Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Controlled anger, still relevant November 10, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
To suggest that this is no longer worth reading because the situation in Northern Ireland has changed is a bit like suggesting (say) that 'Richard III' is no longer worth going to see because the Wars of the Roses have ended. Moreover, there are still terrorists around, and there will still be moral dilemmas to be confronted by those unfortunate enough to come into contact with them, even if not in the same way or with the same type of terrorist. The moral dilemma set up in this novel is gripping: the protagonist faces the choice between (it seems to him) his wife being killed by terrorists, or leaving a bomb which will kill many others. The reader is forced to consider his or her likely reaction in similar circumstances. Against a persuasively-realised background, the ordinariness of the terrorists, and the variations in their attitudes, are bleakly and calmly captured. A few Americanisms (from recollection, examples were 'trunk' for boot of a car, 'going to the bathroom') jarred slightly in this realistic work but maybe (although I doubt it) these are also present in Northern Irish speech. Overall this is thoughtful, thought-provoking work, and, while it will do nothing to cheer you up, deserves to be read right to the end.
 Interesting attempt, but no more relevant February 6, 2001
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
I had to read this book for my "Facharbeit" in English and I must say that it's very easy to read and to understand. Sometimes the story is quite gripping but unfortunately other parts are more than boring and only the end is really surprising! Furthermore things changed a bit in Northern-Ireland and so the story and the facts are no more relevant to the current situation.
think the story is boring,language interesting November 2, 2000
0 out of 10 found this review helpful
i think that the book is only interesting because of its language!the two storys aren't thus interesting as i thought they would be! only the language makes the book quite interesting in the end. its not very recommendable to read it in school!
 I didn't enjoy it: boring and certainly not a thriller. February 13, 2000
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
A lot of the story was inappropriate and I found it quite boring. The hostage situation was not too bad and the duologues between Dillon and Father Connolly weren't too bad either. However, I found Moira's character unrealistic as well as Michael's changing of mind. It could have been better. The ideas were good, just not executed properly.
An inaccurate account of modern northern Ireland December 6, 1999
1 out of 11 found this review helpful
I found this book to be ridiculous, inaccurate and mellowdramatic thiller, in which,in my opinion, the auther had no idea as to what he was talking about.I read the French person's review, and, living in Ireland, felt inpelled to express my opinion. Thank you for your time, John O'Connor, Dublin, Ireland.
|
