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The Gamal
Meet Charlie. People think he's crazy. But he's not. People think he's stupid. But he's not. People think he's innocent...
He's the Gamal.
Charlie has a story to tell, about his best friends Sinead and James and the bad things that happened. But he can't tell it yet, at least not 'til he's worked out where the beginning is.
Is the beginning long ago when Sinead first spoke up for him after Charlie got in trouble at school for the millionth time? Or was it later, when Sinead and James followed the music and found each other? Or was it later still on that terrible night when something unspeakable happened after closing time and someone chose to turn a blind eye?
Charlie has promised Dr Quinn he'll write 1,000 words a day, but it's hard to know which words to write. And which secrets to tell.
This is the story of the dark heart of an Irish village, of how daring to be different can be dangerous, and how there is nothing a person will not do for love.
Exhilarating, bitingly funny and unforgettably poignant, this is a story like no other. This is the story of the Gamal.
He's the Gamal.
Charlie has a story to tell, about his best friends Sinead and James and the bad things that happened. But he can't tell it yet, at least not 'til he's worked out where the beginning is.
Is the beginning long ago when Sinead first spoke up for him after Charlie got in trouble at school for the millionth time? Or was it later, when Sinead and James followed the music and found each other? Or was it later still on that terrible night when something unspeakable happened after closing time and someone chose to turn a blind eye?
Charlie has promised Dr Quinn he'll write 1,000 words a day, but it's hard to know which words to write. And which secrets to tell.
This is the story of the dark heart of an Irish village, of how daring to be different can be dangerous, and how there is nothing a person will not do for love.
Exhilarating, bitingly funny and unforgettably poignant, this is a story like no other. This is the story of the Gamal.
480 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
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989 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
October 6, 2019
if you are looking for a straight-ahead narrative where the events are laid out in a clear, linear fashion, and you always know what is right around the bend, this is not your book. from the outset, we are told that this is a book for people who hate reading.
and that is because of our reluctant, unreliable narrator, who is writing this "story" at the behest of his psychiatrist, who intends it to be a cathartic, cleansing exercise to help him overcome a trauma. but our narrator, charlie, intends it to be sold so he can make enough money to get out of where he is, and go make a new life for himself, far away from his reputation.
and you should give him your money, because although it can be a bit unwieldy at times, i thought it was really enjoyable.
charlie is the titular gamal, short for the irish gamalóg, which basically means "fool." but still waters run deep. he tells us from the outset he has been diagnosed with ODD; oppositional defiance disorder, which basically means that he is hardwired to be incapable of doing what people want him to do. including writing this account of his experiences. he will frequently interrupt his own narrative with images, blank lines for the reader to write in the lyrics to specific, meaningful songs so he won't have to pay for the rights, and gibberish, just to get to his psychiatrist's preordained word-count. but charlie is no fool. he has been underestimated his whole life, and has found that the less people expect of you, intellectually, the more they will consider you to be like a pet, and say things and let down their guard in a way that might someday become useful. and charlie capitalizes on this treatment, with his admirable aural recall and his quiet machinations.
charlie manages to manipulate everyone around him, including the reader.
the trauma he is being treated for involves the only two people who ever saw charlie as he actually is, or who came the closest: his only friends, james and sinéad. and although it is pretty clear what will be their fate from the outset, i am going to gloss it for those who are spoiler-wary and don't know how to read book-jackets.
james and sinéad met very young, and became instantly inseparable. theirs was a bond of music and "otherness." sinéad comes from an abusive household, but has a room-stilling singing voice, while james is a newcomer to the village, a protestant among catholics. their bond is cemented young, irreversible, and changes as they grow older from closest friends to romantic partners. charlie is more than their mascot and their chaperone; they see him for what he really is, as like will recognize like. the three of them can get lost in music and in daydreaming of a better life, and while charlie is largely a silent participant in their teenage hangouts, he is very much an important part of the circle.
the resentment of james-and-sinéad comes from the small-minded residents of the village: jealous of their youth, beauty, talent, opportunities, james' wealth and athletic prowess, and the intensity of their bond. charlie is largely overlooked, and in this role, he is able to learn a great deal about the way people view his friends, and the way petty people deal with jealousy. he watches, he listens, he judges.
again, the "what" of the trauma is not the big secret, nor the "why." this is more of a character study than a true mystery. but it is a hell of a character.
the way the story unfolds is its true attraction; the way charlie will toy with the reader and bring them close to a point of revelation only to backtrack and fill the remaining word-allotment with digressions, anecdotes, images, or blather.
but do not sell him short, like so many of his neighbors do, there is so much meaning in the madness.
and although we-as-reader are being toyed with, we still see the holes in the presentation; holes charlie is quick to plug, but the seeds of doubt are planted, and the savvy reader knows what to do with the ambiguity of the ending.
it is a remarkable debut novel, and although it is a little on the long side, and the digital version is missing some of the artwork, it is definitely worth reading, if you like the work of mcgrath or mccabe or william trevor. it is more playful and less self-consciously bleak as those writers tend to be, but collins' narrater is definitely in their realm.
really good stuff.
come to my blog!
and that is because of our reluctant, unreliable narrator, who is writing this "story" at the behest of his psychiatrist, who intends it to be a cathartic, cleansing exercise to help him overcome a trauma. but our narrator, charlie, intends it to be sold so he can make enough money to get out of where he is, and go make a new life for himself, far away from his reputation.
and you should give him your money, because although it can be a bit unwieldy at times, i thought it was really enjoyable.
charlie is the titular gamal, short for the irish gamalóg, which basically means "fool." but still waters run deep. he tells us from the outset he has been diagnosed with ODD; oppositional defiance disorder, which basically means that he is hardwired to be incapable of doing what people want him to do. including writing this account of his experiences. he will frequently interrupt his own narrative with images, blank lines for the reader to write in the lyrics to specific, meaningful songs so he won't have to pay for the rights, and gibberish, just to get to his psychiatrist's preordained word-count. but charlie is no fool. he has been underestimated his whole life, and has found that the less people expect of you, intellectually, the more they will consider you to be like a pet, and say things and let down their guard in a way that might someday become useful. and charlie capitalizes on this treatment, with his admirable aural recall and his quiet machinations.
charlie manages to manipulate everyone around him, including the reader.
the trauma he is being treated for involves the only two people who ever saw charlie as he actually is, or who came the closest: his only friends, james and sinéad. and although it is pretty clear what will be their fate from the outset, i am going to gloss it for those who are spoiler-wary and don't know how to read book-jackets.
james and sinéad met very young, and became instantly inseparable. theirs was a bond of music and "otherness." sinéad comes from an abusive household, but has a room-stilling singing voice, while james is a newcomer to the village, a protestant among catholics. their bond is cemented young, irreversible, and changes as they grow older from closest friends to romantic partners. charlie is more than their mascot and their chaperone; they see him for what he really is, as like will recognize like. the three of them can get lost in music and in daydreaming of a better life, and while charlie is largely a silent participant in their teenage hangouts, he is very much an important part of the circle.
the resentment of james-and-sinéad comes from the small-minded residents of the village: jealous of their youth, beauty, talent, opportunities, james' wealth and athletic prowess, and the intensity of their bond. charlie is largely overlooked, and in this role, he is able to learn a great deal about the way people view his friends, and the way petty people deal with jealousy. he watches, he listens, he judges.
again, the "what" of the trauma is not the big secret, nor the "why." this is more of a character study than a true mystery. but it is a hell of a character.
the way the story unfolds is its true attraction; the way charlie will toy with the reader and bring them close to a point of revelation only to backtrack and fill the remaining word-allotment with digressions, anecdotes, images, or blather.
but do not sell him short, like so many of his neighbors do, there is so much meaning in the madness.
and although we-as-reader are being toyed with, we still see the holes in the presentation; holes charlie is quick to plug, but the seeds of doubt are planted, and the savvy reader knows what to do with the ambiguity of the ending.
it is a remarkable debut novel, and although it is a little on the long side, and the digital version is missing some of the artwork, it is definitely worth reading, if you like the work of mcgrath or mccabe or william trevor. it is more playful and less self-consciously bleak as those writers tend to be, but collins' narrater is definitely in their realm.
really good stuff.
come to my blog!
May 6, 2013
This book held my attention from beginning to end. The main character is beautifully drawn and is, perhaps, one of the wisest narrators I have encountered. He is also a sad, funny, simple, utterly believable and heartbreaking figure.
In it's telling, the story gives a very blunt and informative view of small town Ireland. There are intriguing snippets of Irish language, history, religion and culture to absorb.
The Gamal is a book which will stir the conscience. It is a wonderful, well written book which is beguiling in it's apparent simplicity. I loved it.
In it's telling, the story gives a very blunt and informative view of small town Ireland. There are intriguing snippets of Irish language, history, religion and culture to absorb.
The Gamal is a book which will stir the conscience. It is a wonderful, well written book which is beguiling in it's apparent simplicity. I loved it.
February 8, 2016
Such a unique book told by an incredible voice, would 10/10 recommend!!
January 4, 2016
OK....
...so basically this is one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life.
Let's start with the plot. Is there a plot? I don't know. But isn't that wonderful? I mean, who ever imagined that they would read a book and be questioning the existence of a plot? That immediately is a testament to the originality of this novel and this author. So surely a book can't exist without a plot? Well, I think this one actually managed it, and kept going for nigh on 500 pages, in fact. And even in the absence of any clearly-defined narrative, I couldn't put this book down. A second testament to the skill of the author and the uniqueness of his product. To be honest, I suppose, there's something of a storyline running through it, yes, but it's veiled for most of the novel in favour of letting specific character-building incidents come to the fore, which I'll talk about later. The plot twists and turns in the background, often being hinted at but then vanishing for whole pages or chapters, never stepping fully into the light until the end. Does it pay off when it finally does take centre-stage? Absolutely. Is it difficult stuff to read? Absolutely. Is it therefore excellently effective? Absolutely. And all of its convoluted nature makes complete sense within the world of the story, by the way, and any other clearer method of storytelling wouldn't fit with the character of the narrator.
So let's talk about him for a while. Charlie, "The Gamal", the alleged village imbecile, excluded by all but a few, has suffered something traumatic in his past that he's still trying to understand and get over. On the advice of his psychiatrist Dr Quinn, he sets about writing a novel focused on the trauma he experienced, and the fruit of his efforts is what we, the reader, hold in our hands. And what a fascinating fruit it is. Charlie is a very interesting narrator indeed. He gives a friendly wave to those of us from Ireland like myself, sprinkling the book with our wacky colloquialisms, nostalgic references to people and places that we can all relate to, and the occasional tip of the hat to dubious Gaeilge. But there's more to him than that for those outside of Ireland, he is fascinating in other ways; he is relatable to all those who never liked being forced to write, he is relatable to all those who have ever dealt with a great upheaval in their lives, he is relatable to all those who feel different or excluded when, in reality, much like the Fool from a Shakespearean production, Charlie the Gamal could well be the smartest person in the room at all times.
As I mentioned before, the meandering of the plot fits with the character. Charlie doesn't want to write a book and he certainly doesn't want to write this book, so he dances around the plot - which, if you can accept it as a unique bit of realism, is a fantastic treat to read.
Instead he concentrates (reluctantly, it seems, but pulls it off very successfully unbeknownst to himself) on developing characters. Firstly, unconsciously, he writes his own intriguing character study of himself; but he also gives realistic and understandable insight unlike any I have read before into the lives of two lovers, Sinéad and James, and chronicles their highs and lows, their ups and downs with heart-wrenchingly convincing accuracy as their world builds above them and falls around them. As it is set in a rural Irish village, there are many other minor characters that we recognise as well - the pub-goers, the detective, the Catholic fanatics - who are all written with equal care for realism.
And the writing, oh my God, it is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The reader can be laughing one moment and crying the next, with every joke and every tragedy hitting exactly where it's meant to hit. This book is unclassifiable - it isn't a comedy, though it's very funny; it isn't a tragedy, though it's very sad; it isn't a love story, though that forms the basis of the plot... so I can only conclude that it is a totally unique book, with myriad diverse elements that really shouldn't work so well, but really, really do. My hat is off to Ciarán Collins. He has created a beautiful anomaly of a novel.
The impossible has now become possible.
...so basically this is one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life.
Let's start with the plot. Is there a plot? I don't know. But isn't that wonderful? I mean, who ever imagined that they would read a book and be questioning the existence of a plot? That immediately is a testament to the originality of this novel and this author. So surely a book can't exist without a plot? Well, I think this one actually managed it, and kept going for nigh on 500 pages, in fact. And even in the absence of any clearly-defined narrative, I couldn't put this book down. A second testament to the skill of the author and the uniqueness of his product. To be honest, I suppose, there's something of a storyline running through it, yes, but it's veiled for most of the novel in favour of letting specific character-building incidents come to the fore, which I'll talk about later. The plot twists and turns in the background, often being hinted at but then vanishing for whole pages or chapters, never stepping fully into the light until the end. Does it pay off when it finally does take centre-stage? Absolutely. Is it difficult stuff to read? Absolutely. Is it therefore excellently effective? Absolutely. And all of its convoluted nature makes complete sense within the world of the story, by the way, and any other clearer method of storytelling wouldn't fit with the character of the narrator.
So let's talk about him for a while. Charlie, "The Gamal", the alleged village imbecile, excluded by all but a few, has suffered something traumatic in his past that he's still trying to understand and get over. On the advice of his psychiatrist Dr Quinn, he sets about writing a novel focused on the trauma he experienced, and the fruit of his efforts is what we, the reader, hold in our hands. And what a fascinating fruit it is. Charlie is a very interesting narrator indeed. He gives a friendly wave to those of us from Ireland like myself, sprinkling the book with our wacky colloquialisms, nostalgic references to people and places that we can all relate to, and the occasional tip of the hat to dubious Gaeilge. But there's more to him than that for those outside of Ireland, he is fascinating in other ways; he is relatable to all those who never liked being forced to write, he is relatable to all those who have ever dealt with a great upheaval in their lives, he is relatable to all those who feel different or excluded when, in reality, much like the Fool from a Shakespearean production, Charlie the Gamal could well be the smartest person in the room at all times.
As I mentioned before, the meandering of the plot fits with the character. Charlie doesn't want to write a book and he certainly doesn't want to write this book, so he dances around the plot - which, if you can accept it as a unique bit of realism, is a fantastic treat to read.
Instead he concentrates (reluctantly, it seems, but pulls it off very successfully unbeknownst to himself) on developing characters. Firstly, unconsciously, he writes his own intriguing character study of himself; but he also gives realistic and understandable insight unlike any I have read before into the lives of two lovers, Sinéad and James, and chronicles their highs and lows, their ups and downs with heart-wrenchingly convincing accuracy as their world builds above them and falls around them. As it is set in a rural Irish village, there are many other minor characters that we recognise as well - the pub-goers, the detective, the Catholic fanatics - who are all written with equal care for realism.
And the writing, oh my God, it is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The reader can be laughing one moment and crying the next, with every joke and every tragedy hitting exactly where it's meant to hit. This book is unclassifiable - it isn't a comedy, though it's very funny; it isn't a tragedy, though it's very sad; it isn't a love story, though that forms the basis of the plot... so I can only conclude that it is a totally unique book, with myriad diverse elements that really shouldn't work so well, but really, really do. My hat is off to Ciarán Collins. He has created a beautiful anomaly of a novel.
The impossible has now become possible.
September 9, 2016
Charlie has been asked by his psychologist to write his story, the story of his best friends Sinéad and James, but he's having problem with where to start. He's also having a difficult time reliving parts of his story, because he's suffering from PTSD. You know this won't end well.
Charlie is known in the town of Ballyronan as the Gamal, which is Irish slang for a fool, because people underestimate his intelligence. It's allowed Charlie to fly under the radar for most of his life, to observe people when they have no idea he's paying attention.
"Everyone wants to be part of the gang. I couldn't give a flying fuck about no gang. My father said what's wrong with me is that even as a small child I never wanted to be liked. He said it was a serious fuck-up and the root cause of my trouble. He said there's a part of the brain that makes people want to be liked but that part of my brain was fucked. Says he noticed it first when I was about two."
But it's not that Charlie doesn't want friends, he's just very selective. When 6-year-old Sinéad defended 7-year-old Charlie against a teacher's vicious verbal attack, she won his loyalty for life. When James Kent, the son of an English landowner, moves to town, he completes their trio. As they get older, Sinéad and James become a couple, bound together by their otherness, their youthful beauty, their musical talent, and their determination to escape Ballyronan and do something important. In a small Irish community, resentment and jealousy are inevitable.
This summary is already much more linear than Charlie's narrative. He jumps around from present to past without warning. He includes pictures, drawings, court transcript excerpts, and references to things he's not yet ready to write. He reminisces about the music that tied Sinéad and James together, leaving blank lines for the reader to insert song lyrics (Neil Young, Paul McCarrney, Van Morrison, Elvis, Michael Jackson, The Pogues) for which he doesn't want to pay copyright fees.
As such, it takes Charlie nearly 500 pages (114,124 words by his count) to tell his story. It's a rambling, sometimes repetitive character study. It's an unpredictable, twisty narrative that leaves you unsure what or who to believe.
Charlie is known in the town of Ballyronan as the Gamal, which is Irish slang for a fool, because people underestimate his intelligence. It's allowed Charlie to fly under the radar for most of his life, to observe people when they have no idea he's paying attention.
"Everyone wants to be part of the gang. I couldn't give a flying fuck about no gang. My father said what's wrong with me is that even as a small child I never wanted to be liked. He said it was a serious fuck-up and the root cause of my trouble. He said there's a part of the brain that makes people want to be liked but that part of my brain was fucked. Says he noticed it first when I was about two."
But it's not that Charlie doesn't want friends, he's just very selective. When 6-year-old Sinéad defended 7-year-old Charlie against a teacher's vicious verbal attack, she won his loyalty for life. When James Kent, the son of an English landowner, moves to town, he completes their trio. As they get older, Sinéad and James become a couple, bound together by their otherness, their youthful beauty, their musical talent, and their determination to escape Ballyronan and do something important. In a small Irish community, resentment and jealousy are inevitable.
This summary is already much more linear than Charlie's narrative. He jumps around from present to past without warning. He includes pictures, drawings, court transcript excerpts, and references to things he's not yet ready to write. He reminisces about the music that tied Sinéad and James together, leaving blank lines for the reader to insert song lyrics (Neil Young, Paul McCarrney, Van Morrison, Elvis, Michael Jackson, The Pogues) for which he doesn't want to pay copyright fees.
As such, it takes Charlie nearly 500 pages (114,124 words by his count) to tell his story. It's a rambling, sometimes repetitive character study. It's an unpredictable, twisty narrative that leaves you unsure what or who to believe.
June 30, 2016
Okay so I finished this book like 3 days ago but I can't get it out of my head, such a great and elaborate plot line filled with unforgettable characters, many highs and lows and ultimately the tragic "sort of predicted but still completely shocking" ending that left me crying for hours... Literally
First of all the narrative was so unique, the use of Irish slang and humour really appealed to me being the young Irish slang user I am.
Also Charlie- the narrator- was such an interesting character himself that if you wrote a whole novel, minus the whole James/Sinead side of the story it would of still been an interesting tale.
Secondly- (spoilers) the author like really shocked me with the James suicide thing, I was not expecting that.
I expected Sinead to end up dead- by murder, suicide or some other shape or form, but not James. I never suspected James. It took me so long to absorb the actually fact that James Kent was no longer along the living.. I refused to believe it, I related so much to James' father collapsing in tears in the castle surrounding by people randomly touching me as a sign of comfort. It really got me on an emotional level. As emotionally traumatic as this was I was very pleased with the authors ability to catch me upon the hip and give me a plot that truly wasn't expected... Hats off to you Mr Collins
Overall - brilliant book would recommend to practically everyone to ever walk the earth
First of all the narrative was so unique, the use of Irish slang and humour really appealed to me being the young Irish slang user I am.
Also Charlie- the narrator- was such an interesting character himself that if you wrote a whole novel, minus the whole James/Sinead side of the story it would of still been an interesting tale.
Secondly- (spoilers) the author like really shocked me with the James suicide thing, I was not expecting that.
I expected Sinead to end up dead- by murder, suicide or some other shape or form, but not James. I never suspected James. It took me so long to absorb the actually fact that James Kent was no longer along the living.. I refused to believe it, I related so much to James' father collapsing in tears in the castle surrounding by people randomly touching me as a sign of comfort. It really got me on an emotional level. As emotionally traumatic as this was I was very pleased with the authors ability to catch me upon the hip and give me a plot that truly wasn't expected... Hats off to you Mr Collins
Overall - brilliant book would recommend to practically everyone to ever walk the earth
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2013
This book has some of the most beautiful passages I've read in quite a while. And it has that nostalgia-so-rich-you-could-spread-it on bread thing going on that can make you borderline homesick for a place you've never been. When this book works, boy, does it ever work.
That said: the crime that frames the novel and shapes the narrator's recounting of events feels a little forced (no pun intended) and I honestly think most of the story could have worked without. Just as I'm not entirely sure all of Charlie (the narrator's) definitions and song lyrics and assorted meanderings added all that much to the whole. At best it's gilding the lily with the collected detritus of a heartsick teenager. At worst, it's a bit precious.
Ciaran Collins definitely has chops. And I feel certain he has a great and tremendous novel in him. I look forward to it. This debut, though impressive in parts, is just not quite it.
That said: the crime that frames the novel and shapes the narrator's recounting of events feels a little forced (no pun intended) and I honestly think most of the story could have worked without. Just as I'm not entirely sure all of Charlie (the narrator's) definitions and song lyrics and assorted meanderings added all that much to the whole. At best it's gilding the lily with the collected detritus of a heartsick teenager. At worst, it's a bit precious.
Ciaran Collins definitely has chops. And I feel certain he has a great and tremendous novel in him. I look forward to it. This debut, though impressive in parts, is just not quite it.
January 1, 2014
I loved this book. It took several chapters for me to get "hooked" but once I did, I could not put this book done. Gamal, is an outsider and probably the most observant narrator ever. The book is about Charlie and his two dear friends, Sinead and James. Through Charlie's eyes you see Sinead and James as the very best and grow to love them as well. Charlie, who perhaps has Aspberger's (?) is withdrawn but extremely intelligent. He observes all the characters in the small village in Ireland where he grows up and you really get to know each character.
The book is also a mystery which I am usually not a big fan of - but this is why you can't put the book down. I look forward to discussing this book with my book club. Great book club pick!
The book is also a mystery which I am usually not a big fan of - but this is why you can't put the book down. I look forward to discussing this book with my book club. Great book club pick!
December 26, 2018
Collins clearly captures the Irish 'voice' with his narrator Charlie; however this is a pretty miserable novel. It explores the ostracism of three teenagers who are different, and the tragic consequences of this. This is done through the narrative voice of a boy with autism. I'm a bit over reading novels which have narrators who have autism.
April 27, 2022
Waw! Maar te lang.
October 11, 2013
The voice of the first-person narrator of this voice is a wonder. An outcast in his community, he has a clarity regarding his town and its people that he wouldn't have if he weren't the "gamal," a sort of village idiot or weirdo. He is befriended by two schoolmates when they are all still children, two other outsiders for different reasons who are soulmates. The novel slowly tells its story of the dangers inherent in being different and how those within social norms both fear and envy those who stand out. This novel is unlike anything I've ever read before; unlike some other reviews I've read of it, I won't categorize it or compare it to any other literature. I look forward to more work from Ciarán Collins, who is very skillful and insightful.
March 24, 2016
A very creatively written story that has a great pace. There are drawings, photos, space for the reader to write down song lyrics. The start is slow but you keep getting thrown new morsels of information. Something dark has happened by to whom and by whom is not revealed for sometime.
The narrator, Charlie or the Gamal, has many issues, and is writing his story at the request of his psych. His writing is full of wry humour and observations, his view of life is bleak and his only link with normality is through his friends Jamie and Sinead. All three are great characters but their wider group of friends reveal themselves as bigots and sexual predators.
The narrator, Charlie or the Gamal, has many issues, and is writing his story at the request of his psych. His writing is full of wry humour and observations, his view of life is bleak and his only link with normality is through his friends Jamie and Sinead. All three are great characters but their wider group of friends reveal themselves as bigots and sexual predators.
July 31, 2013
It took me a while to get through the last 100 pages of this book because it was so, well, heartbreaking. I would read for 10 or 15 pages, get upset and have to put it down for a while. This is a wonderful debut novel written in a highly original voice. Charlie is the young village idiot (or "gamal") who tells us his tale as a form of therapy following the tragic events in an Irish village. I do love the subtle ambiguity of the ending.
February 6, 2013
Bittersweet and a slow burner, this is reminiscent of The Butcher Boy by Pat McCabe in that it has as it's central character someone with a unique voice in fiction. Utterly believeable and heartbreaking, set in a small town in Co Cork, where old hatreds, petty begrudgery and raw jealousy combine into a toxic and corrosive brew. Staggeringly good writing that seeps into your bones.
August 6, 2013
Being rather sceptical about this book at the start, it got me hooked on pretty soon and I just couldn't put it down. It is an interesting coming of age story, very well told but it also provides a portrait of everyday life in the Irish province.
I would recommend it to anyone who liked Skippy Dies and The Fields. Pity it didn't make it on the Booker longlist.
I would recommend it to anyone who liked Skippy Dies and The Fields. Pity it didn't make it on the Booker longlist.
May 16, 2013
Wonderfully written.. a new Irish Author that I am so excited about..this story written from the viewpoint of 'Charlie'.. is heartbreaking and laugh out loud funny....a unique insight into small town Ireland...
August 7, 2013
The first 300 pages were soooooooo slooooow. It was incredibly frustrating. While the last 166 were good they couldn't make up for the rest.
August 27, 2017
Reads like an exercise written for an MA in creative writing that the supervisor loved and encourage the author to extend to a full-length novel. Not a fan and didn't actually finish the book. The narrative voice was interesting at first but quickly grated on me. I could have kept up with it but the structure was far too digressive and flabby; the plot doesn't kick in until the second half of the book (so I'm told) but by this point I'm bored of the gamal's witty observations and still don't care about any of the characters. I'm a sucker for meandering literary fiction but even I don't understand why there is no action in this book. It can be formally fragmented and digressive, but that still has to have a purpose and direction; this doesn't. Good idea but poor execution.
January 14, 2021
A most unusual and brilliant book told through the eyes of The Gamal, in Ireland otherwise known as the village idiot. But The Gamal is no fool as we discover in his sessions with the psychiatrist who sets him a task of writing a thousand words in preparation for his therapy sessions. Through these we get a clear picture of yet another character in the community, honest observations from Charlie's point of view. The information/clues to what's coming are dribbled very effectively through the book as it progresses.
Some lovely writing in places - moving scene with James's father in graveyard after his son's funeral ... everyone going up to him and putting their hand on him as if to take some of the weight of his pain...
A wonderful book.
Some lovely writing in places - moving scene with James's father in graveyard after his son's funeral ... everyone going up to him and putting their hand on him as if to take some of the weight of his pain...
A wonderful book.
September 17, 2022
A very different style of story than I usually read. This is basically a monologue, written by and offering the viewpoint of Charlie into events which shock his small town one year.
Charting his friendship and role in this small Irish community. The story does have you guessing how it'll end, although it's quite obvious (and not just from the blurb on the front) that it'll lead to murder.
Filled with teenage angst, trying to find where you belong and also showing a different perspective, that of someone who doesn't fit in, yet doesn't seem overly inclined to. The tale touches upon mental health battles, rape, jealousy, suicide, class and religious divides.
Charting his friendship and role in this small Irish community. The story does have you guessing how it'll end, although it's quite obvious (and not just from the blurb on the front) that it'll lead to murder.
Filled with teenage angst, trying to find where you belong and also showing a different perspective, that of someone who doesn't fit in, yet doesn't seem overly inclined to. The tale touches upon mental health battles, rape, jealousy, suicide, class and religious divides.
August 30, 2020
Finally finished this one.
I don't really know what to say about it. I'm left feeling kind of numb.
This is a slow burn that makes you spend a lot of time with the characters so you fall in love with them, and then just rips your heart out. Very emotional read for sure, heartbreaking a lot of the time. Loved the Irishisms in it. Unlike anything I've ever read, in its structure and writing style. I really liked it overall.
I don't really know what to say about it. I'm left feeling kind of numb.
This is a slow burn that makes you spend a lot of time with the characters so you fall in love with them, and then just rips your heart out. Very emotional read for sure, heartbreaking a lot of the time. Loved the Irishisms in it. Unlike anything I've ever read, in its structure and writing style. I really liked it overall.
March 2, 2021
Een diep triest verhaal vertelt in de vorm van geschriften in het kader van therapie. Dus heel verwarrend met veel zijsprongen die toch onvermijdelijk de waarheid onthullen. Of niet. Het boek is doorspekt met muziek fragmenten, heel veel oude Ierse liederen. Dus dat is wel een extraatje om die op te zoeken.
November 10, 2024
The Gamal is a hauntingly beautiful and a profoundly honest portrayal of adolescence. With its raw, human depth, it captures the complexities of growing up in a way that resonates long after the last page. The main character/narrator is unique and naturally humorous; which helps to break the tension of the difficult topics explored in this book. True to the human experience.
June 2, 2019
The writing style is definitely something new that I have come across. Interesting storyline. Though in the start it may look like a little boring.. However you will not be disappointed if you continue reading. A compelling read for me.
June 24, 2019
One of few books I could not finish. Half way through I ended up skipping many pages and reading the last chapters to find out the conclusion. The writer drew me in enough to care what happened to the main characters, but lost me with the meanderings of the main character. An arduous read.
April 26, 2020
Catchy writing style, makes it very easy to read. Very engaging and the “irishness” is interesting. But at the end of the day it one of those engaging-read quickly books with a lot of darkness, which isn’t my favourite genre.
February 11, 2023
If you were to blend “The Curious Incident”, “Hamlet” and “Romeo & Juliet”, and set the whole thing in the west of County Cork, you’d come close to knowing this book. Depth of character, clear + strong voice, gradual unspooling of plot…this is a really, really good book.
May 16, 2017
One of my Waterstones bargain bin purchases. Loved this book, an ordinary enough story but written in such a quirky way.
April 30, 2018
Found it very long and ambiguous .
February 3, 2019
Loved it, quite relatable and fantastic how Collins brings songs so alive in a book.
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