Page 32 - World of Irish Nursing April 2018

REVIEW 53

An uncomfortable truth

Roddy doyle, in a prolific writing career, uncomfortable truth surrounding such
has always been popular with the reading abuse – the irrational guilt of the victim.
public, but not always with some critics, But Smile is about more than that. It is
who have a tendency to view him a bit about the treachery of memory and our
allergically, refusing to nudge him over the self-delusional pasts, which often come
sometimes pretentious line between pop- back to mug us.
ular and literary fiction, notwithstanding The narrator of Smile, Victor, is a sepa-
his Booker Prize win in 1993. In fact, Roddy rated, once half-famous writer and media
doyle tends to get a more enthusiastic performer who now lives out a lonely
critical response outside of Ireland. middle age. He meets up with the strange
Here’s a thought. It would save much Fitzpatrick, a man not recalled by Victor
angst if authors simply pre-submitted but who claims to be his acquaintance
their manuscripts (preferably on pigskin from their school days.
vellum) to selected critics. Then they Exactly who is Fitzpatrick? did he really
could be informed in advance as to what go to school with Victor? This is ulti-
does and doesn’t ‘work’ and be educated mately answered in a surprising and skilful
by countless ‘if onlys’, eg: “if only you’d denouement.
written it in Swahili”, “if only it wasn’t a In Smile, Roddy doyle’s prose style
book, but a Wispa, as I’m a little hungry is characteristically direct, concise and
at the moment and don’t feel like writing witty, and his characters are succinctly
a review” or “if only this writer was another well drawn, inhabiting comfortably the
writer who I like better/once bought me impressive work of recent fiction written ‘doyleland’ of laconic working class/low-
a pint/is my first cousin” etc. However, as by a man from a woman’s perspective. er-middle class dublin.
one character inhabiting ‘doyleland’ might Smile similarly digs into the consequences While this is ultimately a serious book,
opine: “feck the critics!” of violence and abuse in Irish society; in it always entertains, and moreover is a
Roddy doyle is known for deal- this case the appalling abuse, both physical satisfying read.
ing successfully with complex and and sexual, that existed in parts of the Irish – Niall Hunter
sensitive societal themes. His The Woman school system until relatively recently. Smile by Roddy Doyle is published by Johnathan Cape
who Walked into Doors is perhaps the most doyle shines a light on an unfair and London. ISBN: 978-1911214755. RRP STG £13.99
!
Crossword

Competition

Across Down
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Solutions to March crossword:
1 Worthy of a silver medal at the Olympics (6-4) 1 Totals (4)
9 6 Self-satisfied (4) 2 Barge around with a lab cat? No! (5,4) Across:
10 Somehow, Edouard was meant to be a 3 A mark usually scored in wood (5) 1 Beta blockers 7 Orb 9 Peak
10 11
great painter (5) 4 Place an archer’s weapon before the 10 Tremor 11 Ursa Minor
11 Sport played in a swimming pool (5,4) Spanish part of the body (5) 14 Envoy 16 Tuck 18 Gulls 21
12 Give an insect 50% of a rugby position (3,4) 5 Fill to satisfaction (4) Group 22 Horde 23 Harpy 24
12 13 14 15 15 Fruit used in winemaking (5) 7 Tumour growing from muscle fibres (5) Aged 25 Polar bear 26 Debar
17 & 32d Legs honk out where the Maze 8 Fruit for a chaperone (10) 29 I Spy 33 Tralee 34 Hips
16 17
prison used to be (4,4) 9 Boasted (7) 36 Awl 37 London Bridge
18 19 20 18 Circular plaything (4) 13 Recess found in a church (4)
19 Avoid capture. (5) 14 Blooms (7) Down:
21 22 1 Bye 2 Take 3 Bath 4 Ocean
21 Might Lear wed in such sheltered style? (7) 16 English county where one relocated
23 24 23 Surpass a garden party? (5) her shop, sir (10) 5 Kyoto 6 Sour 8 Blackberries
24 Mark on the skin from an old wound (4) 20 One’s not sure if this could make 9 Prima gravida 12 Snooze
25 25 Was the Russian ruler a sleepy character one’s aunt nicer (9) 13 Graph 14 Edgar Allan Poe
26 27 28 29 30 in the automobile? (4) 21 A form of tetanus (7) 17 Unruly 19 Layer 20 Shops
27 Erred 30 Pull 32 Thud
26 American animal that sprays a foul- 22 Change gear in a fury (4)
31 32 smelling liquid (5) 27 Workers’ organization (5)
33 34 28 One can show respect for a piece of regalia (7) 29 Type of seashell (5)
33 It’s said to be the sincerest form of flattery (9) 30 Jet (5)
34 Lessen, ease off (5) 31 Flightless bird associated with New The winner of the
35 For long periods of time, one’s nose was Zealand (4) March crossword is:
35 36 out of joint (4) 32 See 17 across.
36 The final hole in a full round of golf (10) Kathleen Delaney
Name: The prize will go to the first correct entry opened. Douglas
Address: Closing date: Friday, April 20, 2018 Cork
Post your entry to: Crossword Competition, WIN, MedMedia Publications,
17 Adelaide Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin