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Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite
A Derry Tale by John Boyle is the tale of young John’s Catholic childhood and growing up years in 1950s Northern Ireland. It begins with his memories of being the youngest, the baby, in a very large family of sisters and brothers. School days, friendships, neighborhood events, the mixture of good, dubious, puzzling, frightening and everyday life are described as John moves through childhood to adolescence, first days of apprenticeship and beyond. And all against the backdrop of the troubled political era and the strains between Protestant and Catholic people.
A Derry Tale is poignant and intriguing and I felt really drawn in from the first page. The plot is well thought out and I love the way the author tells the tale through the child’s eyes, but with adult understanding. The everyday lives of John’s family members and the community in which he lives are conveyed with honesty and vividness. Characters are well portrayed, very real, and John and his family are very likable: the strong maternal mother figure, the close, loving siblings, the teachers and priests, the good, the bad, and even the abusive who left their influence on John’s growing mind and views.
The book contains much information that explains what life was like growing up in Northern Ireland at that time and how the political difficulties would have affected ordinary people. Author John Boyle includes a number of themes in this book, which is the first in a trilogy. I loved the moments of comedy and the observational skills of the main character, who turns into a fair, empathetic, and hardworking young man. A perceptive, well written, and very enjoyable read. Recommended.
