Surviving Ireland

by Colm Tóibín

It’s exhausting, being Irish. The constant self-flagellation is enough to put anybody off their breakfast.Why are we so hard on ourselves? Is it the post-colonial overhang following centuries of oppression at the hands of a litany of foreign invaders? Or is it collective guilt for sending Westlife out into the wider world? In Surviving Ireland, acclaimed comedy writer Colm Tobin* takes the reader by the hand for a satirical romp through modern Irish life. As well as providing all the tools you’ll need to navigate this often tricky little island (except a compass or anything even resembling a fact), the book will take you through some of the country’s fraught history, asking some searing questions in the how did we get here, where are we going and who in the name of God is going to pay for it all?Surviving Ireland takes in culture and politics, town and country, food and drink, birth, death and everything in between. Let it be your definitive guide to this strange and bewildering rock, cowering from the cold Atlantic swells. Oh, and it’s got some funny drawings in it as well. * Not the Booker Prize-nominated author Colm Tóibín.

Genres: Humor, Ireland, Irish Literature, Travel

255 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2015

About the author

Colm Tóibín FRSL, is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and poet. Tóibín is currently Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University in Manhattan and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester.

Reviews

[Noah Oanh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colm defo knows how to laugh at himself and laugh at his own country wherenever it suits. But also it is him who who loves Ireland so much that I think he would hope via his words Ireland in the future would be much better. It you love a bit of self-deprivacating humor this one is all yours.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny insight to the Irish especially after a recent trip to Ireland.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had some laugh out loud moments, but for someone who has never been to Ireland, some parts went straight over my head.
One for the Irish

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, but not too helpful if you don't already have a pretty good understanding of Irish culture. Not recommended as a travel book.

[Brenden Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written in the lightly humorous style that was so popular in America in the 90s and is currently practiced in its worse possible form by Andy Borowitz. It was not for me, but the writer has clear ability, but his talents seem best put to other purposes.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

For those non-Irish living in Ireland and Irish living abroad. Lots of inside humor.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny in patches but only if you grew up in Ireland . It is a tad long even at only 250ish pages.

Worth reading but ultimately forgettable

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handful of laugh-out-loud moments, but mostly just mildly amusing, and certainly nothing like any other work by Tobin!

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laugh-out loud.

[Roisin Tuohy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and funny read

[Louise Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

a witty insight. thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Molly]

Found this quite charming 💚