Following the death of his son, Billy has turned to fast food in the same way his wife has turned to God. Neither of them has found much comfort. It is interesting to see a Young Adult novel told from the perspective of an adult. I wonder whether the story will largely be about Billy, or whether it will be about his 15 year-old son John. John is angry. If Billy is fed up of the neighbour's watery-eyed condolences, John is fed up of his parents asking how he is. In both instances, the characters are fed up of any pretence of normality. How can life be 'normal' without Michael?
I wonder what the Celtic Tiger is, and whether it has anything to do with the wave of youth suicides mentioned in the synopsis? There is some beautiful imagery, including the group of school children on their way back from looking at the relics of past civilization. Ideas of education and Gods and safety turned to rubble by time.
Billy's body mass issues are also interesting. It is as if he no longer fits into the world in a more literal sense, as he outgrows clothes and most chairs. His son might have felt this more figuratively. The cover suggests a person has disappeared - I wonder whether this refers to Michael, or to the possibility that Billy too could disappear?
Like Annabel Pitcher's 'My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece', this explores how grief affects family dynamics.
I wonder what the Celtic Tiger is, and whether it has anything to do with the wave of youth suicides mentioned in the synopsis? There is some beautiful imagery, including the group of school children on their way back from looking at the relics of past civilization. Ideas of education and Gods and safety turned to rubble by time.
Billy's body mass issues are also interesting. It is as if he no longer fits into the world in a more literal sense, as he outgrows clothes and most chairs. His son might have felt this more figuratively. The cover suggests a person has disappeared - I wonder whether this refers to Michael, or to the possibility that Billy too could disappear?
Like Annabel Pitcher's 'My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece', this explores how grief affects family dynamics.