Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

By Eithne Farry  on Monday 25 January 2010

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A hilarious, heartbreaking tale of teenage friendship, unrequited love, illicit fireworks - and frisbees.

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but there is something very charming about the packaging of Paul Murray's second novel: three paperbacks in a slip case, with a cool little line drawing on each cover. The writing's pretty cool, too - endearing, moving, provocative and evocative. Set in an old-fashioned school in Ireland, where fine traditions are hiding a number of dark secrets, Skippy Dies revels in the preoccupations of the boys - sex, science, drugs, fireworks, kissing and, of course, true love. It also incisively reveals the predilections of the teachers, with their warped ambitions, lacklustre love lives and terrible lapses of judgement. Murray's turn of phrase is lovely - a combination of knockabout, laugh-out-loud humour combined with an observational poetry that's all about celebrating the ordinary. A real joy.

Review by Eithne Farry

Release date: Monday 25 January 2010

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