This Champagne Mojito Is the Last Thing I Own

Ross O'Carroll-Kelly #7

by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, Paul Howard

We don't think we can improve on the author's own summary of his book: I am many things, roysh -- unbelievable babe magnet, red-hot lover, loyal kind of goy, best forward who never played for Ireland -- but there's a few things I was basically sure I'd never be, related to a jailbird for storters, or listening to the old dear getting randier than a goat in heat, or even a father, for that matter. It's funny how life decides to throw you a total hospital pass every now and then. Really, like, hilarious. One minute you're the man, a ledge in his own town, every bird in sniffing distance wanting a piece of the action, and the next ...Well let's just say if I had gone to Blackrock Morket, roysh, and paid some crusty old crone to tell my future, and she told me all this, I would have said, 'Sorry, witch features, but what the fock are you banging on about. I'm Ross O'Carroll-Kelly. I am the man, and I always will be. Roysh!' I would have been wrong, dude. And we are talking totally here.

Genres: Irish Literature, Comedy

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Pseudonym for journalist Paul Howard.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[MR PADRAIG MAC DONNCHADHA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a bit of shift of gears from the previous books. While still being very funny, it dealt with quiet a few serious themes such as death, chronic eating disorders, marital breakup, friends moving on and the fatal casualties of the Celtic Tiger. In this book we see Ross fall from apparently having everything at the end of last book, to having just one champagne mojito by the middle of this book. Ross being Ross, we know he'll eventually somehow find a way to pick himself up with the help of his friends and family, and this of course is what he does. What is most enjoyable of course, is how he manages to pick himself up from rock bottom.
I really enjoyed how his father's character developed in this book so much compared to previous books, along with Ross' relationship with his father. I love the irony of how by going to prison, Ross' father goes up in Ronan's esteem and they end up developing a great relationship. While Ross may have lost a lot in this book, it seems what he lost was kind of fake or false anyway (his relationship with Sorcha was always a bit shallow) and by the end of the book he has discovered a good relationship with his son and his father and has belatedly started to grow up a little himself; perhaps he gained more than he lost.
This was probably my favourite book in the series up to this point and really leaves me wanting to start on the next book, even though I've already read it out of sequence.

[David Carton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am addicted to these now, but am reading them a little out of order as I was bought the latest just before Christmas which was my introduction to the series.

I recently found a copy of the first book, and I am glad I didn't start with that as the character has few redeeming qualities, but in this book some of the harder edges are rounded a bit as he begins to see some things from other people's point of view.

Paul Howard shows he has a deft hand here, with a poignant mixture of high comedy, farce, and tragedy. Highly recommend.

BTW if you're struggling with some of the language you might want to start with South Dublin - How to Get by on, Like, 10,000 Euro a Day. Not only very funny, but explains a lot of the rhyming slang and Dublin speak.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roysh, it's very, very funny, capturing, like, Dublin's zeitgeist, if that's an actual word.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have marked it as "read" though in all honesty I got about halfway through and gave up on it, but there isnt a shelf for that!

The "dialecty" feel of the writing style made it hard work and it also felt like there were a lot of in jokes and place references that you would only really get if you were very familiar with Dublin.

I just couldnt engage with the story as I was having to try too hard to understand it....

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when life couldn't seem to get any better, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly finds the world around him crumbling. After investing in some property in Bulgaria, his marriage falls apart when Ross falls victim to the wiles of an over eager nanny.

A story told in a clear, strong voice, this is an Ireland where the Celtic Tiger roared in blissful ignorance.

[Matthew Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books always make me laugh out loud and they have a humorous central theme with bizarre and unexpected storylines. This book also has a bit of an emotional feel, doing well to bring humour and light into a sadder storyline.

[Mihika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely different from the others I’ve read until now, emotional and really showed a whole different side to Ross. I think this may be my favourite one yet although I have been reading them completely out of order but somehow it works.

[Jenny Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

While still gas, it touches on a lot of heavy topics but it’s nice to see that even literary characters don’t have it all rosey

[Grania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ross O´Carroll kelly's mother is a crypto-Edna O´Brien for Celtic tiger Ireland. She is a sexually liberated Freudian nightmare, and serves as a counterpoint for changes in Irelands self-perception. We've gone from the land of literary greats to the land of inflated house prices. This book was published in 2007 at the height of the good times, and is a little weary of high living.

[Jessica Staines]

Good old RO'CK! Love it!

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious,the best book i have read in at least 5 years...overall just a great book to pick up and read at any time....the best book,I highly recommend it "roysh"...

[Marie Grassick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute drivel

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and easy to read, but not quite as good as the previous one!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recommendation from Ceire... funny & witty Irish author.

[AshleyS]

A note to our non-Irish friends
If you haven't spent time in south Dublin, and if you haven't lived in Ireland, you will miss a lot of references in this book, and a lot of the jokes (which are both funny and edgy) are based on local knowledge

A note to those expecting Jeeves and Wooster in Ireland
Like me, for example. This is not the cosy, consequence-free world of Mr Wooster. Also, the protagonist is not a likeable fool, he's an a*****e. Here's a quick list of adult themes: extra-marital affairs, broken families, reckless financial speculation, bulimia, and cancer.

So anyway, I re-adjusted my expectations after a few dozen pages, and I can't deny that this is well-written, funny and intensely topical. I might take a while before picking up another book in the series, as I expect its main value is satire on rich brats, which I'm not looking for.

Because it's a series, I don't know how to rate it. As a novel, it doesn't really introduce its characters: it half-assumes some previous knowledge. It also has a bunch of story-lines that don't start at the beginning and don't really tie-up at the end. But I don't want to give this anything other than 5 stars, as I can't fault it. I'd love to be this immersed in popular culture.