Our Lady of Greenwich Village

by Dermot McEvoy

In his brilliant second novel, Dermot McEvoy sweeps his readers into the midst of one of the most heated political races in New York City history, where an unlikely player decides to make her presence known. First it hits the papers that the Virgin Mary has appeared to Jackie Swift, an affable G.O.P. congressman with a couple of nasty habits. She then appears in a dream to Wolfe Tone O’Rourke, a liberal political consultant who is still haunted by the ghost of Bobby Kennedy, whose death he feels responsible for.Swift uses the Virgin, soon styled “Our Lady of Greenwich Village,” to put a strong anti-abortion spin on his current run for office, which immediately polarizes Greenwich Village. O’Rourke, beset by his many demons, sees something familiar in the Virgin’s dancing eyes and the line of her smile and decides to run against Swift with the campaign slogan “NO MORE BULLSHIT.” With help from unlikely characters like Cyclops Reilly, a one-eyed newspaper columnist for the Daily News, and Simone “Sam” McGuire, O’Rourke’s pretty, no-nonsense assistant, Tone is sent on a transcontinental journey that forces him to confront his own ghosts and dig deep into his family history, all to answer one burning What does Our Lady of Greenwich Village really want him to do?

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Genres: New York, Religion, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

A manly novel, that takes the men in it too seriously. Pete Hamill writes better novels set in bars. This suffers from the book equivalent of the movie problem of "too many identical white guys in suits." About the fifth time I asked myself, "Who is this person and why are they on the page right now?" I decided I really didn't care and gave up.

[Lasinger711 · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT. This is one of my favorite books. I've been recommending it to everyone. If you love all things New York City, history of New York City, history of New York City politics, bars and neighborhoods, dig the Irish and their history, don't give a f*** about political correctness, love writers and NYC political history....you might dig it, too.
Incredibly well written, fun, pithy and observant. Speaking of observant, there's also quite a lot on the Catholic church, all with a certain love for it.

There were passages on politics that I wanted to quote on a public medium; articulate, efficient and damning (if anything can actually be damning in politics anymore).

McEvoy writes in a way that makes me wish I'd met him when I was young and on the make. Who doesn't love a saucy Irish boy? I laughed out loud, on the train, when reading this. Often.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about Irish in N.Y., politics in N.Y. in late 1990s, early 2000. Graphic language and sex scenes. If you'r offended by that, don't read it. If you love Irish, and New York, and politics, it's worth overlooking the X factor for a great yarn!

[Peggy Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently reading this hilarious satire of NY politics and religious buffoonery. Wolfe Tone O'Rourke, a liberal political consultant, takes control of the story from the first page. I will report back with a review when I have finished reading.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the mix of politics and religion and the need to reform. Of course love factors in. Did not like all the grafic sex which did not add anything to this clever book.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It helps to know & care about nyc politics; humorous, but with a purpose.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not normally a book I’d read: a historical fiction about Irish-Americans in the political scene of pre-911 New York. But Stefan Rudnicki is my favourite narrator and I go where he goes. This has a literal cast of thousands and the narration is so meandering: everything any character looks at or passes by, leads to another two pages of exposition about how every piece of said location is steeped in history. But then again, the book travels all around New York and Ireland, so there’s a proverbial ton of history to go through.

It’s a satire of NYC political corruption so it’s full of drugs, booze, dirty money and all that jazz. Our main character gets phone calls from an annoyed Bill Clinton and verbally abuses political pundits both real and fictional. And he’s plagued by ghosts: the late Bobby Kennedy, and the Virgin Mary herself. In fact an entire political campaign revolves around her.

It’s weird and it’s wordy and it’s a lot to keep track of. I’m not Irish, nor am I a New Yorker, nor am I into politics…but it’s definitely an interesting book. Not my regular cup of tea, but I enjoyed it.

[BRT · Rating 2 out of 5]

This satire of American politics and religious hypocrisy is set in New York. It is quintessential New York City and epically Irish. Worth the read for that alone, with the caveat that it is not an easy read. It tries so hard to be filled with machismo. The men are hard drinking, hard swearing, and hard loving. The inappropriate remarks flow like the River Liffey. The women are powerful but sexed up when with their men and the sex scenes read like something out of Penthouse Forum. The plot slogs along with a long list of characters, real and imagined, then, just as it starts picking up the pace, it heads over to Ireland for a slow and protracted genealogy search.

[Eileen Curley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author offered great insight into so many different areas; political campaigns, the Irish in America, New York as a “small town” in the boroughs, religion, and personal relationships. Well written and nicely paced. Some sex but they fit the characters and the story. I was not offended as some readers claim to be by this sort of portrayal in novels. I think many will enjoy this novel and look for more from the author. I know I will.

[Paul Ballinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid read regarding NYC & Irish politics & vices

This isn’t perhaps for everyone. I enjoyed it quite a lot, fast paced and full of rich historical and political anecdotes. At a few times the story lost me and seemed a tad disjointed - was that e or the author. Never mind, I did overall consider this well worth reading and look forward to another book by this author.

[Annie]

Just started.