Not brilliant, 18 Sep 2008
Three Men In a Boat is an amusing collection of anecdotes cleverly stitched together in the form of a travelogue.

Hugh Laurie is a great narrator, however what CSA have done is to reduce the running time to two hours by editing out almost all the amusing anecdotes, leaving the story rather threadbare.

I would recommend Martin Jarvis' unabridged version instead, which is also available from Amazon (and elsewhere): Three Men in a Boat (Classic Fiction)

A Pure Delight!, 17 Sep 2007
Hugh Laurie narrates this classic book as perfectly as he played Bertie Wooster and gives the character of J the voice which you instinctively feel he should have. The story of three friends (and a dog) going for a boating trip on the Thames is told with such expertise that you may find yourself bypassing the last hundred or so years and imagining your actually listening to the author himself. I have read the book on a number of occasions, loving it each and every time but Mr Laurie manages to pull a few extra laughs out of the tale with his delivery that I have never before noticed. He brings out all the wit and subtlety of Jerome K Jerome's prose effortlessly, leaving you wanting more. Listen out for Harris and the maze, simply hilarious!.

How I wish this was a full and unabridged recording. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose!.

Ah, the simple pleasures ..., 02 Jan 2006
It's a wonderful book. Harmless escapism and lashings of good humour. What could be more pleasant? It's one of my favourite reads. Three men, one dog and a row boat - sometimes lazily and sometimes energetically pulling up the River Thames, having endless adventures, calamities and runs-in with the consequences of "Murphy's law". I wondered if I would enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I'm delighted to report that Hugh Laurie has done an excellent job of this abridged reading . It's not surprising really. His television interpretation of Bertie Wooster is spot on for that character, and the character of J. (the author/narrator, Jerome K Jerome) in this tale, is so similar in many ways to Bertie - in attitude, speech mannerisms etc - that Mr Laurie seems just perfect for the role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the outrageous exaggerations, boasts and scenic descriptions, read in exactly the voice I imagine J. would have. I've listened to it twice so far and will, no doubt, listen to it whenever I need to be cheered up.

There are 2 CDs in the box and the running time is two and a half hours.

Highly recommended.

Timeless Humour, 29 Jul 2005
Hugh Laurie is the perfect narrator for this hilarious classic. Originally written as a travel guide to the Thames, but turned into a graphic novel by the publishers, you'd never guess this was written a hundred years ago. It had me in stitches.

Not brilliant, 18 Sep 2008
Three Men In a Boat is an amusing collection of anecdotes cleverly stitched together in the form of a travelogue.

Hugh Laurie is a great narrator, however what CSA have done is to reduce the running time to two hours by editing out almost all the amusing anecdotes, leaving the story rather threadbare.

I would recommend Martin Jarvis' unabridged version instead, which is also available from Amazon (and elsewhere): Three Men in a Boat (Classic Fiction)

A Pure Delight!, 17 Sep 2007
Hugh Laurie narrates this classic book as perfectly as he played Bertie Wooster and gives the character of J the voice which you instinctively feel he should have. The story of three friends (and a dog) going for a boating trip on the Thames is told with such expertise that you may find yourself bypassing the last hundred or so years and imagining your actually listening to the author himself. I have read the book on a number of occasions, loving it each and every time but Mr Laurie manages to pull a few extra laughs out of the tale with his delivery that I have never before noticed. He brings out all the wit and subtlety of Jerome K Jerome's prose effortlessly, leaving you wanting more. Listen out for Harris and the maze, simply hilarious!.

How I wish this was a full and unabridged recording. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose!.

Ah, the simple pleasures ..., 02 Jan 2006
It's a wonderful book. Harmless escapism and lashings of good humour. What could be more pleasant? It's one of my favourite reads. Three men, one dog and a row boat - sometimes lazily and sometimes energetically pulling up the River Thames, having endless adventures, calamities and runs-in with the consequences of "Murphy's law". I wondered if I would enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I'm delighted to report that Hugh Laurie has done an excellent job of this abridged reading . It's not surprising really. His television interpretation of Bertie Wooster is spot on for that character, and the character of J. (the author/narrator, Jerome K Jerome) in this tale, is so similar in many ways to Bertie - in attitude, speech mannerisms etc - that Mr Laurie seems just perfect for the role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the outrageous exaggerations, boasts and scenic descriptions, read in exactly the voice I imagine J. would have. I've listened to it twice so far and will, no doubt, listen to it whenever I need to be cheered up.

There are 2 CDs in the box and the running time is two and a half hours.

Highly recommended.

Timeless Humour, 29 Jul 2005
Hugh Laurie is the perfect narrator for this hilarious classic. Originally written as a travel guide to the Thames, but turned into a graphic novel by the publishers, you'd never guess this was written a hundred years ago. It had me in stitches.

A heart-wrenching First World War story, 07 Feb 2008
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.

The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.

Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.

Quick but enjoyable!, 16 Jan 2007
I just LOVE this book to pieces. I,too, like some of the other reviewers had to read it as part of my english course in the Leaving cert but it was oceans away from the normal boring pros that are obligatory in school.

Basically, his book is about two young men, Alexander and Jerry, and the growth and development of their relation as they leave childhhod and progress into adulthood during a age of stormy political and religious tensions. Or in other words, they were on different sides of the political and religious divide when the troubles were at their hightest in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century and thus the book details if/how their relationship survives such an obstacle and other challenges that face them.

The end of this bok is the best part. In school i couldn't wait for the class to finish it so i read on-its one of a very small few of books to which i can cry to(over and over again as i have since discovered).
The only bad thing about this book is how short it is-but then again if it had been longer the main scenes may have been lost or changed by Jennifer Johnston(the magnificent Irish author behind this bok).

Buy it. Read it. Remember it. And hope that you too have the chance to experience such a true friend.

How many miles to Babylon? J.Johnston A glimpse of world war 1 young Irish manhood beset by class and country,, 09 Sep 2006
This short novel holds a few surprises well worth waiting for. Written by the Dublin born Ms Johnston, now living across the border in Derry, it examines the Irish political landscape,
through a personal not a political lens as it follows the fortunes of Alex from the Big House and Jerry, an Irish peasant.
Written by Alex as a first person narrative it gives the reader a distinct feeling of getting up close and personal. You feel like you're eavesdropping.
Truth to tell nothing much happens for a while. A sense of ennui begins to set in for the reader mirroring the lifestyle of the two young protagonists. At times you wonder if it is just another tableau of the Anglo- Irish class and their peasant peers. World War 1 is the backdrop.
A surprising element for me was finding Patrick Pearse , leader of the Irish 1916 revolution, coming to life in its pages. Pearse is so often nothing more than a relic of some very distant past.
The book takes off when the two young men enlist and set off to serve at the Front.
Johnston never resorts to hyperbole, yet she manages to convey a very real sense of the horror and degradation of the trenches of World War 1.Both young men are so credible. Neither of them especially motivated by lofty political ideas but rather like most people stumbling along through life's events trying to make some sense of it all.
But no cosseted life in the Big House nor the discipline of Army life could adequately prepare the two young protagonists for the dilemma they face towards the end.This was a veritable crisis of conscience where nothing less than a personal response would do.
The descriptions of nature and the changing of the seasons capture the quintessence of the damp Irish climate like no other I've come across.The Big House is beatifully captured both in its splendour and its often dark, dismal interiors.
This is not the usual tale of larger than life war heroes but a down-to - earth portrayal of the harsh reality of war. A glimpse of young First World War manhood together with telling glimpses of class division. Once you get started you can't stop till you finish it. Well worth reading.

this book is simply awesome, 22 Jan 2002
I must say I was first put off by the small amount of pages in the book(156 pages) but after reading it, it didn't make a blind bit of differance,It's simply amazing, a real page-turner.
I had to read this book as part of my course for the leaving cert. in school. I'm glad we were made read it as I would never have discovered such a gem of a book otherwise.
Johnston brings the characters of Alec and Jerry
vividly to life and the detail she describes from the big house to life in the trenches is simply outstanding.

Compelling tale of two little boys who go out to war, 24 Feb 2001
This novel, written by Jennifer Johnston tells the tale of two young men from Ireland, one a Catholic peasant, and the other, the son of a Protestant landowner. The book goes on to tell how,they forged a life long friendship, and followed each other to the ends of the earth, all set against the stark sectarian background of pre independent Ireland. The plot develops around Alexander, the protestant, and how his relationship with his mother drove him to leave for the war and Jerry his Catholic friend, who dreams of an independent Ireland. The book, paints a clear vivid and truly disgusting picture of the hardship and suffering endured by all men who went to fight in World War 1, whether they were rich or poor, hero or villain. This novel is a truly compelling account of both Irish life, and life in the war, at the early part of the 20th century. This book contrasts strained family relationships with iron clad friendships, the comfort of the "Big House" with the squalor of the trenches. In short this book is a vivid, startling and precise reflection on life during World War 1

Ulysses has been labelled dirty, blasphemous and unreadable. In a famous 1933 court decision, Judge John M. Woolsey declared it an emetic book--although he found it not quite obscene enough to disallow its importation into the United States--and Virginia Woolf was moved to decry James Joyce's "cloacal obsession". None of these descriptions, however, do the slightest justice to the novel. To this day it remains the modernist masterpiece, in which the author takes both Celtic lyricism and vulgarity to splendid extremes. It is funny, sorrowful, and even (in its own way) suspenseful. And despite the exegetical industry that has sprung up in the last 75 years, Ulysses is also a compulsively readable book. Even the verbal vaudeville of the final chapters can be navigated with relative ease, as long as you're willing to be buffeted, tickled, challenged and (occasionally) vexed by Joyce's astonishing command of the English language.

Among other things, a novel is simply a long story, and the first question about any story is "What happens?" In the case of Ulysses, the answer could be "Everything". William Blake, one of literature's sublime myopics, saw the universe in a grain of sand. Joyce saw it in Dublin, Ireland, on June 16, 1904, a day distinguished by its utter normality. Two characters, Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom, go about their separate business, crossing paths with a gallery of inforgettable Dubliners. We watch them teach, eat, loiter, argue and (in Bloom's case) masturbate. And thanks to the book's stream- of-consciousness technique--which suggests no mere stream but an impossibly deep, swift-running river-- we're privy to their thoughts, emotions and memories. The result? Almost every variety of human experience is crammed into the accordion-folds of a single day, which makes Ulysses not just an experimental work but the very last word in realism.

Both characters add their glorious intonations to the music of Joyce's prose. Dedalus's accent--that of a freelance aesthetician, who dabbles here and there in what we might call "Early Yeats Lite"-- will be familiar to readers of Portrait of an Artist As a Young Man. But Bloom's wistful sensualism (and naïve curiosity) is something else entirely. Seen through his eyes, a rundown corner of a Dublin graveyard is a figure for hope and hopelessness, mortality and dogged survival: "Mr Bloom walked unheeded along his grove by saddened angels, crosses, broken pillars, family vaults, stone hopes praying with upcast eyes, old Ireland's hearts and hands. More sensible to spend the money on some charity for the living. Pray for the repose of the soul of. Does anybody really?" --James Marcus

Not brilliant, 18 Sep 2008
Three Men In a Boat is an amusing collection of anecdotes cleverly stitched together in the form of a travelogue.

Hugh Laurie is a great narrator, however what CSA have done is to reduce the running time to two hours by editing out almost all the amusing anecdotes, leaving the story rather threadbare.

I would recommend Martin Jarvis' unabridged version instead, which is also available from Amazon (and elsewhere): Three Men in a Boat (Classic Fiction)

A Pure Delight!, 17 Sep 2007
Hugh Laurie narrates this classic book as perfectly as he played Bertie Wooster and gives the character of J the voice which you instinctively feel he should have. The story of three friends (and a dog) going for a boating trip on the Thames is told with such expertise that you may find yourself bypassing the last hundred or so years and imagining your actually listening to the author himself. I have read the book on a number of occasions, loving it each and every time but Mr Laurie manages to pull a few extra laughs out of the tale with his delivery that I have never before noticed. He brings out all the wit and subtlety of Jerome K Jerome's prose effortlessly, leaving you wanting more. Listen out for Harris and the maze, simply hilarious!.

How I wish this was a full and unabridged recording. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose!.

Ah, the simple pleasures ..., 02 Jan 2006
It's a wonderful book. Harmless escapism and lashings of good humour. What could be more pleasant? It's one of my favourite reads. Three men, one dog and a row boat - sometimes lazily and sometimes energetically pulling up the River Thames, having endless adventures, calamities and runs-in with the consequences of "Murphy's law". I wondered if I would enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I'm delighted to report that Hugh Laurie has done an excellent job of this abridged reading . It's not surprising really. His television interpretation of Bertie Wooster is spot on for that character, and the character of J. (the author/narrator, Jerome K Jerome) in this tale, is so similar in many ways to Bertie - in attitude, speech mannerisms etc - that Mr Laurie seems just perfect for the role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the outrageous exaggerations, boasts and scenic descriptions, read in exactly the voice I imagine J. would have. I've listened to it twice so far and will, no doubt, listen to it whenever I need to be cheered up.

There are 2 CDs in the box and the running time is two and a half hours.

Highly recommended.

Timeless Humour, 29 Jul 2005
Hugh Laurie is the perfect narrator for this hilarious classic. Originally written as a travel guide to the Thames, but turned into a graphic novel by the publishers, you'd never guess this was written a hundred years ago. It had me in stitches.

A heart-wrenching First World War story, 07 Feb 2008
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.

The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.

Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.

Quick but enjoyable!, 16 Jan 2007
I just LOVE this book to pieces. I,too, like some of the other reviewers had to read it as part of my english course in the Leaving cert but it was oceans away from the normal boring pros that are obligatory in school.

Basically, his book is about two young men, Alexander and Jerry, and the growth and development of their relation as they leave childhhod and progress into adulthood during a age of stormy political and religious tensions. Or in other words, they were on different sides of the political and religious divide when the troubles were at their hightest in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century and thus the book details if/how their relationship survives such an obstacle and other challenges that face them.

The end of this bok is the best part. In school i couldn't wait for the class to finish it so i read on-its one of a very small few of books to which i can cry to(over and over again as i have since discovered).
The only bad thing about this book is how short it is-but then again if it had been longer the main scenes may have been lost or changed by Jennifer Johnston(the magnificent Irish author behind this bok).

Buy it. Read it. Remember it. And hope that you too have the chance to experience such a true friend.

How many miles to Babylon? J.Johnston A glimpse of world war 1 young Irish manhood beset by class and country,, 09 Sep 2006
This short novel holds a few surprises well worth waiting for. Written by the Dublin born Ms Johnston, now living across the border in Derry, it examines the Irish political landscape,
through a personal not a political lens as it follows the fortunes of Alex from the Big House and Jerry, an Irish peasant.
Written by Alex as a first person narrative it gives the reader a distinct feeling of getting up close and personal. You feel like you're eavesdropping.
Truth to tell nothing much happens for a while. A sense of ennui begins to set in for the reader mirroring the lifestyle of the two young protagonists. At times you wonder if it is just another tableau of the Anglo- Irish class and their peasant peers. World War 1 is the backdrop.
A surprising element for me was finding Patrick Pearse , leader of the Irish 1916 revolution, coming to life in its pages. Pearse is so often nothing more than a relic of some very distant past.
The book takes off when the two young men enlist and set off to serve at the Front.
Johnston never resorts to hyperbole, yet she manages to convey a very real sense of the horror and degradation of the trenches of World War 1.Both young men are so credible. Neither of them especially motivated by lofty political ideas but rather like most people stumbling along through life's events trying to make some sense of it all.
But no cosseted life in the Big House nor the discipline of Army life could adequately prepare the two young protagonists for the dilemma they face towards the end.This was a veritable crisis of conscience where nothing less than a personal response would do.
The descriptions of nature and the changing of the seasons capture the quintessence of the damp Irish climate like no other I've come across.The Big House is beatifully captured both in its splendour and its often dark, dismal interiors.
This is not the usual tale of larger than life war heroes but a down-to - earth portrayal of the harsh reality of war. A glimpse of young First World War manhood together with telling glimpses of class division. Once you get started you can't stop till you finish it. Well worth reading.

this book is simply awesome, 22 Jan 2002
I must say I was first put off by the small amount of pages in the book(156 pages) but after reading it, it didn't make a blind bit of differance,It's simply amazing, a real page-turner.
I had to read this book as part of my course for the leaving cert. in school. I'm glad we were made read it as I would never have discovered such a gem of a book otherwise.
Johnston brings the characters of Alec and Jerry
vividly to life and the detail she describes from the big house to life in the trenches is simply outstanding.

Compelling tale of two little boys who go out to war, 24 Feb 2001
This novel, written by Jennifer Johnston tells the tale of two young men from Ireland, one a Catholic peasant, and the other, the son of a Protestant landowner. The book goes on to tell how,they forged a life long friendship, and followed each other to the ends of the earth, all set against the stark sectarian background of pre independent Ireland. The plot develops around Alexander, the protestant, and how his relationship with his mother drove him to leave for the war and Jerry his Catholic friend, who dreams of an independent Ireland. The book, paints a clear vivid and truly disgusting picture of the hardship and suffering endured by all men who went to fight in World War 1, whether they were rich or poor, hero or villain. This novel is a truly compelling account of both Irish life, and life in the war, at the early part of the 20th century. This book contrasts strained family relationships with iron clad friendships, the comfort of the "Big House" with the squalor of the trenches. In short this book is a vivid, startling and precise reflection on life during World War 1

Two men wander around Dublin, 11 Mar 2008
Interesting tale. Very offbeat. Set on 16th June 1904 in Dublin. Leopold Bloom deals with adverts in the local newspaper, but he is plagued by several things: He is aware that his wife (Molly Bloom) is having an affair with local "Casanova" Blazes Boylan, and they are due to meet at 4pm. He is in mourning over the recent death of his friend Paddy Dignam, and his son Rudy ten years earlier (Rudy was just a baby when he died), and also, his father Virag, who committed suicide some years ago. Mr Bloom broods over these matters as he wanders the streets. He does not want to return home, because that would remind him of his wife's adultery. He is very compassionate, kind, and opposed to violence, helping everyone he comes across, including a blind man whom he helps to cross the road, Mrs Dignam to whom he gives money. (Paddy Dignam used the life assurance to pay off a debt). Mr Bloom also visits Mina Purefoy in hospital, where she has been in labour for 3 days. Mr Bloom helps Stephen Dedalus, an aspiring writer who has lots of bizarre philosophical ideas, and often says enigmatic things, which are often not understood by the other characters! Stephen drunkenly proceeds to the red-light district and Bloom follows, to try and protect him. Stephen is also in mourning over the death of his mother, for which he feels at least partly responsible. Having rejected Christianity, Stephen refused to kneel down and pray, and he harbours a sense of regret. Stephen unwittingly gets into a fight with an English soldier (a metaphor, perhaps, for England's oppression of Ireland during the British Empire), and Bloom helps Stephen to recover. By this time, Stephen's so-called "friends" have abandoned him, and he has nowhere to sleep. Stephen and Bloom talk of many things, and the Ithaca episode is a Q&A written in an exaggerated parody of the scientific style. (Much of the humour derives from wordplay and exaggeration.) Finally, Molly has the last word, and she is a true optimist who finds pleasure in so many things, such as flowers and music. Ultimately, she realises that, in spite of his shortcomings, she still loves Bloom. Her final affirmation is a kind of saying "yes" to life itself.

There are many themes, including: ancient Greece, the father/son relationship, the human body, love, death, betrayal, language. One of the recurring themes is Home Rule. In 1904, Ireland was still part of the British Empire, and most Irish people wanted independence. In the late C19th, they had hoped that Charles Stewart Parnell would lead them to Home Rule, but he was discredited after his affair with Kitty O'Shea was made public.

Stephen's theory on Hamlet: Hamlet's father (the ghost) is Shakespeare. Hamlet is Shakespeare's son Hamnet (sic). Gertrude is Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare suspected his wife was unfaithful, and sought to recreate the son who had died as a baby using the fictional character of Hamlet. (Parallel between Shakespeare and Bloom. But remember that this is pure speculation, and Stephen himself is not entirely convinced by it.)

This book is worth reading with the aid of a study guide, a large dictionary (but beware: Joyce sometimes invents his own words!), and something like the Internet to look up the more important points. NB: "Ineluctable" just means "unavoidable". I was confused by Stephen's "ashplant". I thought he was carrying around a potted plant all day! Eventually, I found out an ashplant is a kind of walking stick made of ash!

Great book, 07 Mar 2008
Surprisingly witty, impressively erudite, justifiably famous and incredibly rich: use a good edition with notes (like the Oxford) and you'll find this one well worth it. Up there with the best novels.

Beyond Me, 20 Aug 2007
I've tried it and it wasn't for me. Reached the 200 page mark last night and felt weighed down by the 500 still to go. I haven't understood what I've read it isn't actually a pleasure. I'm very pleased I've tried, I'm disappointed in myself for not completing it but what would I achieve by reading something I'm not enjoying?

I'm not sure what Joyce was aiming for with the audience for this book but it isn't your average reader and I'm sure it wouldn't be the average reader of the times. Extremely challenging to follow and I think listening to this read on audio may make a big difference.

*, 22 Aug 2006
I read this book thinking it would inspire me as its often cited as the best literary novel of all time. It didn't however. It's excellently written and testiment to a brilliant mind but it's frustrating and boring to read. Best read as a textbook rather than a story, because the average joe (ie me) won't understand a lot of what makes this book good. But I won't begrudge many stars in rating it because of how well written it clearly is. But don't buy this unless you're doing an english degree or a masochist, or unless you see it cheap in a charity shop (like I did)

Hard work - but is it worth it?, 15 Aug 2006
I'm reading 'Ulysses' because my MA in modernist literature demands it. But that's not to say that I'm not enjoying the challenge of ploughing through one of the most indecipherable books in history. And it really is indecipherable. For the first time in my literary career (and I've read a LOT of books), I've had to resort to reading the Cliffs Notes alongside the original, just to try and get a handle on what's going on. And a lot of the time it just feels like I'm reading word after word, but have no idea what they all mean when they're strung together. It's true that it makes it a 'little' easier if you read the book outloud, but frankly, 1) it takes twice as long and 2) my boyfriend was getting fed up of me drivelling on at home about Bloom and his long-winded defecations (and I don't blame him!) - and that's without commenting on the funny looks I got on the bus.

I admit I haven't yet finished 'Ulysses' - I'm currently on chapter 10, of 18. It does at times feel like I'm never going to get through it, although I'm determined to finish it - I see it as a mountain to climb, and I know I'll be pleased with myself when I get to the end, in 500+ pages! But I'd be a big fat fibber if I said I'd enjoyed a single page of it... so far.

Personally, I don't think that reading 'Ulysses' will add anything to your appreciation or otherwise of contemporary literature. It's an exceedingly preposterous and pretentious tome, and Joyce clearly had one intention when he wrote it - to cause controversy and incite argument. And judging by the reviews on Amazon alone, he's certainly succeeded. However, I was disappointed to read in The Guardian last week (in a flippant article about the new set texts for school curriculums) that Joyce didn't get a look in (for any of his books) and they they didn't think he'd care. Of course he'd care... otherwise what's the point of writing a book in the first place?

Not brilliant, 18 Sep 2008
Three Men In a Boat is an amusing collection of anecdotes cleverly stitched together in the form of a travelogue.

Hugh Laurie is a great narrator, however what CSA have done is to reduce the running time to two hours by editing out almost all the amusing anecdotes, leaving the story rather threadbare.

I would recommend Martin Jarvis' unabridged version instead, which is also available from Amazon (and elsewhere): Three Men in a Boat (Classic Fiction)

A Pure Delight!, 17 Sep 2007
Hugh Laurie narrates this classic book as perfectly as he played Bertie Wooster and gives the character of J the voice which you instinctively feel he should have. The story of three friends (and a dog) going for a boating trip on the Thames is told with such expertise that you may find yourself bypassing the last hundred or so years and imagining your actually listening to the author himself. I have read the book on a number of occasions, loving it each and every time but Mr Laurie manages to pull a few extra laughs out of the tale with his delivery that I have never before noticed. He brings out all the wit and subtlety of Jerome K Jerome's prose effortlessly, leaving you wanting more. Listen out for Harris and the maze, simply hilarious!.

How I wish this was a full and unabridged recording. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose!.

Ah, the simple pleasures ..., 02 Jan 2006
It's a wonderful book. Harmless escapism and lashings of good humour. What could be more pleasant? It's one of my favourite reads. Three men, one dog and a row boat - sometimes lazily and sometimes energetically pulling up the River Thames, having endless adventures, calamities and runs-in with the consequences of "Murphy's law". I wondered if I would enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I'm delighted to report that Hugh Laurie has done an excellent job of this abridged reading . It's not surprising really. His television interpretation of Bertie Wooster is spot on for that character, and the character of J. (the author/narrator, Jerome K Jerome) in this tale, is so similar in many ways to Bertie - in attitude, speech mannerisms etc - that Mr Laurie seems just perfect for the role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the outrageous exaggerations, boasts and scenic descriptions, read in exactly the voice I imagine J. would have. I've listened to it twice so far and will, no doubt, listen to it whenever I need to be cheered up.

There are 2 CDs in the box and the running time is two and a half hours.

Highly recommended.

Timeless Humour, 29 Jul 2005
Hugh Laurie is the perfect narrator for this hilarious classic. Originally written as a travel guide to the Thames, but turned into a graphic novel by the publishers, you'd never guess this was written a hundred years ago. It had me in stitches.

A heart-wrenching First World War story, 07 Feb 2008
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.

The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.

Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.

Quick but enjoyable!, 16 Jan 2007
I just LOVE this book to pieces. I,too, like some of the other reviewers had to read it as part of my english course in the Leaving cert but it was oceans away from the normal boring pros that are obligatory in school.

Basically, his book is about two young men, Alexander and Jerry, and the growth and development of their relation as they leave childhhod and progress into adulthood during a age of stormy political and religious tensions. Or in other words, they were on different sides of the political and religious divide when the troubles were at their hightest in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century and thus the book details if/how their relationship survives such an obstacle and other challenges that face them.

The end of this bok is the best part. In school i couldn't wait for the class to finish it so i read on-its one of a very small few of books to which i can cry to(over and over again as i have since discovered).
The only bad thing about this book is how short it is-but then again if it had been longer the main scenes may have been lost or changed by Jennifer Johnston(the magnificent Irish author behind this bok).

Buy it. Read it. Remember it. And hope that you too have the chance to experience such a true friend.

How many miles to Babylon? J.Johnston A glimpse of world war 1 young Irish manhood beset by class and country,, 09 Sep 2006
This short novel holds a few surprises well worth waiting for. Written by the Dublin born Ms Johnston, now living across the border in Derry, it examines the Irish political landscape,
through a personal not a political lens as it follows the fortunes of Alex from the Big House and Jerry, an Irish peasant.
Written by Alex as a first person narrative it gives the reader a distinct feeling of getting up close and personal. You feel like you're eavesdropping.
Truth to tell nothing much happens for a while. A sense of ennui begins to set in for the reader mirroring the lifestyle of the two young protagonists. At times you wonder if it is just another tableau of the Anglo- Irish class and their peasant peers. World War 1 is the backdrop.
A surprising element for me was finding Patrick Pearse , leader of the Irish 1916 revolution, coming to life in its pages. Pearse is so often nothing more than a relic of some very distant past.
The book takes off when the two young men enlist and set off to serve at the Front.
Johnston never resorts to hyperbole, yet she manages to convey a very real sense of the horror and degradation of the trenches of World War 1.Both young men are so credible. Neither of them especially motivated by lofty political ideas but rather like most people stumbling along through life's events trying to make some sense of it all.
But no cosseted life in the Big House nor the discipline of Army life could adequately prepare the two young protagonists for the dilemma they face towards the end.This was a veritable crisis of conscience where nothing less than a personal response would do.
The descriptions of nature and the changing of the seasons capture the quintessence of the damp Irish climate like no other I've come across.The Big House is beatifully captured both in its splendour and its often dark, dismal interiors.
This is not the usual tale of larger than life war heroes but a down-to - earth portrayal of the harsh reality of war. A glimpse of young First World War manhood together with telling glimpses of class division. Once you get started you can't stop till you finish it. Well worth reading.

this book is simply awesome, 22 Jan 2002
I must say I was first put off by the small amount of pages in the book(156 pages) but after reading it, it didn't make a blind bit of differance,It's simply amazing, a real page-turner.
I had to read this book as part of my course for the leaving cert. in school. I'm glad we were made read it as I would never have discovered such a gem of a book otherwise.
Johnston brings the characters of Alec and Jerry
vividly to life and the detail she describes from the big house to life in the trenches is simply outstanding.

Compelling tale of two little boys who go out to war, 24 Feb 2001
This novel, written by Jennifer Johnston tells the tale of two young men from Ireland, one a Catholic peasant, and the other, the son of a Protestant landowner. The book goes on to tell how,they forged a life long friendship, and followed each other to the ends of the earth, all set against the stark sectarian background of pre independent Ireland. The plot develops around Alexander, the protestant, and how his relationship with his mother drove him to leave for the war and Jerry his Catholic friend, who dreams of an independent Ireland. The book, paints a clear vivid and truly disgusting picture of the hardship and suffering endured by all men who went to fight in World War 1, whether they were rich or poor, hero or villain. This novel is a truly compelling account of both Irish life, and life in the war, at the early part of the 20th century. This book contrasts strained family relationships with iron clad friendships, the comfort of the "Big House" with the squalor of the trenches. In short this book is a vivid, startling and precise reflection on life during World War 1

Two men wander around Dublin, 11 Mar 2008
Interesting tale. Very offbeat. Set on 16th June 1904 in Dublin. Leopold Bloom deals with adverts in the local newspaper, but he is plagued by several things: He is aware that his wife (Molly Bloom) is having an affair with local "Casanova" Blazes Boylan, and they are due to meet at 4pm. He is in mourning over the recent death of his friend Paddy Dignam, and his son Rudy ten years earlier (Rudy was just a baby when he died), and also, his father Virag, who committed suicide some years ago. Mr Bloom broods over these matters as he wanders the streets. He does not want to return home, because that would remind him of his wife's adultery. He is very compassionate, kind, and opposed to violence, helping everyone he comes across, including a blind man whom he helps to cross the road, Mrs Dignam to whom he gives money. (Paddy Dignam used the life assurance to pay off a debt). Mr Bloom also visits Mina Purefoy in hospital, where she has been in labour for 3 days. Mr Bloom helps Stephen Dedalus, an aspiring writer who has lots of bizarre philosophical ideas, and often says enigmatic things, which are often not understood by the other characters! Stephen drunkenly proceeds to the red-light district and Bloom follows, to try and protect him. Stephen is also in mourning over the death of his mother, for which he feels at least partly responsible. Having rejected Christianity, Stephen refused to kneel down and pray, and he harbours a sense of regret. Stephen unwittingly gets into a fight with an English soldier (a metaphor, perhaps, for England's oppression of Ireland during the British Empire), and Bloom helps Stephen to recover. By this time, Stephen's so-called "friends" have abandoned him, and he has nowhere to sleep. Stephen and Bloom talk of many things, and the Ithaca episode is a Q&A written in an exaggerated parody of the scientific style. (Much of the humour derives from wordplay and exaggeration.) Finally, Molly has the last word, and she is a true optimist who finds pleasure in so many things, such as flowers and music. Ultimately, she realises that, in spite of his shortcomings, she still loves Bloom. Her final affirmation is a kind of saying "yes" to life itself.

There are many themes, including: ancient Greece, the father/son relationship, the human body, love, death, betrayal, language. One of the recurring themes is Home Rule. In 1904, Ireland was still part of the British Empire, and most Irish people wanted independence. In the late C19th, they had hoped that Charles Stewart Parnell would lead them to Home Rule, but he was discredited after his affair with Kitty O'Shea was made public.

Stephen's theory on Hamlet: Hamlet's father (the ghost) is Shakespeare. Hamlet is Shakespeare's son Hamnet (sic). Gertrude is Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare suspected his wife was unfaithful, and sought to recreate the son who had died as a baby using the fictional character of Hamlet. (Parallel between Shakespeare and Bloom. But remember that this is pure speculation, and Stephen himself is not entirely convinced by it.)

This book is worth reading with the aid of a study guide, a large dictionary (but beware: Joyce sometimes invents his own words!), and something like the Internet to look up the more important points. NB: "Ineluctable" just means "unavoidable". I was confused by Stephen's "ashplant". I thought he was carrying around a potted plant all day! Eventually, I found out an ashplant is a kind of walking stick made of ash!

Great book, 07 Mar 2008
Surprisingly witty, impressively erudite, justifiably famous and incredibly rich: use a good edition with notes (like the Oxford) and you'll find this one well worth it. Up there with the best novels.

Beyond Me, 20 Aug 2007
I've tried it and it wasn't for me. Reached the 200 page mark last night and felt weighed down by the 500 still to go. I haven't understood what I've read it isn't actually a pleasure. I'm very pleased I've tried, I'm disappointed in myself for not completing it but what would I achieve by reading something I'm not enjoying?

I'm not sure what Joyce was aiming for with the audience for this book but it isn't your average reader and I'm sure it wouldn't be the average reader of the times. Extremely challenging to follow and I think listening to this read on audio may make a big difference.

*, 22 Aug 2006
I read this book thinking it would inspire me as its often cited as the best literary novel of all time. It didn't however. It's excellently written and testiment to a brilliant mind but it's frustrating and boring to read. Best read as a textbook rather than a story, because the average joe (ie me) won't understand a lot of what makes this book good. But I won't begrudge many stars in rating it because of how well written it clearly is. But don't buy this unless you're doing an english degree or a masochist, or unless you see it cheap in a charity shop (like I did)

Hard work - but is it worth it?, 15 Aug 2006
I'm reading 'Ulysses' because my MA in modernist literature demands it. But that's not to say that I'm not enjoying the challenge of ploughing through one of the most indecipherable books in history. And it really is indecipherable. For the first time in my literary career (and I've read a LOT of books), I've had to resort to reading the Cliffs Notes alongside the original, just to try and get a handle on what's going on. And a lot of the time it just feels like I'm reading word after word, but have no idea what they all mean when they're strung together. It's true that it makes it a 'little' easier if you read the book outloud, but frankly, 1) it takes twice as long and 2) my boyfriend was getting fed up of me drivelling on at home about Bloom and his long-winded defecations (and I don't blame him!) - and that's without commenting on the funny looks I got on the bus.

I admit I haven't yet finished 'Ulysses' - I'm currently on chapter 10, of 18. It does at times feel like I'm never going to get through it, although I'm determined to finish it - I see it as a mountain to climb, and I know I'll be pleased with myself when I get to the end, in 500+ pages! But I'd be a big fat fibber if I said I'd enjoyed a single page of it... so far.

Personally, I don't think that reading 'Ulysses' will add anything to your appreciation or otherwise of contemporary literature. It's an exceedingly preposterous and pretentious tome, and Joyce clearly had one intention when he wrote it - to cause controversy and incite argument. And judging by the reviews on Amazon alone, he's certainly succeeded. However, I was disappointed to read in The Guardian last week (in a flippant article about the new set texts for school curriculums) that Joyce didn't get a look in (for any of his books) and they they didn't think he'd care. Of course he'd care... otherwise what's the point of writing a book in the first place?

An Extraordinary Experience, 21 Mar 2008
Like many, I have tried reading the book and found it quite tough.Jim Norton makes the text come to life and team with unforgettable characters. His voice is an extraordinary instrument capable of conveying every emotional nuance and moments of great humour. His reading is an amazing tour de force.He has an inexhaustible range of voices in all registers from velvety bass to falsetto. He conveys the multilayered prose with complete ease deploying many voices to convey a sense of place, inner thoughts and an astonishing cast of characters, each with a unique and distinctive timbre, register and accent.Bloom emerges as a deeply sympathetic and vulnerable human being.
Marcella Riordan is also marvellous as Molly. She is vividly realised and her soliloquy becomes a fascinating and erotic experience. Despite their considerable length, I have already enjoyed these discs several times and find each repetition more illuminating.I now understand why this book has achieved its legendary status. This reading is, perhaps, the most remarkable piece of storytelling I have ever heard.

Re-Joyce!, 10 Dec 2006
This is an astounding tour de force. Ulysses is a notoriously difficult read but, when listening to this, one is simply swept along, unconcerned about such difficulties as foreign-language quotations, obscure allusions, opaque puns, crazy word-games etc. On the printed page, such things are frustrating for the reader, who feels ill-inclined to continue with a book which he or she doesn't fully undertand. But this brilliant reading places such difficulites in their proper perspective.

For me, this reading revealed the humour of the book for the first time. The Aeolus episode had me in stitches; the Cyclops episode and the end of Circe made me literally cry with laughter. And, in this reading, the very ending of the novel, with its great surge of warmth and love, is almost overwhelming.

One could quibble about the occasional pronunciation. And maybe Marcella Riordan, who reads Molly Bloom, could somehow have suggested the total lack of punctuation in the final Penelope episode. (Yes, I appreciate that the poor woman has got to breathe...!) But these are minor quibbles. The reading(s), production and presentation are all absolutely first rate. I hope this splendid recording will win new admirers for this great masterpiece.

Norton and Riordan have also recorded a very abridged Finnegans Wake. Let us hope that someday they - and Naxos - will give us the whole thing.

Very tart lemmingaid, 20 Mar 2005
The only real reason to tackle the massive burden of Ulysses is to become aware of the stark reality that it expresses regarding the "spirit of the age", essentially a rampant nihilism. Then one can possibly adjust one's outlook on the current world society and proceed accordingly, perhaps avoiding being a lemming going over the cliff.

Before entering the cavern of this work, one has to decide the "why" as above, then the "how". For me, after much diddling, false starts and self deceptions, this excellent CD set became the obvious answer. I had heard the comments of people far more intelligent than I on how difficult the work was to plow through. Therefore, I would have even more difficulty than they if I chose to continue reading it (a false start at reading the 735 page tome got almost nowhere). Also, I would be displaying a gracious nature in accepting the much-touted idea that "Joyce's prose must be HEARD to be truly appreciated".

The production here is an excellent way to expose oneself in a leisurely manner to the book's wily trap without becoming totally enmeshed. The trap is simply that one thinks the work is "going to say something", but the fact remains that it really says nothing, albeit in a brilliant way.

One can be tired but still listen to part of a CD, repeat passages at will, turn it off, reflect, then continue. It is MUCH harder to read this work than to listen to it. The CD set also contains very valuable and detailed notes about each section as well as overall enlightening critical information, and relevant musical selections are also present throughout.

If one is truly serious about attacking this work, I would recommend the sort of "Joyce for Dummies" approach that I followed: purchase the DVD of the film version of Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (although the film doesn't boast a very good screenplay and is unrestored, the performances are excellent), as well as the CD audio book of the same title (abridged, but all the important parts are there). Absorbing these will give you a central clue about Ulysses, mostly in the Stephen Dedalus character that appears in both (hint: Stephen is a boring, cold, emotionless prig). Then purchase the DVD of the 1967 film version of Ulysses (excellent photography in a pristine black and white print). Although set in 1967, it will give you a reasonably OK overview of the "story" of Ulysses which is set in 1904.

Having taken in these, you are almost ready to proceed to the CD set of Ulysses, and you can already rightly claim to have listened to the prose of Joyce, definitely a feather in your cap at certain parties (where you may also want to rhyme off a few memorized lines in the appropriate accent).

Avoid the millions of words contained in endless musings about the book, and read only one essay, that of Carl Jung entitled Ulysses in the book The Spirit in Man, Art, and Literature. If read carefully and more than once before listening to the Ulysses CD set, you'll find that it does indeed contain the golden key to truly understanding the nature of this massively influential book.

Bloom's Odyssey on disc., 19 Oct 2004
Yes.

In The Gingerbread Woman, Jennifer Johnston again demonstrates her ability to create memorable and affecting characters. Clara, who at 35 makes her living doing "odd jobs for newspapers", is recovering from a serious operation and spends her days wandering around the cliff tops at Dublin Bay. Like the The French Lieutenant's Woman, she stares out to sea, trying to rediscover the direction in her life. One rainy afternoon, she encounters Laurence (Lar), a teacher who has run away from his life in Northern Ireland as he tries to come to terms with a family tragedy. The novel describes how these two unconventional people form a fragile friendship.

Alternating the narrative voice, Johnston lets their stories unravel gradually. Both characters are trying to come to terms with loss and the novel examines the contrasting ways they cope: Clara is self-depreciating and humorous but can't shake off the knowledge that haunts her; Lar is bitter and coiled, bottling up his pain in an ever-present anger. Johnston has no difficulty in keeping the reader intrigued as the plot is never a foregone conclusion.

The Gingerbread Woman is a short book but not a light read--it investigates loss, tragedy, loneliness and apparent hopelessness but does not weigh the reader down in doing so. It also considers the complexities of emotions not always recognised or voiced and their impact on everyone involved. This is a book that lingers. --Christina McLoughlin

Not brilliant, 18 Sep 2008
Three Men In a Boat is an amusing collection of anecdotes cleverly stitched together in the form of a travelogue.

Hugh Laurie is a great narrator, however what CSA have done is to reduce the running time to two hours by editing out almost all the amusing anecdotes, leaving the story rather threadbare.

I would recommend Martin Jarvis' unabridged version instead, which is also available from Amazon (and elsewhere): Three Men in a Boat (Classic Fiction)

A Pure Delight!, 17 Sep 2007
Hugh Laurie narrates this classic book as perfectly as he played Bertie Wooster and gives the character of J the voice which you instinctively feel he should have. The story of three friends (and a dog) going for a boating trip on the Thames is told with such expertise that you may find yourself bypassing the last hundred or so years and imagining your actually listening to the author himself. I have read the book on a number of occasions, loving it each and every time but Mr Laurie manages to pull a few extra laughs out of the tale with his delivery that I have never before noticed. He brings out all the wit and subtlety of Jerome K Jerome's prose effortlessly, leaving you wanting more. Listen out for Harris and the maze, simply hilarious!.

How I wish this was a full and unabridged recording. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose!.

Ah, the simple pleasures ..., 02 Jan 2006
It's a wonderful book. Harmless escapism and lashings of good humour. What could be more pleasant? It's one of my favourite reads. Three men, one dog and a row boat - sometimes lazily and sometimes energetically pulling up the River Thames, having endless adventures, calamities and runs-in with the consequences of "Murphy's law". I wondered if I would enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I'm delighted to report that Hugh Laurie has done an excellent job of this abridged reading . It's not surprising really. His television interpretation of Bertie Wooster is spot on for that character, and the character of J. (the author/narrator, Jerome K Jerome) in this tale, is so similar in many ways to Bertie - in attitude, speech mannerisms etc - that Mr Laurie seems just perfect for the role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the outrageous exaggerations, boasts and scenic descriptions, read in exactly the voice I imagine J. would have. I've listened to it twice so far and will, no doubt, listen to it whenever I need to be cheered up.

There are 2 CDs in the box and the running time is two and a half hours.

Highly recommended.

Timeless Humour, 29 Jul 2005
Hugh Laurie is the perfect narrator for this hilarious classic. Originally written as a travel guide to the Thames, but turned into a graphic novel by the publishers, you'd never guess this was written a hundred years ago. It had me in stitches.

A heart-wrenching First World War story, 07 Feb 2008
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.

The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.

Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.

Quick but enjoyable!, 16 Jan 2007
I just LOVE this book to pieces. I,too, like some of the other reviewers had to read it as part of my english course in the Leaving cert but it was oceans away from the normal boring pros that are obligatory in school.

Basically, his book is about two young men, Alexander and Jerry, and the growth and development of their relation as they leave childhhod and progress into adulthood during a age of stormy political and religious tensions. Or in other words, they were on different sides of the political and religious divide when the troubles were at their hightest in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century and thus the book details if/how their relationship survives such an obstacle and other challenges that face them.

The end of this bok is the best part. In school i couldn't wait for the class to finish it so i read on-its one of a very small few of books to which i can cry to(over and over again as i have since discovered).
The only bad thing about this book is how short it is-but then again if it had been longer the main scenes may have been lost or changed by Jennifer Johnston(the magnificent Irish author behind this bok).

Buy it. Read it. Remember it. And hope that you too have the chance to experience such a true friend.

How many miles to Babylon? J.Johnston A glimpse of world war 1 young Irish manhood beset by class and country,, 09 Sep 2006
This short novel holds a few surprises well worth waiting for. Written by the Dublin born Ms Johnston, now living across the border in Derry, it examines the Irish political landscape,
through a personal not a political lens as it follows the fortunes of Alex from the Big House and Jerry, an Irish peasant.
Written by Alex as a first person narrative it gives the reader a distinct feeling of getting up close and personal. You feel like you're eavesdropping.
Truth to tell nothing much happens for a while. A sense of ennui begins to set in for the reader mirroring the lifestyle of the two young protagonists. At times you wonder if it is just another tableau of the Anglo- Irish class and their peasant peers. World War 1 is the backdrop.
A surprising element for me was finding Patrick Pearse , leader of the Irish 1916 revolution, coming to life in its pages. Pearse is so often nothing more than a relic of some very distant past.
The book takes off when the two young men enlist and set off to serve at the Front.
Johnston never resorts to hyperbole, yet she manages to convey a very real sense of the horror and degradation of the trenches of World War 1.Both young men are so credible. Neither of them especially motivated by lofty political ideas but rather like most people stumbling along through life's events trying to make some sense of it all.
But no cosseted life in the Big House nor the discipline of Army life could adequately prepare the two young protagonists for the dilemma they face towards the end.This was a veritable crisis of conscience where nothing less than a personal response would do.
The descriptions of nature and the changing of the seasons capture the quintessence of the damp Irish climate like no other I've come across.The Big House is beatifully captured both in its splendour and its often dark, dismal interiors.
This is not the usual tale of larger than life war heroes but a down-to - earth portrayal of the harsh reality of war. A glimpse of young First World War manhood together with telling glimpses of class division. Once you get started you can't stop till you finish it. Well worth reading.

this book is simply awesome, 22 Jan 2002
I must say I was first put off by the small amount of pages in the book(156 pages) but after reading it, it didn't make a blind bit of differance,It's simply amazing, a real page-turner.
I had to read this book as part of my course for the leaving cert. in school. I'm glad we were made read it as I would never have discovered such a gem of a book otherwise.
Johnston brings the characters of Alec and Jerry
vividly to life and the detail she describes from the big house to life in the trenches is simply outstanding.

Compelling tale of two little boys who go out to war, 24 Feb 2001
This novel, written by Jennifer Johnston tells the tale of two young men from Ireland, one a Catholic peasant, and the other, the son of a Protestant landowner. The book goes on to tell how,they forged a life long friendship, and followed each other to the ends of the earth, all set against the stark sectarian background of pre independent Ireland. The plot develops around Alexander, the protestant, and how his relationship with his mother drove him to leave for the war and Jerry his Catholic friend, who dreams of an independent Ireland. The book, paints a clear vivid and truly disgusting picture of the hardship and suffering endured by all men who went to fight in World War 1, whether they were rich or poor, hero or villain. This novel is a truly compelling account of both Irish life, and life in the war, at the early part of the 20th century. This book contrasts strained family relationships with iron clad friendships, the comfort of the "Big House" with the squalor of the trenches. In short this book is a vivid, startling and precise reflection on life during World War 1

Two men wander around Dublin, 11 Mar 2008
Interesting tale. Very offbeat. Set on 16th June 1904 in Dublin. Leopold Bloom deals with adverts in the local newspaper, but he is plagued by several things: He is aware that his wife (Molly Bloom) is having an affair with local "Casanova" Blazes Boylan, and they are due to meet at 4pm. He is in mourning over the recent death of his friend Paddy Dignam, and his son Rudy ten years earlier (Rudy was just a baby when he died), and also, his father Virag, who committed suicide some years ago. Mr Bloom broods over these matters as he wanders the streets. He does not want to return home, because that would remind him of his wife's adultery. He is very compassionate, kind, and opposed to violence, helping everyone he comes across, including a blind man whom he helps to cross the road, Mrs Dignam to whom he gives money. (Paddy Dignam used the life assurance to pay off a debt). Mr Bloom also visits Mina Purefoy in hospital, where she has been in labour for 3 days. Mr Bloom helps Stephen Dedalus, an aspiring writer who has lots of bizarre philosophical ideas, and often says enigmatic things, which are often not understood by the other characters! Stephen drunkenly proceeds to the red-light district and Bloom follows, to try and protect him. Stephen is also in mourning over the death of his mother, for which he feels at least partly responsible. Having rejected Christianity, Stephen refused to kneel down and pray, and he harbours a sense of regret. Stephen unwittingly gets into a fight with an English soldier (a metaphor, perhaps, for England's oppression of Ireland during the British Empire), and Bloom helps Stephen to recover. By this time, Stephen's so-called "friends" have abandoned him, and he has nowhere to sleep. Stephen and Bloom talk of many things, and the Ithaca episode is a Q&A written in an exaggerated parody of the scientific style. (Much of the humour derives from wordplay and exaggeration.) Finally, Molly has the last word, and she is a true optimist who finds pleasure in so many things, such as flowers and music. Ultimately, she realises that, in spite of his shortcomings, she still loves Bloom. Her final affirmation is a kind of saying "yes" to life itself.

There are many themes, including: ancient Greece, the father/son relationship, the human body, love, death, betrayal, language. One of the recurring themes is Home Rule. In 1904, Ireland was still part of the British Empire, and most Irish people wanted independence. In the late C19th, they had hoped that Charles Stewart Parnell would lead them to Home Rule, but he was discredited after his affair with Kitty O'Shea was made public.

Stephen's theory on Hamlet: Hamlet's father (the ghost) is Shakespeare. Hamlet is Shakespeare's son Hamnet (sic). Gertrude is Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare suspected his wife was unfaithful, and sought to recreate the son who had died as a baby using the fictional character of Hamlet. (Parallel between Shakespeare and Bloom. But remember that this is pure speculation, and Stephen himself is not entirely convinced by it.)

This book is worth reading with the aid of a study guide, a large dictionary (but beware: Joyce sometimes invents his own words!), and something like the Internet to look up the more important points. NB: "Ineluctable" just means "unavoidable". I was confused by Stephen's "ashplant". I thought he was carrying around a potted plant all day! Eventually, I found out an ashplant is a kind of walking stick made of ash!

Great book, 07 Mar 2008
Surprisingly witty, impressively erudite, justifiably famous and incredibly rich: use a good edition with notes (like the Oxford) and you'll find this one well worth it. Up there with the best novels.

Beyond Me, 20 Aug 2007
I've tried it and it wasn't for me. Reached the 200 page mark last night and felt weighed down by the 500 still to go. I haven't understood what I've read it isn't actually a pleasure. I'm very pleased I've tried, I'm disappointed in myself for not completing it but what would I achieve by reading something I'm not enjoying?

I'm not sure what Joyce was aiming for with the audience for this book but it isn't your average reader and I'm sure it wouldn't be the average reader of the times. Extremely challenging to follow and I think listening to this read on audio may make a big difference.

*, 22 Aug 2006
I read this book thinking it would inspire me as its often cited as the best literary novel of all time. It didn't however. It's excellently written and testiment to a brilliant mind but it's frustrating and boring to read. Best read as a textbook rather than a story, because the average joe (ie me) won't understand a lot of what makes this book good. But I won't begrudge many stars in rating it because of how well written it clearly is. But don't buy this unless you're doing an english degree or a masochist, or unless you see it cheap in a charity shop (like I did)

Hard work - but is it worth it?, 15 Aug 2006
I'm reading 'Ulysses' because my MA in modernist literature demands it. But that's not to say that I'm not enjoying the challenge of ploughing through one of the most indecipherable books in history. And it really is indecipherable. For the first time in my literary career (and I've read a LOT of books), I've had to resort to reading the Cliffs Notes alongside the original, just to try and get a handle on what's going on. And a lot of the time it just feels like I'm reading word after word, but have no idea what they all mean when they're strung together. It's true that it makes it a 'little' easier if you read the book outloud, but frankly, 1) it takes twice as long and 2) my boyfriend was getting fed up of me drivelling on at home about Bloom and his long-winded defecations (and I don't blame him!) - and that's without commenting on the funny looks I got on the bus.

I admit I haven't yet finished 'Ulysses' - I'm currently on chapter 10, of 18. It does at times feel like I'm never going to get through it, although I'm determined to finish it - I see it as a mountain to climb, and I know I'll be pleased with myself when I get to the end, in 500+ pages! But I'd be a big fat fibber if I said I'd enjoyed a single page of it... so far.

Personally, I don't think that reading 'Ulysses' will add anything to your appreciation or otherwise of contemporary literature. It's an exceedingly preposterous and pretentious tome, and Joyce clearly had one intention when he wrote it - to cause controversy and incite argument. And judging by the reviews on Amazon alone, he's certainly succeeded. However, I was disappointed to read in The Guardian last week (in a flippant article about the new set texts for school curriculums) that Joyce didn't get a look in (for any of his books) and they they didn't think he'd care. Of course he'd care... otherwise what's the point of writing a book in the first place?

An Extraordinary Experience, 21 Mar 2008
Like many, I have tried reading the book and found it quite tough.Jim Norton makes the text come to life and team with unforgettable characters. His voice is an extraordinary instrument capable of conveying every emotional nuance and moments of great humour. His reading is an amazing tour de force.He has an inexhaustible range of voices in all registers from velvety bass to falsetto. He conveys the multilayered prose with complete ease deploying many voices to convey a sense of place, inner thoughts and an astonishing cast of characters, each with a unique and distinctive timbre, register and accent.Bloom emerges as a deeply sympathetic and vulnerable human being.
Marcella Riordan is also marvellous as Molly. She is vividly realised and her soliloquy becomes a fascinating and erotic experience. Despite their considerable length, I have already enjoyed these discs several times and find each repetition more illuminating.I now understand why this book has achieved its legendary status. This reading is, perhaps, the most remarkable piece of storytelling I have ever heard.

Re-Joyce!, 10 Dec 2006
This is an astounding tour de force. Ulysses is a notoriously difficult read but, when listening to this, one is simply swept along, unconcerned about such difficulties as foreign-language quotations, obscure allusions, opaque puns, crazy word-games etc. On the printed page, such things are frustrating for the reader, who feels ill-inclined to continue with a book which he or she doesn't fully undertand. But this brilliant reading places such difficulites in their proper perspective.

For me, this reading revealed the humour of the book for the first time. The Aeolus episode had me in stitches; the Cyclops episode and the end of Circe made me literally cry with laughter. And, in this reading, the very ending of the novel, with its great surge of warmth and love, is almost overwhelming.

One could quibble about the occasional pronunciation. And maybe Marcella Riordan, who reads Molly Bloom, could somehow have suggested the total lack of punctuation in the final Penelope episode. (Yes, I appreciate that the poor woman has got to breathe...!) But these are minor quibbles. The reading(s), production and presentation are all absolutely first rate. I hope this splendid recording will win new admirers for this great masterpiece.

Norton and Riordan have also recorded a very abridged Finnegans Wake. Let us hope that someday they - and Naxos - will give us the whole thing.

Very tart lemmingaid, 20 Mar 2005
The only real reason to tackle the massive burden of Ulysses is to become aware of the stark reality that it expresses regarding the "spirit of the age", essentially a rampant nihilism. Then one can possibly adjust one's outlook on the current world society and proceed accordingly, perhaps avoiding being a lemming going over the cliff.

Before entering the cavern of this work, one has to decide the "why" as above, then the "how". For me, after much diddling, false starts and self deceptions, this excellent CD set became the obvious answer. I had heard the comments of people far more intelligent than I on how difficult the work was to plow through. Therefore, I would have even more difficulty than they if I chose to continue reading it (a false start at reading the 735 page tome got almost nowhere). Also, I would be displaying a gracious nature in accepting the much-touted idea that "Joyce's prose must be HEARD to be truly appreciated".

The production here is an excellent way to expose oneself in a leisurely manner to the book's wily trap without becoming totally enmeshed. The trap is simply that one thinks the work is "going to say something", but the fact remains that it really says nothing, albeit in a brilliant way.

One can be tired but still listen to part of a CD, repeat passages at will, turn it off, reflect, then continue. It is MUCH harder to read this work than to listen to it. The CD set also contains very valuable and detailed notes about each section as well as overall enlightening critical information, and relevant musical selections are also present throughout.

If one is truly serious about attacking this work, I would recommend the sort of "Joyce for Dummies" approach that I followed: purchase the DVD of the film version of Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (although the film doesn't boast a very good screenplay and is unrestored, the performances are excellent), as well as the CD audio book of the same title (abridged, but all the important parts are there). Absorbing these will give you a central clue about Ulysses, mostly in the Stephen Dedalus character that appears in both (hint: Stephen is a boring, cold, emotionless prig). Then purchase the DVD of the 1967 film version of Ulysses (excellent photography in a pristine black and white print). Although set in 1967, it will give you a reasonably OK overview of the "story" of Ulysses which is set in 1904.

Having taken in these, you are almost ready to proceed to the CD set of Ulysses, and you can already rightly claim to have listened to the prose of Joyce, definitely a feather in your cap at certain parties (where you may also want to rhyme off a few memorized lines in the appropriate accent).

Avoid the millions of words contained in endless musings about the book, and read only one essay, that of Carl Jung entitled Ulysses in the book The Spirit in Man, Art, and Literature. If read carefully and more than once before listening to the Ulysses CD set, you'll find that it does indeed contain the golden key to truly understanding the nature of this massively influential book.

Bloom's Odyssey on disc., 19 Oct 2004
Yes.

Beautiful and compelling, 19 Dec 2006
This beautifully succinct novel tells the story of two lonely 30-somethings, both coming to terms with personal tragedies, who forge a tentative -- and rocky -- friendship, almost by accident, on a cliff top overlooking Dublin Bay.

Clara, a freelance writer and lecturer who lives in a house filled with clutter and an overgrown garden, is recovering from major surgery and nursing a broken heart after a failed love affair in New York.

Meanwhile Laurence (Lar), a teacher from Northern Ireland, is mourning the loss of his wife and 10-month old daughter, who were killed two years' earlier.

Both characters have much in common -- they are dealing with loss and grief, and the claustrophobia of familial concern -- but they deal with their problems in vastly different ways. Clara is outspoken, blunt to the point of rudeness and self-deprecating; Lar is filled with hate and quietly stewing in his own anger.

However, as the story gradually enfolds we see that it is Clara who finds it difficult to express herself, other than on the written page, while Lar opens up to strangers, expunging his guilt and pain like verbal diarrhoea.

With no real plot to speak of, the narrative force of this novel revolves around each character's growth and journey to self-realisation. It is not a romance novel -- the friendship between the two is purely platonic -- but it is a novel about the fragility of the human heart.

Johnston, who is an acclaimed writer in her native Ireland, is a master at drip feeding information so that the reader is never quite sure what is driving her characters to say and do certain things. Then a certain fact is revealed that slots neatly into place and everything suddenly makes sense. I am sure I said 'a-ha!!' out loud several times while reading this book as fragmented pieces of information began to join up in my head to form one cohesive -- and intriguing -- whole.

My only quibble is that I found it hard to believe that a single woman would invite a strange man, who is "sick in the head" as she puts it, to come and stay with her for a few days... but then maybe this just demonstrates Clara's naivety and trusting nature, traits which have landed her in trouble in the past.

Ultimately The Gingerbread Woman is a very sad and emotional book, but it is a compelling tale about hope, second chances borne through friendship and human resilence in the face of personal tragedy. I loved this near-perfect book and did not want the story to end and will definitely be reading more by this wonderfully talented writer.

A compelling and challenging novel, 17 Mar 2002
"The Gingerbread Woman" clearly demonstrates Jennifer Johnston's experience as a consummate storyteller. She deals compassionately with the difficult themes of death and disease, weaving a surprisingly fast paced (very little actually happens) and compelling narrative. The characters are carefully crafted and though the reader may not like either of the main characters in their often self-indulgent pity and grief, Johnston nonetheless makes their lives both accessible and commanding of the reader's attention.
This would be a great book for any book club to discuss, as there are plenty of moral questions raised. Set in Ireland and New York, the novel provides a careful commentary on the question of adultery and lust and raises the idea of the responsibilities of terrorists. Both difficult concepts are dealt with sympathetically by Johnston, leaving the reader with no easy answers.
The narrative is very clever, with the novelist within the novel exploring her past whilst coming to terms with her present. Johnson's description of the past and the passionate love affair is wonderfully evocative and maintains the reader's interest.
The end of the novel is a little frustrating; another book club debate could revolve around when the reader guesses the outcome! And I was also a little dissatisfied with the moral message of adultery leading to heartache and ultimately punishment for the protagonist. Nonetheless this is a beautifully written book; I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. Having never encountered Johnson before I will certainly search out her other novels as both her style and her themes provide the reader with food for thought, an element sadly lacking in a number of recent best sellers.

A deeply touching book., 07 Nov 2000
This book, set in Dublin, is the story of Clara and Lar, two people who are trying to deal with their sad, tragic pasts.

Lar has tried to run away from his past and the death of his wife and child in a car crash. Clara, on the other hand, tries to deal with her horrible past, a tragic relationship, by writing a book about it, entitled 'The Gingerbread Woman' (hence the title).

These two characters meet by chance, at Killiney Hill, and develop a special friendship.

Johnston looks at various themes in the book, such as; how tragedy effects people, the ways in which people deal tragedy, communication, relationships and love.

The author also skilfully gives the audience a deep insight into her realistic characters. One of the most original ways in which she does this is, of course, through Clara's novel.

This use of meta-fiction is extremely effective because as well as giving the reader an insight into Clara's character, it makes the book ever more interesting by giving it two plots.

The book is extremely sad, but it does offer hope in the end, as the characters begin to rise out of the depression of their pasts, and look to the future.

Not brilliant, 18 Sep 2008
Three Men In a Boat is an amusing collection of anecdotes cleverly stitched together in the form of a travelogue.

Hugh Laurie is a great narrator, however what CSA have done is to reduce the running time to two hours by editing out almost all the amusing anecdotes, leaving the story rather threadbare.

I would recommend Martin Jarvis' unabridged version instead, which is also available from Amazon (and elsewhere): Three Men in a Boat (Classic Fiction)

A Pure Delight!, 17 Sep 2007
Hugh Laurie narrates this classic book as perfectly as he played Bertie Wooster and gives the character of J the voice which you instinctively feel he should have. The story of three friends (and a dog) going for a boating trip on the Thames is told with such expertise that you may find yourself bypassing the last hundred or so years and imagining your actually listening to the author himself. I have read the book on a number of occasions, loving it each and every time but Mr Laurie manages to pull a few extra laughs out of the tale with his delivery that I have never before noticed. He brings out all the wit and subtlety of Jerome K Jerome's prose effortlessly, leaving you wanting more. Listen out for Harris and the maze, simply hilarious!.

How I wish this was a full and unabridged recording. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose!.

Ah, the simple pleasures ..., 02 Jan 2006
It's a wonderful book. Harmless escapism and lashings of good humour. What could be more pleasant? It's one of my favourite reads. Three men, one dog and a row boat - sometimes lazily and sometimes energetically pulling up the River Thames, having endless adventures, calamities and runs-in with the consequences of "Murphy's law". I wondered if I would enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading it and I'm delighted to report that Hugh Laurie has done an excellent job of this abridged reading . It's not surprising really. His television interpretation of Bertie Wooster is spot on for that character, and the character of J. (the author/narrator, Jerome K Jerome) in this tale, is so similar in many ways to Bertie - in attitude, speech mannerisms etc - that Mr Laurie seems just perfect for the role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the outrageous exaggerations, boasts and scenic descriptions, read in exactly the voice I imagine J. would have. I've listened to it twice so far and will, no doubt, listen to it whenever I need to be cheered up.

There are 2 CDs in the box and the running time is two and a half hours.

Highly recommended.

Timeless Humour, 29 Jul 2005
Hugh Laurie is the perfect narrator for this hilarious classic. Originally written as a travel guide to the Thames, but turned into a graphic novel by the publishers, you'd never guess this was written a hundred years ago. It had me in stitches.

A heart-wrenching First World War story, 07 Feb 2008
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.

The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.

Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.

Quick but enjoyable!, 16 Jan 2007
I just LOVE this book to pieces. I,too, like some of the other reviewers had to read it as part of my english course in the Leaving cert but it was oceans away from the normal boring pros that are obligatory in school.

Basically, his book is about two young men, Alexander and Jerry, and the growth and development of their relation as they leave childhhod and progress into adulthood during a age of stormy political and religious tensions. Or in other words, they were on different sides of the political and religious divide when the troubles were at their hightest in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century and thus the book details if/how their relationship survives such an obstacle and other challenges that face them.

The end of this bok is the best part. In school i couldn't wait for the class to finish it so i read on-its one of a very small few of books to which i can cry to(over and over again as i have since discovered).
The only bad thing about this book is how short it is-but then again if it had been longer the main scenes may have been lost or changed by Jennifer Johnston(the magnificent Irish author behind this bok).

Buy it. Read it. Remember it. And hope that you too have the chance to experience such a true friend.

How many miles to Babylon? J.Johnston A glimpse of world war 1 young Irish manhood beset by class and country,, 09 Sep 2006
This short novel holds a few surprises well worth waiting for. Written by the Dublin born Ms Johnston, now living across the border in Derry, it examines the Irish political landscape,
through a personal not a political lens as it follows the fortunes of Alex from the Big House and Jerry, an Irish peasant.
Written by Alex as a first person narrative it gives the reader a distinct feeling of getting up close and personal. You feel like you're eavesdropping.
Truth to tell nothing much happens for a while. A sense of ennui begins to set in for the reader mirroring the lifestyle of the two young protagonists. At times you wonder if it is just another tableau of the Anglo- Irish class and their peasant peers. World War 1 is the backdrop.
A surprising element for me was finding Patrick Pearse , leader of the Irish 1916 revolution, coming to life in its pages. Pearse is so often nothing more than a relic of some very distant past.
The book takes off when the two young men enlist and set off to serve at the Front.
Johnston never resorts to hyperbole, yet she manages to convey a very real sense of the horror and degradation of the trenches of World War 1.Both young men are so credible. Neither of them especially motivated by lofty political ideas but rather like most people stumbling along through life's events trying to make some sense of it all.
But no cosseted life in the Big House nor the discipline of Army life could adequately prepare the two young protagonists for the dilemma they face towards the end.This was a veritable crisis of conscience where nothing less than a personal response would do.
The descriptions of nature and the changing of the seasons capture the quintessence of the damp Irish climate like no other I've come across.The Big House is beatifully captured both in its splendour and its often dark, dismal interiors.
This is not the usual tale of larger than life war heroes but a down-to - earth portrayal of the harsh reality of war. A glimpse of young First World War manhood together with telling glimpses of class division. Once you get started you can't stop till you finish it. Well worth reading.

this book is simply awesome, 22 Jan 2002
I must say I was first put off by the small amount of pages in the book(156 pages) but after reading it, it didn't make a blind bit of differance,It's simply amazing, a real page-turner.
I had to read this book as part of my course for the leaving cert. in school. I'm glad we were made read it as I would never have discovered such a gem of a book otherwise.
Johnston brings the characters of Alec and Jerry
vividly to life and the detail she describes from the big house to life in the trenches is simply outstanding.

Compelling tale of two little boys who go out to war, 24 Feb 2001
This novel, written by Jennifer Johnston tells the tale of two young men from Ireland, one a Catholic peasant, and the other, the son of a Protestant landowner. The book goes on to tell how,they forged a life long friendship, and followed each other to the ends of the earth, all set against the stark sectarian background of pre independent Ireland. The plot develops around Alexander, the protestant, and how his relationship with his mother drove him to leave for the war and Jerry his Catholic friend, who dreams of an independent Ireland. The book, paints a clear vivid and truly disgusting picture of the hardship and suffering endured by all men who went to fight in World War 1, whether they were rich or poor, hero or villain. This novel is a truly compelling account of both Irish life, and life in the war, at the early part of the 20th century. This book contrasts strained family relationships with iron clad friendships, the comfort of the "Big House" with the squalor of the trenches. In short this book is a vivid, startling and precise reflection on life during World War 1

Two men wander around Dublin, 11 Mar 2008
Interesting tale. Very offbeat. Set on 16th June 1904 in Dublin. Leopold Bloom deals with adverts in the local newspaper, but he is plagued by several things: He