I need a little help.

[David]

Here's my review of Flann O'Brien's "At Swim-Two-Birds":
"Flann O'Brien is a wit, a shaman, a pooka and a conjurer. Call him Finn MacCool from Finnegan's Wake. Is the plot original? 'Tis. Is the story outrageously funny in places? It is very satisfactory. Is the dialogue masterful? Absolutely. Does he rank with Joyce, Beckett and Yeats? Sorry, no. Although he is often compared to them, this Irish literary triumvirate occupy a celestial sphere outside Flann's lesser luminary sphere. Is it close? Not really. I loved the book and William H. Gass in his introduction and Dalkey Archive for staking O'Brien's real talent. The novel is very good reading and Joyce may have enjoyed it but, I apologize for this, it's a four star novel -- 4 1/2 tops."
I hope it helps.
Cordially,
David

[[deleted user]]

One book you might be interested in is The Butcher Boy. It was a big success in the 90s and spawned a movie of the same name. It deals with a boy's descent into madness, which includes his mother's death, his father's alcoholism, a broken friendship and much more. It's also an engrossing read, and it won't take to long to finish.

I hope this helps.