Outside Reading (Book Review #1)

Skippy Dies, by Paul Murray
Review by Andrew Holgate
http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Reviews-Essays/Skippy-Dies/ba-p/3370

Skippy Dies: An Irish Tale

     In his review of the Irish novel Skippy Dies by Paul Murray, Andrew Holgate uses a consistently empathetic tone towards the characters and the novel as a whole. Altogether, Holgate uses distinct examples and clear diction when analyzing Skippy Dies.
     Holgate uses excellent rhetoric, such as addressing his subject (the novel in question) and purpose, as well as keeping in mind his audience (readers of all skill levels) and the persona of the novel’s characters. In keeping with the novel’s emotions, Holgate delivers his opinions with a comedic, yet serious, tone. As early as his second sentence, using both an “Ethos” and a “Pathos” argumentative stance, Holgate writes, “At its heart, though, what this capacious, dark but often very funny book really wants to be is a state-of-the-nation novel, its subject the precarious moral health of Murray's homeland.” As Holgate continues, he addresses his “purpose”; that although Murray may have been able to “trim” his 650 page creative work, his “precocious talent” keeps the reader from “much complaint.”
     Though Murray’s work is also without “much complaint,” there are definite weaknesses in his work. For instance, he references the work of Roddy Doyle; specifically, “The Commitments.” Although some experienced and well-versed readers may understand the depth of the similarities, a majority of his “audience” would not understand such a suggestion. Holgate also fails to mention how Murray’s life experiences have affected his novel. This added perspective could have given the reader a better cultural understanding of the text. (To see a short biography, click here).
     On the other hand, Holgate does make some valid literary points. He has very clear descriptions of the novel’s characters, using such phrases and words as “chronically underachieving,”  “sex-obsessed,” and “porn-soaked,” just to name a few. Though he reveals a key fact, that Skippy does, in fact, perish; it does not detract from his representation of the novel’s key events. Holgate also uses structural balance to get his point across. He begins with a clever intro paragraph that draws the reader in with witty language. Next, Holgate summarizes and describes some of the characteristics of the main characters and key events. In the following paragraph, Holgate goes in-depth about other minor, yet still important, characters that add to the storyline. His closing lines turn serious, saying that this “disturbing book” about the “unexamined history of modern Ireland” plays both dark and comedic tones “successfully alongside each other.”
     Though this review does show some potential as an AP style piece, it lacks the necessary plot depth to make connections to other works and to note the figurative language included in the novel. Essentially, Holgate has created a well-structured, descriptive piece that gives the reader a preview of an excellent novel.