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Title: This novel is a mockery of itself
Review: This novel incorporates in its characters nearly every Irish stereotype imaginable! (surely the author is aware of this, but why this vulgarity?) No doubt, there is something aesthetically pleasing in the prose, but this is quickly sapped by its poorly devised characters who become an inescapable weight of incredulity that deafens the novel. As for the 'love' in this romance- it is quite strong, because alcohol is probably the most 'charming' thing Billy comes to find as a true love. Yet, another drag on our poor reader is that Billy isn't a even a 'fun' drinker; so it seems like more desperate measures would have been taken sooner to intervene. Surprisingly, friends and family continue supporting this deadbeat . . . because they love him! But does he love them? Does he care? And more to the point, does the reader care after this painful journey to reach the last page? At this point the novel has lost any perceived charm (if there ever really even was).
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