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Ann Devine, Ready for Her Close-Up
'Warm, charming and laugh-out-loud funny… Ann Devine, Ready For Her Close-Up is a little ray of sunshine, sure to delight' Irish Independent
Meet Ann Devine, a riddle, wrapped up in a fleece, inside a Skoda Octavia.
Now that her youngest has flown the nest, Ann finds herself at a loose end. Until, that is, she is put forward for the Kilsudgeon Tidy Towns Committee.
Yet all is not neat and tidy in Kilsudgeon. There are strange sightings of people who aren't local driving 4x4s with a yellow reg, a man bun requesting kefir in the restaurant and a quad bike at a funeral.
What does this have to do with rumours of a brand new television series to rival Game of Thrones? And what will it all mean for Kilsudgeon's newly proposed town park?
A lot, as it happens.
As the town begins to fill up with the film crew, extras and a Hollywood star who is fond of the drink, everyone welcomes the chance to make a few bob and to finally get enough broadband to send an attachment.
Or nearly everyone. Harmony is threatened when the newcomers seem to be doing more damage than good and the last straw is when Ann’s pride and joy - a floral arrangement in a boat - is trashed. She’s about to discover what it means to go viral…
'Warm-spirited, funny, dark when it needs to be, and – most importantly – underwritten by a scalpel-sharp ear for how Irish people really speak…O’Regan never gets it wrong' Sunday Business Post
'Ann Devine brings a smile to the face of rural Ireland…O’Regan satirises small-town Ireland with both affection and deadpan wit' Sunday Times
'Everybody knows an Ann Devine ... It's hard to write a book that's funny the whole way through, consistently funny with belly laughs ... but Colm has done that' Áine Toner, Ireland AM
'Laugh-out-loud' Irish Daily Mail
'O’Regan taps into the wild, weird and woolly' RTÉ Guide
Meet Ann Devine, a riddle, wrapped up in a fleece, inside a Skoda Octavia.
Now that her youngest has flown the nest, Ann finds herself at a loose end. Until, that is, she is put forward for the Kilsudgeon Tidy Towns Committee.
Yet all is not neat and tidy in Kilsudgeon. There are strange sightings of people who aren't local driving 4x4s with a yellow reg, a man bun requesting kefir in the restaurant and a quad bike at a funeral.
What does this have to do with rumours of a brand new television series to rival Game of Thrones? And what will it all mean for Kilsudgeon's newly proposed town park?
A lot, as it happens.
As the town begins to fill up with the film crew, extras and a Hollywood star who is fond of the drink, everyone welcomes the chance to make a few bob and to finally get enough broadband to send an attachment.
Or nearly everyone. Harmony is threatened when the newcomers seem to be doing more damage than good and the last straw is when Ann’s pride and joy - a floral arrangement in a boat - is trashed. She’s about to discover what it means to go viral…
'Warm-spirited, funny, dark when it needs to be, and – most importantly – underwritten by a scalpel-sharp ear for how Irish people really speak…O’Regan never gets it wrong' Sunday Business Post
'Ann Devine brings a smile to the face of rural Ireland…O’Regan satirises small-town Ireland with both affection and deadpan wit' Sunday Times
'Everybody knows an Ann Devine ... It's hard to write a book that's funny the whole way through, consistently funny with belly laughs ... but Colm has done that' Áine Toner, Ireland AM
'Laugh-out-loud' Irish Daily Mail
'O’Regan taps into the wild, weird and woolly' RTÉ Guide
- GenresFiction
368 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2019
22 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Colm O'Regan
11 books10 followersColm O’Regan is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, columnist and broadcaster. He writes a weekly column for the Irish Examiner and has written for national online and papery publications on both sides of the Irish Sea. Colm is a columnist with RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime, BBC World Service’s In The Balance and BBC World News’ Talking Business. He has also written and presented two half hours of comedy for Radio 1 with more to follow next year.
Colm is one of Ireland’s most in- demand after-dinner comedian. He also MCs awards ceremonies, corporate communications days and has acted as a panel moderator, bringing an entertaining touch to economics in Ireland, Europe and the USA. As a standup comedian, he has performed all over the world. His stand-up has also featured on RTÉ’s Late Late Show and on Comedy Central.
Colm set up and runs the @irishmammies Twitter account which, with over 210000 followers was the inspiration behind his previous three bestselling books of Irish Mammies and Bolloxology, a good humoured rants about the modern world. His first novel, Ann Devine Ready for Her Close-up, launched March 14th, is available online and in all good bookshops.
From Dripsey in County Cork, Colm now lives in Dublin but he’s up and down that road a good bit.
Colm is one of Ireland’s most in- demand after-dinner comedian. He also MCs awards ceremonies, corporate communications days and has acted as a panel moderator, bringing an entertaining touch to economics in Ireland, Europe and the USA. As a standup comedian, he has performed all over the world. His stand-up has also featured on RTÉ’s Late Late Show and on Comedy Central.
Colm set up and runs the @irishmammies Twitter account which, with over 210000 followers was the inspiration behind his previous three bestselling books of Irish Mammies and Bolloxology, a good humoured rants about the modern world. His first novel, Ann Devine Ready for Her Close-up, launched March 14th, is available online and in all good bookshops.
From Dripsey in County Cork, Colm now lives in Dublin but he’s up and down that road a good bit.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 21, 2019
Absolutely loved this book! So funny yet sentimental! If you were a fan of 'Oh My God, What a Complete Ashling', you will love this book! The character of Ann Devine is the typical Irish Mammy and I could hear my own mother mutter many of the phrases that Ann uses. If you are an Irish person living abroad, this will make you feel at home right away! Or if you want to understand the matriarchy of Ireland - this book is your first call!
September 27, 2021
While this book was funny, full of Irishisms and Mammyisms, it wasn’t funny enough to make up for the weakness of the so-called plot, or how long it took for said plot to come together, insofar as it actually came together. I liked Ann as a character until the end, when it turned out she didn’t care that the local politician was corrupt who had tried to cheat a man with special needs out of his land.
September 28, 2019
I have read plenty of novels about rural Ireland that deal with dark subject matter, repressed feelings, and tragedy. This book takes a different approach. The rural community is dynamic, active and even fun! The central character Ann Devine is well written - she is a mother whose children have all left home and she is trying to find a new role for herself. When you live in the country you don't always get a great choice of jobs and Ann is no exception. The chapters where she comes to terms with a younger boss and corporate-type work practices are brilliant. She is a carer and her connection with elderly people is really well depicted and at times heart-breaking.
The book is at its best when it captures the human side and vulnerabilities of the people in the community where Ann lives. Another reviewer here has said the book is full of 'Irishisms'. I wouldn't agree with that. If anything the dialogue is too authentic. This is how people speak, but there is a lot of dialogue and at times it can feel overwhelming. Although this is a comic novel it shines when the author uses interior monologue or captures what people are thinking but don't want to say it. People hide their feelings by joking and laughing things off. That's how they muddle through and deal with ageing, misfortune, loneliness and regret. The author has a wonderful humane sense of people surviving from day to day and making the best of things. I am reminded of Roddy Doyle who started with dialogue-heavy, comic novels. I look forward to seeing Colm O'Regan's development as a writer and reading the next novel from him.
The book is at its best when it captures the human side and vulnerabilities of the people in the community where Ann lives. Another reviewer here has said the book is full of 'Irishisms'. I wouldn't agree with that. If anything the dialogue is too authentic. This is how people speak, but there is a lot of dialogue and at times it can feel overwhelming. Although this is a comic novel it shines when the author uses interior monologue or captures what people are thinking but don't want to say it. People hide their feelings by joking and laughing things off. That's how they muddle through and deal with ageing, misfortune, loneliness and regret. The author has a wonderful humane sense of people surviving from day to day and making the best of things. I am reminded of Roddy Doyle who started with dialogue-heavy, comic novels. I look forward to seeing Colm O'Regan's development as a writer and reading the next novel from him.
May 12, 2019
What I wanted: A good countryside book with a basic plot and a sprinkle of Irish-isms.
What I got: A book of Irish-isms held loosely together by poor writing.
It's a very easy book to read - you will fly through it in a couple of sittings if you wanted. But is it good writing? I don't think so. Plot points were poor - we have a Tidy Towns plot, and a TV show production plot, and more... and yet the story meanders on to an ending without any story arc. Things happen to Ann Devine... and then it vaguely wraps up and it's done.
Characters were extremely two dimensional. The author pumps in every Irish-ism he can think of, leading to 2D caricatures that don't have any depth. You won't think of any of these people as real humans with emotions, you will picture them as something you'd see on "Bridget and Eamon" on RTE2.
There were many parts of the book that I read through and thought "did he just churn this out in a first draft without any editing changes?". But maybe I'm judging the book as a proper novel, and should accept it as a light-hearted series of chapters about Irish-isms that aren't meant to be taken seriously. Because you're not going to overly care about the main characters, or the pantomime villains, or the large cast of village characters.
Did I enjoy this book? Not really. Can I see other people enjoying this book? Yes, if you want a simple read that isn't taxing on your brain, and Colm O'Regan's Irish-isms are hilarious to you.
There's going to be a sequel, but consider me checked out of Kilsudgeon.
What I got: A book of Irish-isms held loosely together by poor writing.
It's a very easy book to read - you will fly through it in a couple of sittings if you wanted. But is it good writing? I don't think so. Plot points were poor - we have a Tidy Towns plot, and a TV show production plot, and more... and yet the story meanders on to an ending without any story arc. Things happen to Ann Devine... and then it vaguely wraps up and it's done.
Characters were extremely two dimensional. The author pumps in every Irish-ism he can think of, leading to 2D caricatures that don't have any depth. You won't think of any of these people as real humans with emotions, you will picture them as something you'd see on "Bridget and Eamon" on RTE2.
There were many parts of the book that I read through and thought "did he just churn this out in a first draft without any editing changes?". But maybe I'm judging the book as a proper novel, and should accept it as a light-hearted series of chapters about Irish-isms that aren't meant to be taken seriously. Because you're not going to overly care about the main characters, or the pantomime villains, or the large cast of village characters.
Did I enjoy this book? Not really. Can I see other people enjoying this book? Yes, if you want a simple read that isn't taxing on your brain, and Colm O'Regan's Irish-isms are hilarious to you.
There's going to be a sequel, but consider me checked out of Kilsudgeon.
March 17, 2019
Very entertaining. I read it in a day - i was in the hairdressers for 3 hours so that broke the back in it. Good characters in it - they were three dimensional. There are LOL moments. A nuanced ending - not happy clappy - which I liked.
I can understand why it's compared to 'Oh my God What a Complete Aisling' in where it is set. But this book is a bit deeper with less populist tropes. For example it has a politician on the make but he feels lonely and guilty as well. It acknowledges how anti-clerical Ireland has become but the parish priest in this book is a counsellor to many men who would not seek help elsewhere.
Only fault that i would have that is that the end felt a bit rushed.
I can understand why it's compared to 'Oh my God What a Complete Aisling' in where it is set. But this book is a bit deeper with less populist tropes. For example it has a politician on the make but he feels lonely and guilty as well. It acknowledges how anti-clerical Ireland has become but the parish priest in this book is a counsellor to many men who would not seek help elsewhere.
Only fault that i would have that is that the end felt a bit rushed.
April 6, 2020
Loved the characters and the fabulous Irish conversations and humour. Didn't feel much of a flow through the chapters and the story itself. However, the lively and witty banter between the characters held my interest throughout.
July 11, 2020
Loved this book, it was so quirky and relatable to Irish people. Book was easy to read and had a lot of funny moments.
May 28, 2019
Laughed out loud in a packed bus. If you liked OMGWACA you'll love Ann Devine.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews