Customer Reviews

Eureka Street

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The working class neighborhoods of Belfast are central to Robert McLiam Wilson's new novel, Eureka Street. That's the name of the street where Chuckie, the Protestant protagonist, lives with his mother. The narrator is Chuckie's cynical Catholic friend Jake, who lives in Poetry Street, a name that hints at the book's ambition.

The story that unfolds as these two friends criss cross the city is both a funny enjoyable read and a serious political satire on the poisonous politics of Northern Ireland.

The prominence of the street names is significant, for the novel is partly a paean to Belfast and its people. In the middle, McLiam Wilson briefly pauses the plot to voice a lyrical ode to his hometown. In a typically daring piece of writing reminiscent of the style of the American Thomas Wolfe, he describes how, in the wee hours of the morning, he can sense Belfast's stories in the quiet of its streets, when "all the streets are poetry streets."

Yet if that sounds sentimental, the novel is not. Though written with love, the book is also a penetrating satirical portrait of his troubled birthplace.

While being "dead satirical," as Chuckie puts it, McLiam Wilson manages also to be very funny. He plays with the routine Belfast absurdities that have developed after almost thirty years of the "Troubles." One running joke refers to the litter of acronyms-used as shorthand for political parties, paramilitary groups, slogans, and curses-that covers the city's walls. His rich cast of characters conveys superbly the mordant comedy of Belfast conversation as Jake and Chuckie meet regularly with their friends Slat, Septic, and Donal. Then there is Aoirghe, the middle-class Irish Republican radical whose name sounds like a bad cough; Chuckie's mother Peggy, a typical working class martyr-mother who in the course of the novel achieves a surprising liberation; and Max, a beautiful American woman who inexplicably succumbs to Chuckie's approaches.

In the novel's second half social satire gives way to sharp political satire. Although he grew up a Catholic in the same part of Belfast as Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, McLiam Wilson has no time for the evasions of Irish Republican politics. In a disturbing chapter he confronts the realities of terrorism and the political fudging of those realities. The chapter is a pure set-up; a new character is introduced but one senses that she is going to be there only briefly.

The predictability of the tragedy that ensues does not detract from the passionate anger with which McLiam Wilson writes. Afterwards the author takes aim directly at Adams (called Eve in the book; no need for too much subtlety) and at his nationalist party, Sinn Fein. That party's name is usually translated as "Ourselves Alone." In a brilliant flight of satirical invention that may well catch on in Belfast pubs, McLiam Wilson plausibly translates it a shade differently, and lampoons Sinn Fein throughout the novel as the "Just Us" party.

To any young novelist Belfast presents a dramatic gift of a subject, but one that is liable to blow up when unwrapped. This is a city where real life holds more drama than fiction and objectivity is impossible; how to address the grim political violence is a consuming question.

In his brilliant first novel Ripley Bogle, McLiam Wilson had wisely used the Troubles only as background. In Eureka Street, he shows himself ready to face the subject squarely. He does so with notable courage and with a fire in his belly.

A very good story about contemporary Ireland and Belfast. There are all the ingredients to make it a various and pleasant book: love, politics, feelings, adventures and very peculiar characters.

The plot mainly follows the events happening to two friends. The first Chuckie is a protestant boy from the proletarian area of the city who turning thirty decides that it is time to earn some money. The second Jake is a Catholic boy about the same age of Chuckie, a very critic and direct character. His frankness probably is at the base of his difficulties in finding girls to date. Through the eyes of these two friends the reader is brought in a city pulsating with life but also with violence, terror and death. Many characters appear in different part of the novel and their lives, their hopes, their feelings, their past and present are so well described that they come to life in the reader's mind.

I can see a conceptual division of the plot in two parts. The first one ending with the beautiful description of Belfast by night contained in chapter 10 and the other starting with the terrible description of the seen of an explosion contained in the next chapter. The first part of the book is lighter while in the second part death, although not directly touching the main characters, hovers on the plot. The consequences of the political hate are shown in all their brutality and horror. The armed factions are described as mere rascals who paradoxically kill Irish people in order to free Ireland.

Throughout the story emerges a desire of peace, coming from the great majority of the people, well symbolised by the strong friendship between the Catholic Jake and the protestant Chuckie.

Never having even heard of McLiam Wilson, Eureka Street found its way to my hands. Although somewhat sceptical to begin with, I soon started to terrorise my wife with my finding: All of a sudden I found a book that 1) I cannot put down, 2) gives a hint of Belfast behind the screens, 3) makes me laugh loudly ("giant dildo refund" etc), 4) includes the fancapitalitastic personality of Chuckie Lurgan. This is arguably my favourite book for several years. Last but not least - OTG!!!

I have to admit I almost didn't read this book. It was between Eureeka Street and Angela's Ashes. I couldn't decide which one to read since I love stories from Ireland. Finally I made my choice when I found out Eureeka Street was cheaper. HAving made such a heavy choice I prayed I had not made a mistake. My prayers were answered. The book was hysterical, especially the part where Chuckie shows Jake his "plan" to get rich (You will laugh hysterically!). You really felt for JAke, because you could envision this sort of Russell Crowe looking guy, you know a pretty strong tough guy who has a sensitive and I heart ripped to shreds by another woman's cold act. You constantly hope he'll find someone before the book ends, but it seems everyone finds someone except him (The end is frustrating). I love the fight he had with Aorighe, to this day I still cannot pronounce her damn name! But its a wonderful insightful book about Belfast and how the people there can just go on with normal lives despite having bombs go off all arouind them. The book shows that the ways of life are much more devastating and harsh as any bomb.

I don't write reviews, but for this book I'll make the exception. I've got a degree in reading and writing (as we English majors call it) from one of the top institutions in the USA and nothing has touched me the way this book did. I've been travelling back and forth between the US and the UK for the last 4 years and this book goes with me everywhere. I refuse to lend it out, I bought my best friend her own copy instead. Eureka Street is about everyone who ever loved, lost it, lived in a hovel, and for some reason kept going, especially when they didn't want to.

This book, whilst ostensibly a light hearted view of Belfast lads their fears,loves and scams, was much more. The authors juxtaposition of the troubles, the dreams and the laughs leads the reader into a Belfast which seems like home......even if you've never been there. I would defy anybody to read chapter 11 and not have it remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Soon to be serialised on BBC TV (but not soon enough)

Outsiders often refer to the War in Northern Ireland, one of the characters in this marvellous novel states that he doesn't know how it can be a war when neither he nor anyone he knows is fighting.

These are the people who inhabit this novel, the ordinary people of Belfast who have withstood 25 years of intimidation and murder from the mindless few. McLiam Wilson manages to convey both the humanity and humour of the people. This novel manages to be both extremely funny and yet convey the tragedy of the place.

Chapter Eleven, which describes the outcome of "political resistance" should be compulsory reading for anyone even remotely thinking of donating money to Gerry Adams/IRA/Sinn Fein.

Spend your money wisely buy this book and end up with a better understanding of the place than you will ever get from any of the clowns and gangsters that masquerade as politicians in this province

Wilson's description of Belfast is, in itself, one of the most beautiful pieces of regional description you'll ever find. Now, take that and put in stories of the silliness and sadness that humans do in the name of whatever's handy and you can't help but be engrossed. If you know Belfast, you'll be at home. If you don't, maybe this'll be the book that gets you off your duff.

I've reveiwed this book before but it seems that other essences of the book return to me and I feel I must share them. A while ago I lent Eureka Street to a friend of mine who was having a very "Jake year".Things were going really bad for him and I feared he might lose himself in his depression. I had told him about the book and how much I had enjoyed it and that I thought it would benefit him to have a good laugh. I am happy to say that the book really helped him get through his very rough spots. He said he had never read a book like it before, first he was laughing, gasping and later crying. He said after he read the part where Jake's ex sends him a one-word letter (Forgive) he lost it, he was crying. I was really happy that my friend could find solace in something for once in his hard life and I'd like to thank the author, Robert McLiam Wilson for writing this book, he may have just saved my friend's life and sanity.

I've thanked the person that brought this book to me. I liked it from the first word to the last one. An insightful look into the absurd (of politics, terrorism, capitalism and the world in general). A brilliant description of a city as all others and at the same time different to all others. Anyone that has been in Belfast can recognize many of the traces. And finally a book about love, love for others, love for a city, love for life in the middle of violence. Robert McLiam Wilson can make you laugh, and make you cry, he can make you think and enjoy. This is a book that has made me laugh and cry in public. This is a book that hooked me. This is a book that I didn't want to end. This is a book that made me happy. That is a gift. So thank you Mr. McLiam Wilson. I look forward to reading other books by this author.