This Is No Time to Quit Drinking: Teacher Burnout and the Irish Powers

by Stephen O'Connor

Ah, the unfortunate Bartley Hannigan. Teacher burnout is just one of his problems. There’s also his disintegrating marriage, the inheritance of a haunted property with its uninvited bibulous guest, a psycho poet with a fatal attraction, the arrival of an Irish banshee hunter with poor personal hygiene, his sudden passion for a stripper, and eventually, the hit man on his trail. But as the gypsy said, this “shit-storm” will lead to either a higher plane of understanding—or sudden death. Either way, Bartley can hear his train a comin', and he's ready to jump aboard and ride the winding rails to the last stop, because he's done with the bullshit! Done!

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2020

About the author

Stephen O'Connor is an award-winning writer from Lowell, MA, where much of his fiction is set. He is the author of two books of stories and four novels. For more information, visit lowellwriter.com

Reviews

[Arnold Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading the book. As a retired teacher who began teaching before standardized mandated testing, I could relate. Fun book

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up in LaLa Books, a local bookstore in Lowell. As a person in long term recovery, the title got my attention. But it is not a book about recovery. It is a delightful read. It hit several appealing marks for me - historical fiction, magical realism, and some caustic, yet very accurate and relatable remarks on the painful nature of teaching today. Also, I live in the Merrimack Valley area and it is fun to read books set in recognizable places.

[Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of the author offered this book to me to read- we all worked at the same public school one time or another.
I really enjoyed the wild ride of the story line, characters were engaging and likable. The references to teaching were right on! I feel the author did his homework on Irish Lore and the Gaelic language- very interesting how it was woven into the story.

[sheila Gianacoplis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little wordy at times. But definitely an enjoyable read. Not my typical murder mystery but still kept me interested

[Charles Gargiulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen O'Connor is a writer, other writers admire. Stephen O'Connor is a writer that ANYBODY, writer of not, who picks up and reads his book will admire.