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outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
Behan navigates these violent institutions by being everyone's friend and when his lies contradict then he just blarneys the hell out of everyone, although he does get into a few scraps and there are IRA lines he will not cross. Most conflicts seem to end with "Ah, you're alright, Paddy." I would like to someday read this again much slower and jot down all the books he mentions and also some of the funnier expressions and proverbs he comes out with. I realize I also need to learn how to pronounce these Gaelic words even if I don't know their meaning, especially when they pop up in an otherwise English bit of doggerel. Most of the boys in Borstal come from rough backgrounds and speak strange regional working class dialects from the 1940s. For example, although it was clear from the context that 'china' meant best friend, it took me some fifty pages or so to realize it's because 'china plate' rhymes with mate. It also was a bit of an "aha" for me when I realized that 'flowery' meant prison cell. If there is an audio book of Behan or some other actual Irish person reading this, that would be fantastic.
jordanmayne's review against another edition
4.0
A really interesting account that made me laugh out loud a couple of times. Always at it.
gertymae's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
adrianjd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
tardisandcinnamon's review against another edition
1.0
I never finished but it needed to be handed back to the library and it was way too boring for me to actually attempt to finish it when I don't have to
juliettecathleen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
5.0
Your enjoyment of this book depends upon how much you like Brendan Behan's narrative voice. I am absolutely charmed by his writing style, and would have been happy had this book been twice the length, as I feel I could listen to him forever. His writing style is so honest, vivid and witty. The narrative begins with a young Brendan, age 16, who is in Liverpool for the first time in his life. He is an agent of the IRA and is supposed to plant a bomb in Liverpool, but before he can do so, he is caught by the British police.
Young Brendan, the would-be terrorist, comes across as naive, but full of life and goodwill. It's hard to believe he would willingly kill anyone -- and his reasons for joining the IRA are not reflected on very much in the text. The older Behan's thoughts are also not directly apparent anywhere: we do not know what he, as an adult, thinks of the IRA or of the actions of his younger self. The readers is left to draw their own conclusions. Though Brendan is clearly culpable for his actions, he is also very young and his been indoctrinated by the IRA all his life -- most of his family are members. It's interesting to read Bredan's story in light of current young suicide bombers or terrorists and to get a sense of how someone so young can become willing to do terrible things.
The novel mostly covers Brendan's experiences first in a men's prison, and then in the Borstal, which is a prison / reform school for young men. The men's prison is a frightening experience for Brendan -- he is afraid the other prisoners will attack him because of his political affiliations, and does not think the guards will protect him. The regime in the men's prison is harsh, with a lot of time spent in solitary, and poor food. In contrast, the time Brendan spends in Borstal is written about with fondness. The Borstal requires the young men to work between ten and twelve hours a day, either in the fields or on building sites. Brendan does not once complain about this, but seems to find the hard labour and companionship with other young men convivial. He is very measured in his assessment of the other prisoners, and of the guards. From his description, I can imagine many young men would find Borstal a terrible experience, but Brendan faces it with courage. His perpetual good cheer and gentleness towards men around him are very endearing.
The book is full of life: conversations between the young men, about sex, religion, crime and families are all recounted in vivid dialogue. It's easy to see that Behan is a playwrite. The songs the prisoners sing, the descriptions of nature, work and hardship all add to the atmosphere, but overall it's Behan's narrative voice that makes this book shine. This was my second reading, but it's definitely a book I'll come back to.
Young Brendan, the would-be terrorist, comes across as naive, but full of life and goodwill. It's hard to believe he would willingly kill anyone -- and his reasons for joining the IRA are not reflected on very much in the text. The older Behan's thoughts are also not directly apparent anywhere: we do not know what he, as an adult, thinks of the IRA or of the actions of his younger self. The readers is left to draw their own conclusions. Though Brendan is clearly culpable for his actions, he is also very young and his been indoctrinated by the IRA all his life -- most of his family are members. It's interesting to read Bredan's story in light of current young suicide bombers or terrorists and to get a sense of how someone so young can become willing to do terrible things.
The novel mostly covers Brendan's experiences first in a men's prison, and then in the Borstal, which is a prison / reform school for young men. The men's prison is a frightening experience for Brendan -- he is afraid the other prisoners will attack him because of his political affiliations, and does not think the guards will protect him. The regime in the men's prison is harsh, with a lot of time spent in solitary, and poor food. In contrast, the time Brendan spends in Borstal is written about with fondness. The Borstal requires the young men to work between ten and twelve hours a day, either in the fields or on building sites. Brendan does not once complain about this, but seems to find the hard labour and companionship with other young men convivial. He is very measured in his assessment of the other prisoners, and of the guards. From his description, I can imagine many young men would find Borstal a terrible experience, but Brendan faces it with courage. His perpetual good cheer and gentleness towards men around him are very endearing.
The book is full of life: conversations between the young men, about sex, religion, crime and families are all recounted in vivid dialogue. It's easy to see that Behan is a playwrite. The songs the prisoners sing, the descriptions of nature, work and hardship all add to the atmosphere, but overall it's Behan's narrative voice that makes this book shine. This was my second reading, but it's definitely a book I'll come back to.
sebswln's review against another edition
3.0
As much as I like this book much of it boils down to endless descriptions of food and sigaret smoking, with the odd bit of briljant descriptif storytelling mixed in.
Definitely picking up the sequel.
Definitely picking up the sequel.