Customer Reviews

No Irish Need Apply

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Foregoing a full plot synopsis (see other reviews), I'll focus instead on why this book stands out for me.
As a reader, I am primarily concerned with my connection to the characters. Mr. Patterson's ability to fully flesh out his cast is a truly rare and talented gift. I was immediately taken in by all his characters, at all times believing in and caring about their situations.
The challenge of writing from the perspective of an age you are well past - in this case, two teenagers - is not easily accomplished. Yet Mr. Patterson masterfully engages the reader at a level that borders on deja-vu. Louis' and Kevin's exploits as young, gay men, coming to terms with their sexuality and senses of self worth, took me right back to my own experiences in high school.
Being gay made this 'visit to the past' uniquely poignant, but being an 'outsider' is a universal feeling that all young people share. Anyone who feels singled out, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation, will be able to identify with and benefit from this book. I'll be passing it on to my pre-teen niece, and heartily recommend it to everyone.

It's not often these days that you come across writing that possesses both the literary beauty of a classic poem with the depth and substance of a contemporary tale. A story may be gritty and real, with writing that reflects the coarseness of the environment in which the characters live, or you have prose that weaves a magical spell with beautiful turns of phrase, but once you're done reading it leaves you with little to chew on after the fact. But "No Irish Need Apply" by Edward C. Patterson contains both substance and style, a contemporary tale with told with the poetic beauty of the literary classics of the past.

"No Irish Need Apply," a reference to the times when Irish immigrants were discriminated against, blatantly reflected by signs posted outside many establishments letting it be known that if you were Irish, then you shouldn't bother coming inside, is a story of love, a forbidden love in many circles, because it's the love story for two teen boys. For many, the subject may be controversial, even considered a topic as forbidden as the incidents it portrays. But in the hands (or should I say pen?) of Mr. Patterson, the story is told with compassion and grace. The tale of these teens as they come to recognize, and eventually accept, their growing love for one another is one which transcends the stigmas and prejudices surrounding homosexuality. It's a story that lives and breathes, takes you inside the minds of two young men dealing with issues that pretty much every human being should be able to identify with. "No Irish Need Apply" isn't a preachy tale, nor a rant against the establishment that denies same-sex relationships equal protection under the law. It's simply a story about teenage angst and love, and of two people trying to find themselves as they discover each other. If the world is lucky, stories like this one that will kick down the walls of prejudice and the misguided applications of morality that still plagues our world, and in doing so bring better understanding and acceptance to us all.

"No Irish Need Apply" isn't just a must read in my opinion, it should be required reading for everyone. Do yourself a favor and read it today.

- Gregory Bernard Banks, author of "2012: Seeking Closure"

"No Irish Need Apply" is a wonderful book, bittersweet and charmingly told. On one hand it's simply a tale of first love between two young boys (Kevin and Louis) who are only just learning to come to terms with their sexuality in a town full of gossip-mongering and intolerance. And yet, through the use of clever analogy and elegant prose, Mr Patterson manages to convey powerful messages about prejudice and understanding.

All the characters peopling this short novel are well-written and realistically portrayed. The reader gets a sense of the boys' distinct personalities and their differing reactions when faced with similar circumstances. I became especially fond of "Mrs B" whose character probably evolves more than any other throughout the story. Her tender and somewhat humorous relationship with Louis is one of the highlights of the book in my opinion.

The plot moves along at a fast clip and at times packs an unexpected emotional punch. I have to admit there were some moments towards the end of the book when I was reduced to a quivering wreck! My five-star rating speaks for itself.

This story explores the wonder of first love, and the power of it. As well as the depth of a Mothers love for her child. This is a beautifully written story, where we feel thier wonder, fear, courage and hope. It is a story that will touch your heart.

This book is multi-faceted in that it describes in great detail the impact this love story has on all of the characters in the story. First and foremost is the love between Kevin and Louis. This side of the story is told with both boys' feelings on the line, and the chances they take. Next is Kevin's mother, Mrs. B, and the impact their relationship has on her, a single mother, trying to make the right choices for her only son, and choosing to be supportive because in the end, it's the only thing a loving mother can do. Louise, Louis' mother, is having a hard time coming to terms with all of this in addition to her own problems. Mrs. B. steps up to the plate and says the right things and knows in time Louise will also come to terms with her son's decisions. For me, while I understood and felt the turmoil the boys were going through, Mrs. B. is the true heroine of this story.

I have enjoyed several of Edward C. Patterson's books. While 'Surviving an American Gulag' is a favorite of mine, this book is a solid second. He has a way of bringing out the true emotions of each and every character he writes into his stories. It's as if the reader is sitting in the room, watching facial expressions and extending a hand to the character who needs it. This is more than just skilled writing, Patterson has been blessed with a gift of bringing real situations to life and all of the sensitive emotions that accompany them. It is with great anticipation that I look forward to Edward's next book.

The innocence and sincerity of this simple love story has all the earmarks of an 'after-school special'. Anyone else remember those? The characters were right out of every day life. Completely real and engaging. I only wish, life and such actions had been possible when I was that age. Coming of age is hard enough, but coming out while dealing with impending manhood is a testament to both the nobility and courage of these two young warriors of love. If this is ever made into a movie, I hope Ron Howard directs, so the (all-american) timelesness of the charcters will be acurately captured.
No Irish Need Apply gives me hope for the future.

With this novel Mr. Patterson has reached my heart and soul. I had to fight back the tears as I read this tender, loving story about two young men fighting for and finding the love of their lives. Long after I finished the story, Kevin, Louis and Mrs B still lingered on in my mind. Making me feel all warm and good inside. Truly exceptional and therefor I can highly recommend this little piece of art to everybody !

Kevin and Louis are high school seniors, each the only child of a widowed Irish American mother, but while Kevin's mother is reasonably comfortably well off and happy with her life, Louis' mother struggles both financially and emotionally.

While Kevin has no problems at school, Louis is generally considered to be gay, so when Kevin he is assigned to be helped by Louis as his study partner, his friends were wary even suggesting he should refuse the assignment. But Kevin goes ahead, during one session he looks into Louis' eyes and feels a sense of something he cannot explain, although Louis recognises what he sees in Kevin's eyes and is sure he has found someone of his kind, and soon he is proved right, although Kevin has difficulty at first accepting that he is gay.

They start spending all their time in each other's company and become intimately involved making good use of Kevin's bedroom and bed. But when the prospect of the school Prom looms, and the question of who they will take, little do they realise the backlash that will result from the decision they make.

The varied response extends to their respective mothers, one accepting, the other not, but regardless the two boys remain firm in their love for one another.

No Irish Need Apply is a beautifully written - almost poetic at times - charming and positive love story of two boys, the lonely sissy boy with nothing to loose and the popular boy with seemingly everything to loose but determined to stand by his love - and face the consequences which is intended as a play on the book title.

The interesting, appropriate and well designed book cover illustration makes a refreshing change from all those muscle hunk photographs!

I really wavered between four and five stars for this one. I don't give a lot of five star reviews because I try to reserve those for really outstanding novels, but this one comes very close. Let's say a 4 1/2 stars with me.

The prose is above average, well-above average. At some points it reached the poetic without ever falling into the trap of purple prose. There were a few grammatical errors but nothing egregious.

A number of other reviews have discussed the plot so I won't go into it in great detail. It is the story of two high school boys who are trying to deal with their discovery that they love each other. One already knew he was gay and the other is only making that discovery. They have to deal with trying to stay in the closet, their own feelings, and how their families will react if and when they find out. This is particularly difficult in a religious environment such as Roman Catholic where there is little tolerance for the gay.

I have mixed feelings about the prom and the attack by the jocks and the girl. The fact is that this is probably minimised and would have been much worse. Take one look at the Jamie Nabozny case, for example, which occurred during the same period that this novel is set and you'll see what I mean.

On the other hand, how horribly the gay have been (and all too often still are) treated in schools and elsewhere in our society was only one part of the theme of this novel and perhaps it was better not to put too much emphasis on that aspect. It existed and is acknowledged. What also existed was the love of their mothers and this can and does also happen as well. The author doesn't portray this as easy. The characterizations were very good, one of the strongest parts of this novel.

This is a novel I would recommend. While it is not quite up to some of the classics of gay literature such as Mary Renault's The Charioteer, it is a touching portrayal of coming-of-age and the discovery of gay love.

This is a wonderful compassionate tale of two young men coming of age together and the novel way they have of coming out. Well told with enlightened warmth and sensitivity, No Irish Need Apply, should awaken an understanding of an alternate path well taken, of a mothers love, and of the vagaries of societal norms that make it so easy to condemn instead of accepting. The writing is exceptional with an attention to detail and a prose that cocoons the story in a subtle air of excellence. This is my first read of one of Mr. Edward C. Paterson's works and it won't be the last. This one deserves five stars.Johnny Oops