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Going Back
A heartwarming debut that continues the story of the hit RTÉ TV series Pure Mule , which captured the whole world in one small Irish town.
Scobie Donoghue was once the king of Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, famous for the craic and the drink. His twenties were spent working on building sites during the Celtic Tiger, making good money and spending it on wild weekends. A lovable rogue, the lads wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him.
But now, returning from Australia after the break-down of his relationship, Scobie is back in the single bed of his childhood home. About to turn forty, burnt out and depressed, he quickly discovers that life in the small midlands town he thought he had left behind has moved on - but has Scobie?
‘Just like Normal People , Pure Mule captured the zeitgeist at a pivotal time in modern Ireland.’ - Roscommon Herald
Scobie Donoghue was once the king of Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, famous for the craic and the drink. His twenties were spent working on building sites during the Celtic Tiger, making good money and spending it on wild weekends. A lovable rogue, the lads wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him.
But now, returning from Australia after the break-down of his relationship, Scobie is back in the single bed of his childhood home. About to turn forty, burnt out and depressed, he quickly discovers that life in the small midlands town he thought he had left behind has moved on - but has Scobie?
‘Just like Normal People , Pure Mule captured the zeitgeist at a pivotal time in modern Ireland.’ - Roscommon Herald
- GenresIrish Literature
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 22, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 27, 2024
simple story but nice
February 16, 2023
¿Me he escuchado el audiolibro ignorando por completo que se trata de un spin-off de una miniserie irlandesa? Sí señor.
¿Me ha parecido una historia completamente insulsa protagonizada por un señor con nada de chicha, quejica y frustrado con la vida por básicamente ser un inmaduro? Sí.
¿No lo recomendaría a nadie que no fuera fan de la serie y no ha despertado en mí curosidad alguna por la historia original? En efecto.
¿Por qué he terminado el audiolibro pues? Por el narrador. El increíble registro de Kieran Cough a la hora de interpretar personajes de distintas edades, nacionalidades, acentos y género, me ha parecido razón suficiente para mantenerme pendiente de una historia y personajes completamente olvidables. También reconozco que mi motivación a la hora de leer este libro, estaba puramente basada en ese interés por ver retratada la cotidianidad irlandesa; los pubs, el centra, las llamadas al gp, los lads, el fecking eejit, el tiempo ruinoso, el porridge, la charity shop... No es que el libro suponga un retrato certero de la normalidad en la Irlanda actual (¡Inicio de pandemia incluído!) pero sí que me ha hecho feliz encontrar algunos de estos detallitos presentes en la narración.
Pero en resumen: la crisis de los cuarenta de Scobie Donoghue es insulsa y carente de interés. Me cuesta imaginar que hubiera terminado la lectura si no hubiera tenido la excusa de la excelente narración para mantenerme pendiente hasta el final.
¿Me ha parecido una historia completamente insulsa protagonizada por un señor con nada de chicha, quejica y frustrado con la vida por básicamente ser un inmaduro? Sí.
¿No lo recomendaría a nadie que no fuera fan de la serie y no ha despertado en mí curosidad alguna por la historia original? En efecto.
¿Por qué he terminado el audiolibro pues? Por el narrador. El increíble registro de Kieran Cough a la hora de interpretar personajes de distintas edades, nacionalidades, acentos y género, me ha parecido razón suficiente para mantenerme pendiente de una historia y personajes completamente olvidables. También reconozco que mi motivación a la hora de leer este libro, estaba puramente basada en ese interés por ver retratada la cotidianidad irlandesa; los pubs, el centra, las llamadas al gp, los lads, el fecking eejit, el tiempo ruinoso, el porridge, la charity shop... No es que el libro suponga un retrato certero de la normalidad en la Irlanda actual (¡Inicio de pandemia incluído!) pero sí que me ha hecho feliz encontrar algunos de estos detallitos presentes en la narración.
Pero en resumen: la crisis de los cuarenta de Scobie Donoghue es insulsa y carente de interés. Me cuesta imaginar que hubiera terminado la lectura si no hubiera tenido la excusa de la excelente narración para mantenerme pendiente hasta el final.
December 30, 2023
My introduction to these characters was via the RTE TV series, Pure Mule. I really enjoyed the TV series, particularly the central characters of Shamie and Scobie. I should point out that the actor who played Scobie, Garrett Lombard, is from my hometown and the older brother of two friends of mine growing up.
It was great to revisit the character of Scobie, to see where life and time had led him or left him. For fans of the TV series, this is a must-read. Even if you know nothing of the TV series, it's worth the effort. All the while reading it, though, my thoughts kept returning to the character of Shamie, Scobie's older brother. In the TV series, Shamie was played by the excellent actor Tom Murphy (look for the film Adam & Paul, he gives a masterclass). Tom Murphy passed away a few years after making Pure Mule, aged in his late 30s, from cancer, I believe. It was sad to learn more about his character (who is very much alive in the book), knowing that Tom is no longer with us. If it was present in the notes or dedications, then I missed it, but it would have been good to see a reference made to Tom by Eugene O'Brien.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
It was great to revisit the character of Scobie, to see where life and time had led him or left him. For fans of the TV series, this is a must-read. Even if you know nothing of the TV series, it's worth the effort. All the while reading it, though, my thoughts kept returning to the character of Shamie, Scobie's older brother. In the TV series, Shamie was played by the excellent actor Tom Murphy (look for the film Adam & Paul, he gives a masterclass). Tom Murphy passed away a few years after making Pure Mule, aged in his late 30s, from cancer, I believe. It was sad to learn more about his character (who is very much alive in the book), knowing that Tom is no longer with us. If it was present in the notes or dedications, then I missed it, but it would have been good to see a reference made to Tom by Eugene O'Brien.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
January 16, 2023
When I saw Scobie in Pure Mule on Irish TV I found him to be a jerk, as Americans might say - full of himself, even undermining his older brother Shamie at times. The result of that was that I didn't watch the sequel Pure Mule: The Last Weekend. That said, I wanted to find out why Scobie came back to Offaly and whether he was going to hit the road again so I bought this book. I'm pleased to say I got to know the real Scobie and all his frailties. Plus the people he knew pre-Australia show up. And his long deceased father shows up. It's a great study in how a place you leave is never really the same when you go back and maybe it wasn't that way when you were leaving. I look forward to reading more from Eugene O'Brien
September 30, 2025
A written sequel to the TV series PURE MULE, this sees Scobie Donoghue back in his hometown in rural Offaly after his 3-year stay in Australia. His attempts to fall back into his old ways are not entirely successful as he descends into a world fuelled by drink and prescription drugs. His redemption in the final pages of the book feels rushed and is far from satisfactory.
October 26, 2024
Fabulous!! I loved it! I loved Scobie, and being able to journey with him through his challenges. I loved the oh-so-accurate depiction of a small Irish town and its cast of characters. I loved the inclusion of Irish language words. Pure Mule!!
December 10, 2022
Full review on Instagram @sharon.read.this & on The Storygraph, an independently owned alternative to Goodreads:
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January 21, 2023
Very good read
February 24, 2023
A nice read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews