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This is the first Coraghessan Boyle book I read and it blew me away. Not only is it a thoroughly
riveting narrative but one that exhibits originality in almost every aspect. An extravagantly written
and floridly coloured parody of a Restoration comedy, it is the tale of Mungo Parks, a real life
Victorian explorer who eventually donated his life to exploration. It says much about the book
and the man himself that when he died he was searching for the source the Nile but was
actually travelling up the Niger. Although the travels of the great man are well documented within
this book, it is far from being an Irving Stone. For Boyle the life was of Mungo Parks was no more
than a starting point for a wild and witty extravaganza that offers entertainment rather than
erudition. Beautifully written and extremely funny.
This is, perhaps, Coraghessan Boyle's best known book -- largely through the movie starring Antony
Hopkins and Matthew Broderick. It is a singularly colonic experience involving more enemas than
friends. Usually it is the English who specialise is such lavatorial humour but Coraghessan Boyle
does play out the somewhat tired jokes with considerable elan. The fictional tale of the brother of the
creator of Kelloggs Cornflakes and the prototype health farm he runs, it is a full of bizarre treatments
and even more bizarre patients. Although the plotting is a little strained, there is more than enough
intrigue and repressed sex to keep most of us happy. A good read.
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It was as a writer of short stories that Coraghessan Boyle made his name and he is one of the
best. As a genre the finely crafted short story is one that gets very few people excited. Indeed,
mostly it is only writers who find short stories worth reading. Putting together a short story that
sings, that has a strong plot, an original precept and a worthwhile twist in the tail is not easy to
do. In fact, it could be seen as a medium that has long been 'written out' by such masters as
O'Henry, Maupassant and, more recently, Roald (his father couldn't spell 'Ronald') Dhal. Then
along comes Boyle and here we go again. His oblique visions of a reality that almost matches
ours but not quite provide a good starting point for his short story writing but it is in the execution
that he comes through. Cunningly setting up his climaxes, each story moves along at a fast pace
and goes out with a considerable bang. This good value composite volume contains all four of
Coraghessan Boyle's thin books of short stories. Great stuff from a great writer.
Of course, we would inlcude this one. Whilst it is not the greatest book Coraghessan Boyle has
produced, this is cetainly a good and entertaining read. Much more a good piece of fiction than a
work of genius, it is the subject that really keeps the interest up. As the heroes struggle against
the elements, the environment, the police and the poachers to bring their crop to fruition there are
some nail-biting moments. Those who have been through the traumas of growing a large number
of plants outdoors will associate with almost every word this book contains. It is a tale of karma
and confusion.
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What's this? A children's book of tales about a bear, a piglet, a donkey and a tiger, here in such
august and literary company. But that is exactly why it is here. A. A. Milne, renowned now only for
the stories he dashed off for his son as some kind of compensation for being a successful literary
figure about town, was the ultimate wordsmith and the Pooh stories prove it unequivocally. A joy to
read aloud, particularly to paying children, Milne's delightfully clever manipulation of the English
language is always entertaining.
One of the best aspects of the Pooh books are the poems and songs. Full of lyrical word play and
great fun to read aloud, they delight everyone with their naive charm and sophisticated wordplay.
This goes one better for it is all poems and not one about Pooh. But there are some real charmers
here. Watch out for Milne's amazing tongue twisters. Fantastic writing.
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