The Story of Bobby O'Malley

by Wayne Johnston

Bobby O'Malley grew up as a Catholic in Newfoundland, in the small town of Kellies, the only son of the local weatherman and a schoolteacher. His memories cluster around the houses they lived in, the schools he went to, the uncles and aunts and cousins he knew as a boy. This is an extremely funny book and the account of how Ted O'Malley repaired the plumbing is likely to become a classic of its kind. It is also a warm and touching book. As a picture of its time, it is clear, true and absolutely unforgettable

Genres: Canada, Fiction, Humor

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Wayne Johnston was born and raised in Goulds, Newfoundland. After a brief stint in pre-Med, Wayne obtained a BA in English from Memorial University. He worked as a reporter for the St. John's Daily News before deciding to devote himself full-time to writing.

En route to being published, Wayne earned an MA in Creative Writing from the University of New Brunswick. Then he got off to a quick start. His first book, The Story of Bobby O'Malley, published when he was 27 years old, won the WH Smith/Books in Canada First Novel award for the best first novel published in the English language in Canada in that year. The Divine Ryans was adapted to a film, for which Wayne wrote the screenplay. Baltimore's Mansion, a memoire dealing with his grandfather, his father and Wayne himself, won the Charles Taylor Prize. Both The Colony of Unrequited Dreams and The Navigator of New York were on bestseller lists in Canada and have been published in the US, Britain, Germany, Holland, China and Spain. Colony was identified by the Globe and Mail newspaper as one of the 100 most important Canadian books ever produced.

Reviews

[Myra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, thanks to my daughter, Jill, I was introduced to yet another entertaining and brilliantly written book by one of her favourite Canadian writers, Wayne Johnston. After I read one of his books, I wish I lived in Newfoundland so that I could lay claim to Johnston being one of my compatriots. Anyway, an excellent first novel and definitely one of my favourites.

[David]

When I first read this novel, I found it hilarious. Re-reading it after nearly 30 years, I see much more of both pathos and cliche. It remains a worthwhile read, but it’s truly a different story at 58 than it was at 30. I remain unconscionably annoyed by Johnston’s mingling of fact and fiction—my problem, not his—and I feel, as I did years ago, the heavy shock of confronting a story which its publicity says is true to its time and place, yet is in so many ways alien to me who grew up in the same time and place—but, crucially, a different church.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

How does the author manage to be so funny (I laughed out loud) and poignant and sad at the same time? This is a book I will give to other readers for the above reasons. It is great.

[Catherine Brosha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books of all time - my copy has been read so many times it's falling apart.

Bobby O'Malley is a boy growing up on the east coast of Newfoundland, in a community just outside of the city of St Johns. This book describes his life, from birth to graduating high school. Usually hilarious, at times tragic, and always very readable.

We had to read this as part of my degree program in university, and everyone in the class enjoyed it. I don't know what the reviewer Trelawney is talking about when he says it's inappropriate. I read this for the first time in high school, and I never found anything particularly inappropriate in it.

This is a great introduction to Wayne Johnston and his writings. Definitely one to put on your "Read" list.

[Jocelyn Ivany-simms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I loved it when I first read it as a university student in first year English. I loved it re-reading it now as a 34 year old. It's one of those books that I hated it to end. It's one of those books that the characters become real. It's one of those books that you will find reasons to come back to it.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

[Jack Beaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, irreverent, familiar....loved it. Ted O'Malley now my favourite character in Johnson's wonderful books.

[Jeffrey Winsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This came highly recommended. Also, I really love Wayne Johnston.

[Stephen Stamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life. I was also raised Catholic, although not in Newfoundland, and reading about Bobby helped me to sort through many of the issues that Catholicism engenders in boys that can continue to haunt them into adulthood. But that makes it sound like some weighty tome when in fact The Story of Bobby O'Malley is one of the funniest and most touching books you will ever read. Ted O'Malley is a brilliantly drawn comi-tragic figure. People often talk about the plumbing repair scene as the height of comedy, but I actually find the curling with the neighbour even funnier. I have read this book many times and writing this review is getting me excited to read it again.

[Candice Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely laugh out loud funny. Also provoked some tears. I've covered so much of Johnston's material, and I think this is in my top three.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the language of this book, especially the east coast dialogue. The character of the father, Ted O'Malley, is hilarious, yet I found his lot pretty tragic. I was fascinated by the details of Catholic upbringing and the rigid way of life it fostered in the people of Kellies. I think that's very real, having grown up in such a community myself. I would have liked to know a little more of the mother's story, because, obviously, knowing more of her upbringing might have rounded out her character a little. As it was, I found her a little one-dimensional.

[Maryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wayne Johnston's story of a boy growing up in the Kellies Newfoundland during the 1960s and early 70s is entertaining and thoughtful. The parents one religious, one not so much are portrayed with sensitivity and humour. The chaos of plumbing failure, the secrecy of a parent's affair, the unending support and encouragement given to the boy are intertwined. This fictional memoire is plays with the idea of childhood memory and how it shapes the adult. This was Wayne Johnston's first novel and well worth a read.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This boo is one of my all time favorites...it is written by a Newfoundland author and is about a Catholic boy growing up in St John's, NL. It is hilarious!...but I think you may not enjoy it as much if you aren't a Newfoundlander

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read, definitely had it's funny moments. I've had the book for a while and had borrowed it from my friend and colleague, Michelle, so I thought it was about time I read it and returned it to her. I am interested in reading other works by Wayne Johnston now.

[Jo-Lane Birkigt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, love Wayne Johnston.

[James M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bildungsroman set in Newfoundland.