The Snapper: A Novel (The Barrytown Trilogy)

Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958 and saw his first novel, "The Commitments", published in 1987. It was later adapted for the big screen, a version that saw Star Trek's Colm Meaney and a very young Andrea Corr among the cast. "The Snapper" was firs published in 1990 and is the second book in his "Barrytown Trilogy". Where "The Commitments" followed Jimmy Rabbite's attempts to bring soul "back" to Dublin, he takes a back seat in "The Snapper". (He now hopes to be a famous DJ, rather than a manager or a drummer - an ambition that quickly earns him the nickname "Larry Gogan". You'll probably need to have spent little time in Ireland to catch that one... ). Instead, the starring roles go to his sister, Sharon, and his father, Jimmy Senior. The book opens with Sharon in a horrible situation : twenty years old, still living at home and three months pregnant, she's breaking the 'bad' news to her parents. She's decided not to name the father - though, there's plenty of speculation, suggestion and rumour over the following six months. Some of it is embarrassingly close to the mark, and causes her no end of trouble. While Sharon's pregnancy obviously isn't easy for her, it also puts Jimmy Snr through the mill - shock, concern, embarrassment and anger. He even, briefly, casts himself as her champion in defending her honour. A very enjoyable and easily book - it's also a good deal better than "The Commitments". While the language is (authentically) 'colourful', it's generally a good-natured book and there's plenty of humour. (However, some of the humour may be lost if you're not familiar with the Irish dialect). Well worth reading.

After watching the film "The Snapper" over 100 times in my life time I figured it was time to read the book. The film is great ... the book is excellent. Sharon gets herself "up the pole" at 19. She is too embarrassed to tell anyone who the father is so she tell's everyone, including her own family it is a "Spanish Sailor". However, rumor has it that her "Spanish Sailor" is more than likely the fat, ugly short man from across the street! The story highlights the local gossip surrounding Sharons pregnancy, how her family & friends try to suss out who she's "having it for" and how Sharon herself deals with it all. The script is mostly dialogue, it is a refreshing change! Every page guarentees you to laugh out load. I couldnt put it down. The storyline is excellent, the frequent vulgar language making it more and more realistic. I love the whole "tell it as it is" attitude. This book is hilarius and I would highly recommend it to anyone

Doyle is fabulous. Writes in dialect, though, so not for everyone. If you like Irish humor, get the Barrytown Trilogy instead (which includes The Commitments and The Van, in addition).

It's not easy to be pregnamt, and single, but especially if you can't say who the father is! Sharon Rabbitte is a wonderful main character with all sorts of Irish spunk. The story hysterical, even for such a subject. I couldn't put it down

After having read both "The Commitments" and "The Snapper", I now feel as a part of the crazy, confused and wonderfully human Rabbitte family. Roddy Doyle has a great way of almost understating when he writes. The tone is warm, human and tragi-comic - these characters are real, they are everyday people with "loves and hates and problems just like mine", thus making the book a loving and heartfelt celebration of your average lower-class Irish family. And another thing: the dialogue is "bleedin brilliant!"