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Smokey Hollow: A Fictional Memoir
Vivid, hilarious and moving account of Dublin childhood in the 'forties. Fictionalized, but drawing heavily on fact. Full of character and great stories. Bob Quinn's website is at www.conamara.org , containing photographs, a full bibliography and more.
170 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
10 people want to read
About the author
Bob Quinn
5 booksLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 5, 2016
"There was no television to provide surrogate drama, to supply images of alternative realities, however banal, to the inescapable opinions, judgements and presence of parents and in-laws. Theirs was the children's only reality. Their tensions too."
Smokey Hollow is a fictional telling of growing up within a devout Catholic family on a rough estate on the edge of Dublin in the 1940's. This is much less gritty than Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes but nonetheless it was a tough upbringing where food was always limited, treats rare and family squabbles common. But it is not an upbringing without its humour and high-points which shine through the narrative and although the Toner family are fictional the story is based on fact.
The novel is in truth more of a list of vignettes but all the same it is well written and abounds with wonderful warm well drawn characters. Also IMHO it is thankfully without too much sectarian angst as it instead concentrates on the family unit and local neighbourhood. There are obvious jealousies of the larger world about them but there is a reality that this cannot be altered so they are better just making the most of what they've got rather than what they've not got. The book finishes with the narrator still in his formative years and perhaps what is best with this book is that the author never loses that youthful voice. A pleasant warming book that deserves to be more widely read.
Smokey Hollow is a fictional telling of growing up within a devout Catholic family on a rough estate on the edge of Dublin in the 1940's. This is much less gritty than Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes but nonetheless it was a tough upbringing where food was always limited, treats rare and family squabbles common. But it is not an upbringing without its humour and high-points which shine through the narrative and although the Toner family are fictional the story is based on fact.
The novel is in truth more of a list of vignettes but all the same it is well written and abounds with wonderful warm well drawn characters. Also IMHO it is thankfully without too much sectarian angst as it instead concentrates on the family unit and local neighbourhood. There are obvious jealousies of the larger world about them but there is a reality that this cannot be altered so they are better just making the most of what they've got rather than what they've not got. The book finishes with the narrator still in his formative years and perhaps what is best with this book is that the author never loses that youthful voice. A pleasant warming book that deserves to be more widely read.
April 5, 2019
It feels very odd to be only the second person to write a review of this book, and the other review is by the person who shared the book with me.
This book reminds me of a family gathering we had recently, you know the type, where relations you see once a year get together for a celebration. At the end of the night a few of us sat together in the bar reminiscing about holidays gone by when we were kids, flying kites made of carrier bags and wool but loving it, practical jokes and many more memories that had us laughing until the early hours of the morning.
This book comes across in just this way, looking back at the antics and fun of growing up. I did find my mind wandering at times but still an interesting read of times gone by.
This book reminds me of a family gathering we had recently, you know the type, where relations you see once a year get together for a celebration. At the end of the night a few of us sat together in the bar reminiscing about holidays gone by when we were kids, flying kites made of carrier bags and wool but loving it, practical jokes and many more memories that had us laughing until the early hours of the morning.
This book comes across in just this way, looking back at the antics and fun of growing up. I did find my mind wandering at times but still an interesting read of times gone by.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews