Going Back

by Eugene O'Brien

Scobie Donoghue was once the king of the weekend. His twenties were spent working hard and playing harder. A lovable rogue, the lads wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him. But now, about to turn forty and returning to his small midlands hometown, Scobie is back in his childhood bed, single, burnt out and depressed. The life he thought he had left behind has moved on – but has he? Going Back , Eugene O’Brien’s heartwarming debut novel, continues the story of hit TV series Pure Mule, capturing the whole world in one Irish the highs and the lows, from addiction and mental-health issues to love and redemption. It will take some time and a lot of soul-searching, but maybe Scobie Donoghue is finally ready to grow up. ‘I was delighted to get reacquainted with Scobie Donoghue. This is a timely book, engaging and entertaining. It lifts the lid on and exposes the underbelly of the disenfranchised in a community that has been pulled apart since the heady days of the Celtic Tiger.’ Liz Nugent

Genres: Irish Literature

Audio CD

Reviews

[Mícheál S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple story but nice

[Julia Lama · Rating 2 out of 5]

¿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.

[Graham Connors · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Deirdre Lowney · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Peter Thew · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Annette Poro · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review on Instagram @sharon.read.this & on The Storygraph, an independently owned alternative to Goodreads:

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...

[Frank Mcmanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read.