Synopses & Reviews
"Intelligent, observant." —
The New Yorker"If your patrons liked Roddy Doyles Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and if they rooted for Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire, they will love Harri Opoku." —Library Journal, starred review
"In turns funny and tragic . . . Its message is universal." -Huffington Post
Advise yourself! Jump into Pigeon English and experience the jubilant, infectious voice of Harrison Opoku—a boy awed by the city, obsessed with gummy candy, a friend to everyone he meets. See why he is bo-styles. How being the fastest runner in Year 7 makes him dope-fine. And how crazy things get when Harri and his best friend launch their own investigation into the murder of a classmate and one of the Dell Farm Crews hutious criminals feels them closing in on him. Youll want this book to last donkey hours, and youll see why Harri is truly a “hero for our times.”*
"Like Room . . . and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time . . . Pigeon English is a novel for adults told in the remarkable voice of a child. In this fine company, Kelman's novel stands out." —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Since Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, there have been certain rules observed when children play detective. Stephen Kelman throws them all out." —Christian Science Monitor
Review
"This this boys love letter to the world made me laugh and tremble all the way through.
Pigeon English is a triumph."
—Emma Donoghue, author of Room
"Continually surprising and endearing ... Theres a sweetness here thats irresistible."
—Washington Post
"[A] work of deep sympathy and imagination."
—Boston Globe
"Enchanting."
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Winning [and] ingenious. . . Pigeon English packs a wallop."
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Intelligent, observant."
—The New Yorker
"Since Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, there have been certain rules observed when children play detective. Stephen Kelman throws them all out ... The mystery is secondary to the pleasures of listening to Harri."
—Christian Science Monitor
"In turns funny and tragic ... Its message is universal."
—Huffington Post
"If your patrons liked Roddy Doyles Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and if they rooted for Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire, they will love Harri Opuku."
—Library Journal, starred review
"Pigeon English is a book to fall in love with: a funny book, a true book, a shattering book ... If you loved Mark Haddons The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time or Emma Donoghues Man Booker-shortlisted Room, youll love this book too."
—The Times (UK)
"Adapting the narrative voice of Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salingers The Catcher In The Rye ... Pigeon English convincingly evokes life on the edge ... The humour, the resilience, the sheer ebullience of its narrator—a hero for our times—should ensure the book becomes, deservedly, a classic."
—Mail on Sunday (UK)
"This exuberant novel sparkles with wonder and delight ... A vivid snapshot of contemporary urban childhood, its Harris voice, brilliantly captured and entirely convincing, which makes this book such a joy."
—Daily Mail (UK)
"Filled with energy, humour and compassion, Pigeon English is a gut-wrenchingly sad novel that makes you laugh out loud."
—Guardian (UK)
"Pigeon English is a fascinating look at a culture pushed to the margins by a nations economic and empathic indifference; Harri is our immediately likable tour guide."
—Time Out Chicago
"Kelmans [debut] has a powerful story, a pacy plot and engaging characters. It paints a vivid portrait with honesty, sympathy and wit . . . It is horrifying, tender and funny . . . Pigeon English will be read by millions . . . Parents who do their childrens homework are in for a treat."
—Telegraph (UK)
"Writing in a childs voice is always a high-wire act . . . Those who have pulled it off range from J.D. Salinger to Emma Donoghue. Kelman takes it one step further . . . The result is a tour de force . . . Funny and poignant, Pigeon English is fired with an uncontainable spirit, a rare distillate of boyhood optimism and adult wisdom."
—Macleans (Canada)
"Kelmans command of Harrisons innocent all-seeing eyes makes for an engaging read."
—The Daily Beast
"Funny and poignant . . . What might be described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Trainspotting . . . Undeniable."
—Toronto Star (Canada)
"Like Harper Lees Scout Finch and Miriam Toews Thebes Troutman, Stephen Kelmans Harri is an original who seems to breathe real oxygen. Watching Harris exploits will make a reader want to laugh, marvel and cheer, but also cringe in fear . . . To be moved to care this deeply for a fictional character is a rare experience . . . The effect is one of profound transcendence."
—Winnipeg Free Press (Canada)
"Told with humour, despite the gritty subject matter and setting . . . Pigeon English charms its way into some hard places."
—Financial Times (UK)
"Harris joie de vivre is infectious and his voice simultaneously charming and haunting—similar to the narrators of Emma Donoghues Room or Mark Haddons The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. And much like those books, Pigeon English is a story for adults."
—BookPage
"Authentic and audacious . . . Harri is . . .tantalisingly sympathetic."
—Scotsman (UK)
"Imaginative, gut-wrenching and powerful . . . Its a window on a world many of us will never experience (thankfully), and it is beautifully and intelligently written."
—Edmonton Journal (Canada)
"A charming narrative voice energizes this lively first novel . . . festooned with vivid, funny locutions . . . Theres just no resisting the kid . . . his embryonic wit, street smarts and survival instincts are about as hutious as it gets."
—Kirkus
"Hilarious, touching and terrifying by turns . . . In his evocation of the dreaming that brings many immigrants to cities all over the world and the danger and despair they face there, Kelman has crafted a book that soars."
—Chronicle Herald (Canada)
"Laced with humour, innocence and authenticity."
—The Independent (UK)
"Prepare to fall in love with Harri . . . [A] fresh, funny and ultimately moving story of 11-year-old Ghanaian immigrant to London."
—Shelf Awareness, starred review
"There is an irrepressible joy in Harri . . . Harri is a hero for all ages . . . He worms his way into your affections and leaves you breathless . . . Pigeon English is a mesmerizing tale of naïveté and discovery that has us rooting on the sidelines, hoping that Harri will triumph."
—The Rover (Canada)
"The strength of this debut novel lies in Harris voice . . . Teens will appreciate Harris winning narration, his childs-eye view of adult situations, and the rising tension when playing detective becomes a high-stakes matter."
—School Library Journal, Adult Books 4 Teens
"Pigeon English has already been hailed as a ‘brilliant and ‘deeply moving depiction of urban life . . . Far from being a political tract, however, Kelman's book uses Harri to convey a straightforward message about how good can triumph, whatever the odds."
—London Evening Standard (UK)
"Well-tuned . . . crisp and mirthful."
—Publishers Weekly
"Opokus plight is both heart-warming and heartbreaking, as his actions unwittingly speed the inevitable cruel crash of manhood into his quietly contented world."
—The List (UK), 4 out of 5 stars
"A book both chilling and charming . . . A coming-of age tale that feels achingly accurate."
—Globe and Mail (Canada)
"A startingly assured piece of work [with] . . . a level of sensitivity and craftsmanship which few crime novelists can offer. What strikes the reader all the way through is the superb control with which Kelman writes . . . Kelman is a writer to watch."
—Mystery Scene
"Pigeon English introduces readers to a Dickensian London circa multicultural now. A violent and riveting coming of age story, Stephen Kelmans debut novel also contains well-timed moments of comedy, affecting family drama, and just enough hopefulness."
—Vancouver Sun (Canada)
"A powerful and impressive novel . . . Kelman knows the world of boys—their language, their humour, their thoughts—and Harris voice is dazzlingly authentic."
—Clare Morrall, author of the Booker-shortlisted Astonishing Splashes of Colour and The Man Who Disappeared
"Rich with lingo, energy, and occasional terror, Pigeon English is a stark and funny look at life in Londons rough housing projects. After another hutious gangland chooking, eleven-year-old Harri is on the case, tracking the murderer for donkey hours while impressing Poppy with his bo-styles. A compelling anatomy of our inner cities."
—Tony DSouza, author of Whiteman and Mule
Synopsis
In this national bestseller and winner of the Booker Prize, Roddy Doyle, author of the "Barrytown Trilogy," takes us to a new level of emotional richness with the story of ten-year-old Padraic Clarke. Witty and poignant--and adored by critics and readers alike--Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha charts the trumphs, indignities, and bewilderment of Paddy as he tries to make sense of his changing world.
Synopsis
Winner of the Booker Prize - Roddy Doyle's witty, exuberant novel about a young boy trying to make sense of his changing world
Look for Roddy Doyle's new novel, Smile, coming in October of 2017
It is 1968. Patrick Clarke is ten. He loves Geronimo, the Three Stooges, and the smell of his hot water bottle. He can't stand his little brother Sinbad. His best friend is Kevin, and their names are all over Barrytown, written with sticks in wet cement. They play football, lepers, and jumping to the bottom of the sea. But why didn't anyone help him when Charles Leavy had been going to kill him? Why do his ma and da argue so much, but act like everything is fine? Paddy sees everything, but he understands less and less. Hilarious and poignant, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha charts the triumphs, indignities, and bewilderment of a young boy and his world, a place full of warmth, cruelty, confusion and love.
Synopsis
Winner of the Booker Prize - Roddy Doyle's witty, exuberant novel about a young boy trying to make sense of his changing world It is 1968. Patrick Clarke is ten. He loves Geronimo, the Three Stooges, and the smell of his hot water bottle. He can't stand his little brother Sinbad. His best friend is Kevin, and their names are all over Barrytown, written with sticks in wet cement. They play football, lepers, and jumping to the bottom of the sea. But why didn't anyone help him when Charles Leavy had been going to kill him? Why do his ma and da argue so much, but act like everything is fine? Paddy sees everything, but he understands less and less. Hilarious and poignant, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha charts the triumphs, indignities, and bewilderment of a young boy and his world, a place full of warmth, cruelty, confusion and love.
Synopsis
This hilarious and heartwrenching novel follows eleven-year-old Harri Opuku, recently emigrated from Ghana to the rough housing projects of London, as he tries to navigate inner-city life. See what makes our good-hearted protagonist dope-fine, become acquainted with his bo-styles, and find yourself wanting this touching debut to last donkey hours.
About the Author
Roddy Doyle is an internationally bestselling writer. His first three novels—
The Commitments,
The Snapper, and the 1991 Booker Prize finalist
The Van—are known as
The Barrytown Trilogy. He is also the author of the novels
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (1993 Booker Prize winner),
The Woman Who Walked into Doors, and
A Star Called Henry, and a non-fiction book about his parents,
Rory and Ita. Doyle has also written for the stage and the screen: the plays
Brownbread,
War,
Guess Who's Coming for the Dinner, and
The Woman Who Walked Into Doors; the film adaptations of
The Commitments )as co-writer),
The Snapper, and
The Van;
When Brendan Met Trudy (an original screenplay); the four-part television series
Family for the BBC; and the television play
Hell for Leather. Roddy Doyle has also written the children's books
The Giggler Treatment,
Rover Saves Christmas, and
The Meanwhile Adventures and contributed to a variety of publications including
The New Yorker magazine and several anthologies. He lives in Dublin.