I really enjoyed this first person account of life in the poor side of Dublin in the 1920s and 1930s. The writing style is beautifully done, with description and atmosphere. The story has suspenseful and humorous moments, leaving the reader hoping all the way that the author succeeds in life. The major issues of the day (war, poverty, religious thuggery, societal problems etc) are present and the author weaves them into his own narrative. This book is like a time capsule, full of anecdotes and life lessons learned the hard way by a young man raised in tough conditions.