Rainbow Singer

by Simon Kerr

Written in an engaging lilt reminiscent of Roddy Doyle, The Rainbow Singer introduces readers to an utterly distinctive new voice in fiction. The narrator of this harrowing and hilarious novel is Wil Carson, a "no-hoper from the backstreets of East Belfast, " and an unusual character to be found roughed up in a Wisconsin penitentiary. From behind bars, Wil tells of his life as a teenage Irish loyalist/terrorist, rejecting the prejudices he held against Catholics, or "Taigs, " and sardonically reflecting on the mixed bag of blessings and curses that have made up his life to date.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I picked this up: maybe it was being the product of what in Northern Ireland was referred to as a mixed marriage. It was an interesting book, but I found Wil and his friends extremely unsympathetic, even while I could see the forces that shaped them and left them feeling unable to act any other way. I think there was not quite enough humanity in the book - but maybe I'm an incurable optimist.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Järjekordne raamat inglise keeles. Success!
Aga raamat ise oli huvitav. Natuke geidest ja natuke poiste ihadest. Üks 14-aastane kutt saadetakse Ameerikasse kuuks ajaks, umbes nagu vahetusõpilaseks. Ta armub seal ühte tüdrukusse, aga too tüdruk võtab omale ikka teise kuti. Raamatu lõpus laseb ta selle kuti maha, aga tüdruku jätab ellu.
Ok, tundub küll nagu mingi armastusromaan, aga tegelikult polnud see üldse selline :)

[Charlaralotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up a used copy off Portabello Road in an Aid for Romania charity shop. A quick read and quite good account of one Irish teen's experience on supervised holiday to America to mend relations between Protestants and Catholics. Would probably make a good movie, as primarily action-based. Always interesting to see major conflicts through eyes of those involved in them.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that considers how the Troubles affected young people growing up in Ireland, and in the extreme case of the main character, incited them to become involved in the violence.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I like books where you don't have to like the protagonist, that's what this is.