Carn (Paperback)

by Patrick McCabe (Author) "The night the railway closed..." (more)
Key Phrases: James Cooney, Pat Lacey, Turnpike Inn (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
"The night the Railway closed." So starts this early work by the author of the Booker-shortlisted Butcher Boy, which ends like it begins, with a demise-of an era, as the economic prosperity of the 1960s crashes into the horrific sectarian violence of the '70s and the economic slump of the '80s. In between, the book is a pulsing slice of 20th-century Irish soul that constitutes a historically accurate, vibrant portrait of a rural Irish border town-the "Carn" of the title. McCabe fashions a portrait of a place and its people that is tough and funny but, above all, authentic. His flair for depicting the customs, humor, hopes and disappointments of his characters through lively vernacular renders them totally believable. The reader is enmeshed in the lives of Carn's inhabitants as they coast through a glorious boom. Cooney, the returned emigrant to America, becomes a superstar when he opens a prosperous new meat-processing factory. Josie, the wrenchingly sad town bad girl, returns from exile only to wind up an outcast. Others, like young Sadie and Benny, learn to accept the failure of their dreams as the good times come and go. The politicians pontificate and the British army moves in across the border. By the closing page, Carn's youth are boarding transatlantic flights, and, on the hill above the town, the "rusting tower" of the defunct meat-processing plant stands as silent as the rotting train station. This is an extraordinary novel from one of Ireland's most talented writers.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In this portrait of a small Irish town in the 1960s (LJ 2/1/97), read mellifluously by Donal Donnelly, award-winning author McCabe traces the history of Carn from bust to boom and back again. Although the residents inevitably get involved in "the troubles," living as they do only one-half mile from the border, it is probably looming poverty that most erodes their peace of mind. And no wonder, as things turn out. We end up caring for them all, but especially for Josie Keenan, who has been sexually abused by numerous men and then ostracized by the righteous hypocrites of the town. Donnelly's Irish lilt infuses the story with such authentic immediacy that the listener seems transported back in time and place. Gradually it is like tuning in to the gentle rhythm of what one character calls "the tick tock days of Carn." Highly recommended.?Jo Carr, Sarasota, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Delta (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385315856
• ISBN-13: 978-0385315852
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,011,977 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IRELAND DURING THE BEATLE YEARS, October 26, 2003

By A Customer

This is a brilliantly written book that gives a literary portrayal of an Irish town. In reading this, one gets a feel for the places, political issues and people of Ireland in the early 1960s.

This author also has a flair for providing full descriptions of his characters. One of my favorite parts in the book was when he described one character as having a Beatle moptop "like George Harrison" (the youngest Beatle who was also known for having the longest hair during the Moptop Era) and making Beatle references. I loved the nod to George Harrison's beautiful wavy hair. (The Beatles with the exception of Ringo were of Irish extraction).

All in all, an excellent work and a "yeah, yeah, yeah!"

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The heart of Ireland unvailed, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

Patrick McCabe is one of the more extroadinary writers to emmerge from Ireland in recent times, anybody who experienced his sadistic tale, The Butcher's Boy will understand what I mean by this. In Carn, he beautifully unvails his microcosm of Irish life through the inhabitants of one town. McCabe traces the town through poverty, prosperity and finally utter chaos. Blending together a stong Irish dialect, McCabe tells a tale that may sound familar or completely alien. Definately a good read, especially for those political types.