Customer Reviews

It's What He Would've Wanted

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

 

 

I liked it. Yes, this is a very depressing book, but it's also hopeful. There were humorous moments and touching moments. Above all, this was one of the most honest books I've read. It's lesson is that reality can be harsh and you have to cherish the good times, and it's a novel worth reading.

Irish comic Hughes' second novel (following The Detainees) is so packed with problems for its protagonist Shea that one ends up feeling like it's trying too hard to achieve a delicate mix of poignancy and black humor. Shea is yet another of those just-turned-30 English slackers who haven't quite done anything with themselves yet, and when his weatherman father commits suicide, it propels him on a quest for meaning. The story consists of Shea's attempt to understand why his father killed himself (which is aided by coded diaries and disturbing pictures), while also trying to patch up his relationship with his brother, get over his old girlfriend, deal with the hairdresser he impregnates, and do the proverbial "one last job" for a loose cultural guerrilla organization dedicated to bringing down bigwigs.

If it all sounds like a bit much and a bit silly, it is. There are too many big events going on in his life at once for any one of them to be fully explored. Shea is highly unlikeable for much of the tale, with whiny internal monologues, a sarcastic and glib approach to life, and sexual fixations, he comes across like an even more self-indulgent Nick Horbny protagonist, but his self-discovery at the end comes much too late and too easily. There are some funny moments, and some genuinely good bits about familial love, but too many contrivances, coincidences, and cheap jokes get in the way of things.

People familiar with Sean Hughes' comedy and previous writings will find common themes in this novel - loneliness, hopelessness and generally 'what its all about'. I found this a more satisfying read than 'The Detainees' as, although the bulk of this book was quite gloomy, its ending is uplifting. In any case, I generally find Hughes' work more 'realistic' than 'depressing'. And, as always, Hughes delivers with insightful comment on everyday life and the best one-liners around. If you have found yourself to be 'on his wavelength' before, then I thoroughly recommend 'Its What He Would've Wanted'.

People familiar with Sean Hughes' comedy and previous writings will find common themes in this novel - loneliness, hopelessness and generally 'what its all about'. I found this a more satisfying read than 'The Detainees' as, although the bulk of this book was quite gloomy, its ending is uplifting. In any case, I generally find Hughes' work more 'realistic' than 'depressing'. And, as always, Hughes delivers with insightful comment on everyday life and the best one-liners around. If you have found yourself to be 'on his wavelength' before, then I thoroughly recommend 'Its What He Would've Wanted'.

If the answer is "pitch black" you may enjoy this little comedy. Otherwise, I'd suggest you pass. The plot is uneven and the characters are both desperately unhappy and un-likeable. However that's pretty much the appeal. The absurd situations and pathetic reactions of the characters produce the occasional guffaw and even a belly laugh or two. But the rest of the book is a depressing throw away.