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Brian Doyle's novels
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 15:22:23 -0500
Are Katy, Megan and I the ONLY readers within the CCBC-Net community of the mostly humorous and occasionally gritty novel "Uncle Ronald" by Brian Doyle? I doubt it... Maybe the rest of you are waiting for an
"expert" to make a comment. Wait no longer. We're all experts on our own responses to our reading and our opinions about it. By the way, I notice that "Uncle Ronald" won two Canadian book awards: the "Red Cedar Book Award" and "Mr. Christie's Book Award."
If you have something to say about "Uncle Ronald," please do share it over the weekend, before we move on to a glimpse of the novels and short stories of Sarah Ellis.
Perhaps you are readers of Doyle's "Up to Low," a book recommended to me years ago one of our Canadian colleagues, either Sarah Ellis or Kit Pearson. Or perhaps you know Doyle's "Easy Avenue," winner of the Canadian Library Association's "Book of the Year" and shortlisted
(again in Canada) for the Governor General's Literary Award. Doyle's books "Hey Dad" and "You Can Pick Me Up at Peggy's Cove" were reviewed very favorably when they were first published. If you know any of these or other books by Brian Doyle, please speak up.
I'll confess that I first noticed Brian Doyle after reading the novel
"Angel Street" published in the USA by Bradbury Press in 1986. We selected "Angel Street" for inclusion in "CCBC Choices 1986." Our commentary at that time included remarks to this effect: "A staunch protagonist matter of factly expects to fist-fight his daily way across the town square, simultaneously making war and keeping peace with Irish Catholics, French Canadians, and Jews alike. Tommy, a.k.a. The Shadow, is likewise as dauntless in his quest for Margot Lane's attention and in pursuit of the bigot whose anti-Semitic acts pervade the neighoborhood. Exacting details of blue-collar city and family life in 1945 along with a wildly humorous, strangely tender tone earmark an unconventional novel. A unique first-person voice relates a story of which the theme and style invite reflection, rereading, and discussion because of its deft transformation of blatant stereotypes into multidimensional characters with whom readers can empathize and even cheer." Agree? Disagree? Comments?
Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center (www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/) A Library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin Madison
Received on Fri 10 Sep 1999 03:22:23 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 15:22:23 -0500
Are Katy, Megan and I the ONLY readers within the CCBC-Net community of the mostly humorous and occasionally gritty novel "Uncle Ronald" by Brian Doyle? I doubt it... Maybe the rest of you are waiting for an
"expert" to make a comment. Wait no longer. We're all experts on our own responses to our reading and our opinions about it. By the way, I notice that "Uncle Ronald" won two Canadian book awards: the "Red Cedar Book Award" and "Mr. Christie's Book Award."
If you have something to say about "Uncle Ronald," please do share it over the weekend, before we move on to a glimpse of the novels and short stories of Sarah Ellis.
Perhaps you are readers of Doyle's "Up to Low," a book recommended to me years ago one of our Canadian colleagues, either Sarah Ellis or Kit Pearson. Or perhaps you know Doyle's "Easy Avenue," winner of the Canadian Library Association's "Book of the Year" and shortlisted
(again in Canada) for the Governor General's Literary Award. Doyle's books "Hey Dad" and "You Can Pick Me Up at Peggy's Cove" were reviewed very favorably when they were first published. If you know any of these or other books by Brian Doyle, please speak up.
I'll confess that I first noticed Brian Doyle after reading the novel
"Angel Street" published in the USA by Bradbury Press in 1986. We selected "Angel Street" for inclusion in "CCBC Choices 1986." Our commentary at that time included remarks to this effect: "A staunch protagonist matter of factly expects to fist-fight his daily way across the town square, simultaneously making war and keeping peace with Irish Catholics, French Canadians, and Jews alike. Tommy, a.k.a. The Shadow, is likewise as dauntless in his quest for Margot Lane's attention and in pursuit of the bigot whose anti-Semitic acts pervade the neighoborhood. Exacting details of blue-collar city and family life in 1945 along with a wildly humorous, strangely tender tone earmark an unconventional novel. A unique first-person voice relates a story of which the theme and style invite reflection, rereading, and discussion because of its deft transformation of blatant stereotypes into multidimensional characters with whom readers can empathize and even cheer." Agree? Disagree? Comments?
Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center (www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/) A Library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin Madison
Received on Fri 10 Sep 1999 03:22:23 PM CDT
