Breezes - Softcover

O'neill, Joseph

3.52

52 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 057117258X ISBN 13: 9780571172580

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 1996

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Joseph O'Neill's dark and hilarious tragicomedy is an account of the Breeze family's most hellish fortnight, a time in which insurance policies, security systems and lucky underpants are pitted against redundancy, burglary and relegation - and lose, 3-0. It is a wonderfully clever, comic and touching novel.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

‘What is the correct response to random tragedy? This dilemma is at the heart of Joseph O’Neill’s fine second novel ... O’Neill’s considerable achievement is to render all these disasters at once deeply affecting and extremely funny ... This is a novel about losers forced to become winners, and it works’ Guardian

‘Using wonderfully extravagant prose, both lyrical and earthy, O’Neill pulls off that rare thing - poignant farce’ Observer

‘Impressively, O’Neill handles tragedy and farce with equal aplomb ... the book ends with an optimism as irresistible as it is hard won’ Independent on Sunday

‘A hilarious chronicle of life’s crappiness ... O’Neill captures our peculiar mannerisms and shifting moods with style and precision, and his depictions of the moments when hilarity drifts into hysteria are always brilliant’ TLS

Synopsis:

An examination of a family subjected to misfortune of absurd but tragic proportions, and of the mechanisms for coping with that misfortune - blind optimism, cynicism, the pretence that things aren't happening and, ultimately, the desire to laugh. By the author of "This is the Life".

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.