightful coming of age story set in Ireland, but it was crude and vulgar at times. The plot veered off in a direction I did not expect and was not sure it would be redeemed.
I am still trying to digest the meaning of the book (if there truly was one). I do not think I should have to do "further study" to learn what the plot...more
An achingly beautiful book. Written from the perspective of the title character, John, it tells a dark, heady tale of growing up and coming to understand himself and, increasingly, his relationship with his single mother and those around him. Written in a style that treads on the right side of a thin line between sublimely heady and overly descriptive and fantastical, its a book that stayed with me even after putting it down.
Not one I'd recommend for the easily offended, though!
Not one I'd recommend for the easily offended, though!
Although I enjoyed parts of this book, it was more for the relationship of the title character with his mother than any other parts of the story. I could never really tell where this story was going. John's relationship with his friend is odd, to say the least, but never really resolves itself. Likewise, the dream sequences, though interesting, lacked motivation.
Overall I never understood where John was coming from nor where he was ultimately heading.
Overall I never understood where John was coming from nor where he was ultimately heading.
Beginning in the Dickensonian style of "I am born," John the Revelator
traces a young man's coming of age in southeastern Ireland. Young
John's mother, a maid, is in poor health and deeply religious, and
John, perhaps because of her storytelling, is plagued by nightmares (a
crow figures heavily in his dreams). He falls into a friendship with a
boy named Jamey who is bright by unmotivated and introduces him to
smoking, drinking, and women. Jamey is a writer, and the narrative is
frequently broken up by...more
traces a young man's coming of age in southeastern Ireland. Young
John's mother, a maid, is in poor health and deeply religious, and
John, perhaps because of her storytelling, is plagued by nightmares (a
crow figures heavily in his dreams). He falls into a friendship with a
boy named Jamey who is bright by unmotivated and introduces him to
smoking, drinking, and women. Jamey is a writer, and the narrative is
frequently broken up by...more
Compelling, atmospherically dark & dank tale of Irish boy's life in small, close-minded town. Felt some parts of narrative could have been expanded upon: relationship between John & James, while suitably mysterious, could have been fleshed out. Love the characters of the mother, meddling neighbor, handyman. Wished brief interjections of poetic crow imagery had led to something fuller. On whole though, an interesting world to enter into.
This was recommended to me by Bookbrowse, and so far, it's a page-turner, a very fast and satisfying read.
I read this book quickly and it was a page-turner. I call this type of book "a cracker", because it was in between two rough books for the book club, namely "The Shadow of the wind" and "In the Time of Cholera". A cracker in a wine tasting is the substance that cleans the palette between tasting two different wine samples. When it comes to reading, this book gave ne a neutral stance in time...more
I read this book quickly and it was a page-turner. I call this type of book "a cracker", because it was in between two rough books for the book club, namely "The Shadow of the wind" and "In the Time of Cholera". A cracker in a wine tasting is the substance that cleans the palette between tasting two different wine samples. When it comes to reading, this book gave ne a neutral stance in time...more
Definitely an author to watch.
another beautifully written book set in Ireland about a young boy being raised by his single mother and the story takes him to manhood. There is friendship, betrayal, Irish stories and legends, regrets, betrayal, love....
While John is the main character here, I fell in love with his Mum and wished it were more of her story though we get quite a bit of it.
another beautifully written book set in Ireland about a young boy being raised by his single mother and the story takes him to manhood. There is friendship, betrayal, Irish stories and legends, regrets, betrayal, love....
While John is the main character here, I fell in love with his Mum and wished it were more of her story though we get quite a bit of it.
John Devine lives with his religio-quirky mother, Lily. He's weird and lonely and probably not the most well-adjusted kid on the block. Then a new kid arrives in town and seduces John into some other kind of life that is slightly more exciting and may land him in jail.
His revelations are spiritual and prosaic.
His revelations are spiritual and prosaic.
Sloppy first novel promises what it can't deliver. Though the tropes and themes in this novel are intelligent, they are ultimately under developed. Murphy produced a leviathan of a beginning and middle that was too big to be brought to fruition by the end of this book.
If you're looking for yet another story about a bored bogger raised by a tough-love Irish mom, this is for you. Otherwise don't believe the hype--this book is highly overrated.
If you're looking for yet another story about a bored bogger raised by a tough-love Irish mom, this is for you. Otherwise don't believe the hype--this book is highly overrated.
'This dark crypt is infested with musty shadows and trapped whispers. Hairs grow from the sweating walls, and the holy water font bubbles over,beads of mercury slithering across the floor. I approach the alter, footfall over footfall, echo upon echo. The stations of the cross unfold on either side like fourteen frames of a strange snuff film' - brilliant!
This one didn't really work as a "novel" for me, as I didn't really feel the overall arc of the story. However, Murphy has a wonderful voice and one that I read with pleasure. Even if the book had gone on for another 100 pages, I would've followed his voice right along.
Really, his voice carried this book for me. While I liked what was going on--as he definitely kept things lively and his plotting worked well--it just didn't fully click for me as a traditional story. Who knows, though, maybe that...more
Really, his voice carried this book for me. While I liked what was going on--as he definitely kept things lively and his plotting worked well--it just didn't fully click for me as a traditional story. Who knows, though, maybe that...more
This novel doesn't so much tell a story as it captures a mood. This is a literary daguerreotype image of a teenage boy in Ireland, his mother, and several people who steer his life down unexpected paths. The author has a gift for capturing a complex delicate situation using only a few words. This is a thought-provoking puzzle, and I enjoyed it.
Somewhat strange coming of age story. Could have used a bit more character development. There are some events in the novel that just don't seem to make much sense. Other parts really shine, however.
A coming-of-age tale set in rural Ireland, this book was at times hilarious but more often retrospective and sad. I loved the occasional blarney; this is a worthy first book by Peter Murphy.
This was a very hard book for me to get into. I wasn't very taken in by the min character. Also there was so much Irish dialect that I totally didn't understand that it distracted me fro the story.
A fresh coming-of-age story by Irishman Peter Murphy. Beautifully written with well-drawn characters. I wouldn't be surprised if it's short-listed for the Booker. It would be a welcome change to those nominated in recent years.
Fascinating first novel, about a boy (John Devine) growning up in rural Ireland. Well worth reding for the wonderful prose, as much as for the plot.
Ok, I went back and finished this book. The writing is incredible-particularly the characters. It dipped in the middle, then picked up again at the end. I like the singularity of the prose, very few unnecessary details or subplots. It is revelatory.
This was a slightly difficult review for me to make, as ultimately my rating for this book really came down to my personal taste. There were laudable aspects to this book that I appreciated, such as the relationships between John and his mother and also the changes within John himself, etc. I also appreciated many passages here and much of the writing overall, though I did find some of the dreams a little confusing. But while I do think this book has strong merit, personally...it wasn't somethin...more
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PETER MURPHY, a writer and journalist, has written for Rolling Stone, the Sunday Business Post, and others. He has written liner notes for albums and anthologies, including for the remastered edition of the Anthology of American Folk Music, which features the Blind Willie Johnson recording of the song “John the Revelator."
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Feb 10, 2012 06:03pm