What do you think?
Rate this book
Sour
A re-telling of ‘Deirdre of the Sorrows’, updated to
the modern day, re-imagined with bizarre local characters and set in a fictional Irish countryside. Hilarious, dark, thrilling, with a winding narrative native to the Irish countryside.
In a desolate Irish town a local paper boy goes missing. Conall, a beetroot-faced, mule of a man,makes it his business to find the boy.
What starts out a small undertaking, unfolds into a journey of strange rural experience, bizarre natural occurrences and warped small-town morality,revealing the shocking tale of a young girl horribly imprisoned and two boys fixed on rescuing her. Fionn McCool, Cuchullainn and many more characters all make appearances!
the modern day, re-imagined with bizarre local characters and set in a fictional Irish countryside. Hilarious, dark, thrilling, with a winding narrative native to the Irish countryside.
In a desolate Irish town a local paper boy goes missing. Conall, a beetroot-faced, mule of a man,makes it his business to find the boy.
What starts out a small undertaking, unfolds into a journey of strange rural experience, bizarre natural occurrences and warped small-town morality,revealing the shocking tale of a young girl horribly imprisoned and two boys fixed on rescuing her. Fionn McCool, Cuchullainn and many more characters all make appearances!
238 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2015
357 people want to read
About the author
Alan Walsh
13 books66 followersI was born in Dublin and studied art in IADT. I left Ireland after graduating and lived in Italy for a few years, teaching and writing. After that I moved to London and returned here in 2010.
I've had stories published in The Moth, The Bohemyth, Outburst and Wordlegs and non fiction articles in Magill Magazine, Film Ireland and Three Monkeys.
My novel, Sour, is available now on amazon
I've had stories published in The Moth, The Bohemyth, Outburst and Wordlegs and non fiction articles in Magill Magazine, Film Ireland and Three Monkeys.
My novel, Sour, is available now on amazon
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 31, 2015
A brilliantly creative and entertaining story balanced between farce and tragedy. This is an especially delightful book for anyone who has a passing familiarity with Irish mythology, but it isn't really necessary. There are prophetic crones, ghosts, animals that talk to each other and humans as well, all somewhat loosely gathered around a central murder-mystery plot.
The entire tale is narrated by a Puca, which in Irish lore is a profane, trickster fairy with a passion for mischief and drinking and a talent for being in several places at once. The cast of characters is so multi-dimensional that they fairly leap off the page into your living room, and they are alternately hilarious and poignant.
Although I wouldn't say he's yet reached their level of virtuosity, Walsh's skill with the depiction of a particular type of rural/small town character has echoes of Donal Ryan and Kevin Barry. Like those authors, his use of a singularly Irish syntax and rhythm turns the most mundane descriptions into something lyrical. ("Conall walked the four odd mile road into town with the dog Red Bob at heel and his stick heard a good acre in every direction smacking off the tarmac, shocking crows out of trees and disturbing field mice in the long rushes.") . All in all, a fun read.
The entire tale is narrated by a Puca, which in Irish lore is a profane, trickster fairy with a passion for mischief and drinking and a talent for being in several places at once. The cast of characters is so multi-dimensional that they fairly leap off the page into your living room, and they are alternately hilarious and poignant.
Although I wouldn't say he's yet reached their level of virtuosity, Walsh's skill with the depiction of a particular type of rural/small town character has echoes of Donal Ryan and Kevin Barry. Like those authors, his use of a singularly Irish syntax and rhythm turns the most mundane descriptions into something lyrical. ("Conall walked the four odd mile road into town with the dog Red Bob at heel and his stick heard a good acre in every direction smacking off the tarmac, shocking crows out of trees and disturbing field mice in the long rushes.") . All in all, a fun read.
March 12, 2016
Sour by Alan Walsh is brilliant. I was amazed by this writer's talent. The story was well-written. A funny yet highly entertaining novel that contains Irish mythology and a murder mystery. The characters are well-developed...they pop off the pages and bring the story to life. Alan Walsh will take his readers deep into the heart of his riveting book. There are so many interesting events that occur inside this stunning novel, readers won't be able to stop reading it. I loved how Sour, captivates readers from the beginning and holds them prisoner until the end.
Sour is one fascinating journey readers everywhere won't want to miss! Alan Walsh brings readers a refreshing novel with characters that will instantly become readers new favorite. I can definitely see this novel being used in classrooms...as new all time favorite piece of literature. I definitely enjoyed reading this tragedy and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. I look forward to reading more adventures by this writer in the future. Truly a masterpiece that all will love.
Sour is one fascinating journey readers everywhere won't want to miss! Alan Walsh brings readers a refreshing novel with characters that will instantly become readers new favorite. I can definitely see this novel being used in classrooms...as new all time favorite piece of literature. I definitely enjoyed reading this tragedy and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. I look forward to reading more adventures by this writer in the future. Truly a masterpiece that all will love.
August 8, 2018
This book had so much good stuff going for it, that I am rating it highly despite its flaws. It's a retelling of the traditional Irish Deirdre story, set in contemporary Ireland. Like every other reteller of the old legend, Walsh reflects his concerns about society in his own times in his reconception. Here the lusty old king of the original becomes a pedophile, the Deirdre figure and her "lover" are preteens who embody innocence even in today's age - but Walsh also touches on issues like uncontrolled capitalist greed, treatment of unwed mothers, society's capacity to turn away from what is wrong because it's expedient to do so, even the effect of alcohol on families.
There are some places where he just overdid it, though. The book starts out with great energy - the Puca narrator is hilarious, really - but towards the middle it gets bogged down. While Walsh deftly wove many elements of Irish myth and legend into the story, some things seemed gratuitous. Why have a Finn McCool (pardon the modern English butchering of that name, but easier for our purposes here) figure in here? He was a hero from another cycle. Some of that felt strained.
Perhaps most important was that he didn't quite pull off the tragic nature of what happened, even when he toned down some of the Puca's humorous exuberance.
Still, it was worth a read and I enjoyed it overall.
There are some places where he just overdid it, though. The book starts out with great energy - the Puca narrator is hilarious, really - but towards the middle it gets bogged down. While Walsh deftly wove many elements of Irish myth and legend into the story, some things seemed gratuitous. Why have a Finn McCool (pardon the modern English butchering of that name, but easier for our purposes here) figure in here? He was a hero from another cycle. Some of that felt strained.
Perhaps most important was that he didn't quite pull off the tragic nature of what happened, even when he toned down some of the Puca's humorous exuberance.
Still, it was worth a read and I enjoyed it overall.
February 11, 2019
Wow. Funny, heart-wrenching, and beautifully told. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time—and definitely the best debut novel. I can’t wait to read Alan Walsh’s next work.
February 25, 2017
This book was something to behold. Incredibly fast paced and riveting. And very very well told. The characters were very colorful and hard not to like (the exception being two or three). A must-read!
April 25, 2016
4.5 stars!
Many thanks to the author, who provided a free copy of Sour in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve never read a story narrated by a Puca before…but I loved it. I loved the language, the lyrical way the characters spoke. The accents were woven into the script, so that if you read it aloud, you would find yourself speaking with an accent as well. (I frigging loved that, thumbs up, man) I loved how you had to bend reality to read it, which isn’t much of a stretch for me. I have no problem believing in a free wheeling hard drinking Puca, or a cigarette smoking sentient crow. (The crow was the bomb, by the way)
It all starts with the missed delivery of the paper. This gets the attention of Conall, a grouchy old fella who wants nothing more than his cup of tea (tae) and a bowl of mash with his paper in the mornings. Conall starts poking around town, trying to find out what happened to the boy. The rabbit hole goes a good bit deeper than he expected, and soon he is up to his ears in a murder mystery that sends him and his dog Red Bob stomping all about the countryside. What he uncovers is a disturbing situation involving the paperboy, his older brother, and Deirdre, who is held captive, Rapunzel-like, by her adoptive parents. Her “father” is wealthy, and one of the more powerful men in the area, and hasn’t taken her attempt at escape laying down. The fate awaiting the children is a grim one, if he has anything to do with it. It is a race between Conall and his crew of misfits and the hired thugs who are hot on the same trail.
By pure chance, I was unfamiliar with the story of Deirdre of the Sorrows, and naturally had to look that up and read it before beginning. What the author claims is true, this is a modern day retelling of the tale, but it’s ever so much more. Sour is equal parts tragedy, comedy, and mystery that will keep you interested until the last page.
Many thanks to the author, who provided a free copy of Sour in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve never read a story narrated by a Puca before…but I loved it. I loved the language, the lyrical way the characters spoke. The accents were woven into the script, so that if you read it aloud, you would find yourself speaking with an accent as well. (I frigging loved that, thumbs up, man) I loved how you had to bend reality to read it, which isn’t much of a stretch for me. I have no problem believing in a free wheeling hard drinking Puca, or a cigarette smoking sentient crow. (The crow was the bomb, by the way)
It all starts with the missed delivery of the paper. This gets the attention of Conall, a grouchy old fella who wants nothing more than his cup of tea (tae) and a bowl of mash with his paper in the mornings. Conall starts poking around town, trying to find out what happened to the boy. The rabbit hole goes a good bit deeper than he expected, and soon he is up to his ears in a murder mystery that sends him and his dog Red Bob stomping all about the countryside. What he uncovers is a disturbing situation involving the paperboy, his older brother, and Deirdre, who is held captive, Rapunzel-like, by her adoptive parents. Her “father” is wealthy, and one of the more powerful men in the area, and hasn’t taken her attempt at escape laying down. The fate awaiting the children is a grim one, if he has anything to do with it. It is a race between Conall and his crew of misfits and the hired thugs who are hot on the same trail.
By pure chance, I was unfamiliar with the story of Deirdre of the Sorrows, and naturally had to look that up and read it before beginning. What the author claims is true, this is a modern day retelling of the tale, but it’s ever so much more. Sour is equal parts tragedy, comedy, and mystery that will keep you interested until the last page.
September 23, 2016
Quirky
This book is interestingly entertaining. It did take me a little while to get used to the dialect, not only in the dialogue between characters, but also with the narration. This book is a modern take on a folktale that I'm not familiar with, but maybe that gives me a different outlook. This is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time, and I enjoyed it. Walsh writes well and gives the tale excellent characters, even the setting and language, I find is its own character. It's a fun and enjoyable read.
This book is interestingly entertaining. It did take me a little while to get used to the dialect, not only in the dialogue between characters, but also with the narration. This book is a modern take on a folktale that I'm not familiar with, but maybe that gives me a different outlook. This is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time, and I enjoyed it. Walsh writes well and gives the tale excellent characters, even the setting and language, I find is its own character. It's a fun and enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews