The Young Wan

Not having read the Agnes Browne trilogy, this was my first exposure to the author. I, infact, did not realize that it was a prequel to other books, having picked this one up purely by accident. What a lucky find for me? I cannot remember when I have enjoyed a work as much. The author is a natural story teller, quite a fine writer and has the ability to make his characters jump off the page. While parts of this book were indeed sad and somewhat bitter/sweet, others were absolutely hilarious. I do feel the author's greatest strenth is character developement. You can actually see and feel the characters in your mind's eye. The book, set in Dublin during the 1940s, captures street life quite wonderfully. The market place, where much of the story takes place truely comes alive. For a pleasureable read I do highly recommend this one.

Although I bought The Mammy trilogy sometime ago, I didn't read the first book until an online book group selected this title as a group read earlier this year. While reading The Mammy I learned that there was a 4th book, actually a prequel, called The Young Wan. No sooner had I gulped down The Mammy, I rushed to read the next two books, The Chisellers and The Granny. And since I was having such a good time with Agnes, I bought The Young Wan and unfortunately read it all too quickly. I say unfortunately because now I wish I had saved it for that time when nothing but a wonderful book will do. And while I am a stickler about reading books in order or reading a prequel first no matter how the books are published, I am so glad that I read The Young Wan last since it was the best of the four books im my opinion and ended this series beautifully. Now I am so sad to see this book and series end and only hope that Mr. O'Carroll will write more about the Browne family in the future. The Young Wan begins on the eve of Agnes's marriage to Redser Browne. Almost at once the reader realizes that not only is something wrong with Agnes's mother, Connie, but that Agnes may not be getting married in the Church after all. And in what can only be described as the most revealing and poignant part of the series the author takes us back in time to find out more about Agnes's parents and grandparents. This portion allows us to see Agnes's mother, Connie, as the daughter of a wealthy family and a part of her father's foundry business. We see how she meets the younger man who is to become her husband and how he eventually becomes a labor leader. We also feel for Connie when her father disowns her when she marries against her father's wishes. We also see Agnes as a young child, as the older sister of Dolly who becomes part of a gang od burglars at a young age, as a student at a parochial school and then a merchant in the Jarro. Parts of the book are laugh out loud funny especially when Agnes and her lifelong friend Marion are together but parts are also very tragic and sad. Agnes grows up all too quickly taking care of her fragile mother and trying to keep her sister in school and not prison. She becomes the right hand of stall owner learnign the trade fast and a lover of rock and roll dancing where she eventually meets her husband. But perhaps the most poignant part is the end when Agnes proves how special she is when she helps out her sister Dolly and than takes a stance backed by her mother and a priest who figures prominently in their family history. I must admit that after reading some rather ordinary books, I found The Young Wan was just the right book to lift me out of my book doldrums. I so loved these characters and only wish they were part of my family or friends. In addition, this book left with this burning desire to visit Dublin and walk the streets of the Jarro. If you read little else this year, please read The Young Wan and the trilogy and

This 4th book of O'Carroll's actually is backstory for his remarkable trilogy that chronicles the life, loves, and family of the inimitable and incredible Agnes Brown. It traces dear Agnes?s own childhood and gives us insight into her mother and grandparents. With its inclusion, avid readers now have the whole picture. Just as full of rollicking hilarity and side-splitting laughter as the others, The Young Wan is also the darkest of the four as it documents the brutality, stupidity and cruelty of certain levels of Irish life.A marvelous set of books by a gifted author.

Picked up The Young Wan wanting a great laugh from start to finish which of course, I got but was so surprised at the attachment I had for the characters this time around. Brendan O'Carroll has a way of drawing you in to the story so deeply you can smell aul' Dublin throughout this book, I laughed so hard at the confession scene with vivid memories of my kid sister in the same boat and cried at the sense of loss in other scenes which I won't spoil on you...........read it in one sitting !!! BOC - you are brill...............

Another great success for Brendan O'Carroll. Couldn't put it down. Agnes and Marion, we love you. A must read.