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The Troubles #3
The Beat of the Drum
Disabled since infancy by the IRA bomb that killed his parents, Brian Hanna has more excuse than most - at least in the eyes of the Loyalist community - to hate the Catholics. And yet he doesn't. What he hates is the demented drumming of organizations like the Young Defenders, as they march up and down the streets to scare their Catholic neighbours. And the mindless bigotry that justifies the violence and bloodshed on both sides. But most of all he hates the way that men like paramilitary leader Stan Leadbetter use people - small, easily manipulated people like Uncle Billy or the hapless Hicky, Brian's childhood friend. Which is why Brian is going to leave. But can he ever still the drum that beats inside him?
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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March 1, 2023
Attempting to sort and organise my many piles of books I came across this one I bought years ago. Brian Hanna, disabled by a bomb, relies on other people to push him through the streets and navigate his life to a large extent, is the protagonist of this novel for teens.
“It's how I lost my mum and dad. My Auntie Mae's always telling me about how well my mum cleaned up, when they dug her out of the rubble.She was like a princess in her coffin, so I'm told. My dad was a bit more difficult. They kept the coffin lid down on him. There are some of them that you have to, because the bits they scrape off the walls don't add up to something that is recognizably a person.”
This novel gives some insight into the conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Ulster. A somewhat hapless Hicky, Brian’s friend, since childhood, only serves to complicate his life and his other friend and carer, Val, makes him feel suffocated at times. An easy read but not particularly interesting, well, for me, anyway. Will be donating this one.
“It's how I lost my mum and dad. My Auntie Mae's always telling me about how well my mum cleaned up, when they dug her out of the rubble.She was like a princess in her coffin, so I'm told. My dad was a bit more difficult. They kept the coffin lid down on him. There are some of them that you have to, because the bits they scrape off the walls don't add up to something that is recognizably a person.”
This novel gives some insight into the conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Ulster. A somewhat hapless Hicky, Brian’s friend, since childhood, only serves to complicate his life and his other friend and carer, Val, makes him feel suffocated at times. An easy read but not particularly interesting, well, for me, anyway. Will be donating this one.
Displaying 1 of 1 review