Two More Pints

by Roddy Doyle

Two men meet for a pint – or two – in a Dublin pub. They chew the fat, set the world to rights, curse the ref, say a last farewell… In this second collection of comic dialogues Doyle’s drinkers a topless Kate Middleton- Barack and Michelle Obama (‘fuckin’ gorgeous’)- David Beckham (‘Would you tattoo your kids’ names on the back of your neck?’ ‘They wouldn’t fit’)- Jimmy Savile (‘a gobshite’)- the financial crisis (again)- abortion (again) - and horsemeat in your burger… Once again, those we have lost troop through their thoughts - Lou Reed, Seamus Heaney, Reg Presley, Nelson Mandela (‘he should never have left the Four Tops’), Phil Everly, Margaret Thatcher, Shirley Temple - and they still have that unerring ability to ask the really fundamental questions like ‘Would you take penalty points for your missis?’

Genres: Fiction, Irish Literature, Humor, Short Stories, Ireland, 21st Century

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

Roddy Doyle (Irish: Ruaidhrí Ó Dúill) is an Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter. Several of his books have been made into successful films, beginning with The Commitments in 1991. He won the Booker Prize in 1993.

Doyle grew up in Kilbarrack, Dublin. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from University College, Dublin. He spent several years as an English and geography teacher before becoming a full-time writer in 1993.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of it was either about who just died or else football.
First one was funnier.
Time, gentlemen.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that made me chuckle in places. Short snippets of two men in a Dublin pub talking about current events. Some quite funny ladled with expletives. From Mandela, financial crisis in Ireland, Barack Obama to child abuse in Ireland with a hatred of all things Bono.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quietly hilarious in the way that listening in to other people's conversations is. Reminded me a little of the gentle banter in Early Doors which I loved on the telly. The dry insights of pub philosophers are always entertaining. It only Twitter tweeters could be so entertaining and unashamedly honest in their hypocrisy. Great quick read.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny if you're in the mood. Pub talk transcribed, dead celebrities discussed, politics and family in a profane and succinct way. Sweary af. Bit like a shortened version of the old Derek and Clive tapes from peter Cook and Dudley Moore, only Irish. Can read it in an hour.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of semi-coherent conversations between two men meeting for a periodic drink in a Dublin pub. Incredibly funny foul-mouthed snippets of conversation, and all too short and too quickly read. I loved it, and finished it eager to read more and was pleased to learn that it represents a second selection pub conversations, the first being published under the title Two Pints.

[Tom Templeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and genuinely funny book. I read it in a day which is part testament to how good it is and how short it is. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a pint and bit of banter with friends.

[Colm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I thought at first. I was tired and a bit hungover so the humour wasn't hitting home and it was formatted just like the original "Two Pints" (obviously) so the sense of déjà vu was overpowering, but the following morning I woke up less cranky and irritable than the day before. Suddenly the humour was hitting its target and when they suggested the Troika looked like "they'd try to sell yeh [their] wife or a second-hand Hiace". I was absolutely won over. From that point on I was getting an out-loud belly laugh every few pages and really enjoying some of the social commentary slipped in in the others. Absolutely a success.

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two Irish guys get together regularly in the pub and indulge in craic over a pint. Doyle has them chatting about who’s died, the Royals, football, celebrities and politics. Zero insights. Not funny. Even at this brief length, not even remotely worth your time.

[Rob Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Roddy Doyle's work, and this probably would be 5 stars if I hadn't plowed through this book in a furious and likely vain attempt to stuff 10 books into the last few days of the year.

This book should be read in snippets, a few conversations at a time. This lets one really digest and enjoy each conversation better. In one sitting, they begin to blend together.

[Michael Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Improvement on 'Two Pints.'

Better than 'Two Pints.' It needed to be! This work is not spoiled by the silly stuff, and the fantasies dont get out of hand.
The whole point of eavesdropping on a couple of unreconstructed Dubs is to be able to believe in the authenticity of their conversation.
The narrative in 'Two More Pints' is believable.

[Peter P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two oul' Dublin geezers cussing and chatting in a profanity-infused chopped-up, sometimes parallel universe, as they lament (briefly...really briefly) the bigger issues of the day and the passing of celebrities, Irish and international, well...it just doesn't get any better. Pure Roddy. Pure Dublin.

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as funny as the first “Two Pints”. Same premise, two men in a pub over pints discussing the news of the world. F—ing funny! And yes, repeated use of the “F—word”! Chuckled all the way home from Toronto on the train.

[Sean O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two friends discussing and reacting to world events from 2012 to 2014. From politics, sport and celebrity deaths. A fun read but expected more laughs, hoped for one on every page, but it was closer to one every 3-4.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Linda Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and tiresome in equal measure.

[Johnny Hermens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few laughs. A few years old and the references are pretty dated. No narrative throughout but still good for a quick read. Interesting format

[Yellowoasis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny. Even when I didn't fully understand who they were talking about, it still made me laugh. He's a genius. I'd like to see these performed as plays in every Irish pub.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh-out-loud pub pint philosophers opine about life, love, and current events.

[Ned Bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s almost like these conversations are happening right in front of you. Some brilliantly funny dialogue in here, one I’ll definitely dip into again.

[Fiona O'Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short n sweet. Roddy Doyle nails it again !

[Mark Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny dialogue. Two blokes discuss life, the universe and everything over a pint. Great fun.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of football, pop culture and Irish political references. Lots of these I didn't understand but still the repartee between these two friend is often hilarious.

[Brian Grover · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of "overheard conversation" between two regulars in a Dublin pub over the course of a year or two; each of the several passages is only a page or two long. The Irish people are the funniest on Earth, so I assumed I'd really like this, but it's a major disappointment. Extremely formulaic, the guys never discuss anything of any real depth, just react to whatever the news of the particular day is, usually the death of some celebrity. You can tell Doyle wrote it in pieces while he was focused on another, more important book, just scanning the headlines of the day's paper and banging out a profanity-laden sixty second exchange. Weirdly unfunny.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed Two Pints, which preceded this book. The format was funny and accessible and follows two ol' fellas sitting having a pint (or three) and solving the world's problems.

This book just feels like more of the same, but without the novelty. Almost every vignette is based on the death of some famous person or celebrity.

I would say non-Irish people will struggle to understand some of the language or cultural references.

Meh.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

flann o'brien watches jon stewart while reading people magazine in a bar. this is a slim volume of slight pieces, one page dialogues doyle began as an exercise in understanding facebook. two old friends, middle aged aged dubliners, meet for a pint and hash out current events. the humor is often very local (i know a lot more now about manchester united than i really wanted) but the whole thing is so casual and so funny that the smart bits and the heartbreaking bits catch your breath.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Have ye heard about your man now?"

"Wha?"

"Your man Doyle now?"

"Wha? How many pints you had now?"

"Doyle, your man Doyle. He's only gone and done it again."

"What man? Doyle? Wha's Doyle gone now and done now?"

"He's only gone and done it again. Two fellas like. Talkin', pints, 'bout the gossip and the like."

"Now who'd be silly enough to read that now?"

"Fuck knows. Get us another round in, won't ya."

[Bronwyn Mcloughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short collection of conversations in a pub between two gents in Dublin. Haven't read the first volume, but profanity aside (it isn't misplaced, adds to the earthiness), found it enjoyable. Those with a fondness for Roddy Doyle will recognise the ridiculous banter style that proliferates through his works, wrapped up here as a tight parcel. Made me laugh out loud with the joy of it.

[Mark Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who is lucky enough to be a Facebook friend or anything else of Roddy Doyle, will know about the beauty and wonderfulness of his more recent posts on the life and world around us, under the guise of two men in a random and unspecified pub, talking over a couple of pints. It's educational, its topical and a great new way of how fiction can be upto date and relevant....

[Tiia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite liked the Two Pints, but found this Two more pints more dull. None of the conversation gave me anything interesting to read about really. And all the conversations kind of seemed to repeat themselves after while. I gave two stars as I kind of like the dialog these two men are having, they way they meet up and the way they talk..

[Darth Schrader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to the first one. Again time sensitive but all references will likely be memorable. Again it can be read in a hit or in bits. See it as a book of skits per se. Not much difference really.