War

by Roddy Doyle

This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection

89 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

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

[Garfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roddy Doyle’s War is a play that mainly takes place during a Monday night pub quiz in the fictional Barrytown in Ireland around the 1980s. It is there were two members of the Finnegan family--George and his daughter Yvonne-- participate in a pub quiz that soon escalates into a “war” for both of them. I found these scenes to be thoroughly enjoyable for the entertaining dialogue each character brings, as well as the way each one interacts with another. While the large number of characters that all get introduced in the first scene was confusing at first, it is because of their distinctive traits and jokes that I was able to still enjoy these scenes and quickly learn who was who. The author also brilliantly developed a second group of scenes that occur in the Finnegan family kitchen at different times leading up to the Monday night in between each pub quiz scene that focus on Briget. She is George’s spouse, Yvonne’s mother, and my favourite character as the kitchen scenes --that primarily focus on her-- add bittersweet details to both George and Briget's relationship which contrast and combine with the more humorous --though still occasionally serious-- pub quiz scenes excellently. Briget's existence essentially adds depth the text would otherwise lack that I very much enjoyed. The only thing I think could improve the play would be if the friendship and rivalry between George and Bertie were introduced earlier, as I initially believed Bertie was like any of the other characters and found it odd when the text suddenly gave him more importance. Regardless, War is a great text that has humorous and entertaining dialogue and character interactions while also having moments of more bittersweet depth. I would recommend it to just about anyone.