From The Brothers' Lot: Biography of the Venerable Saorseach O'Rahilly

http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Lot-Kevin-Holohan/dp/193607091X/ref=sr_1_1?s=b...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brothers-Lot-Kevin-Holohan/dp/1842435051/ref=sr_1_1?i...

This reading was at KGB Bar, New York, courtesy of Drunken Careening Writers, reading from the novel The Brothers' Lot in which we hear a snippet of the life-story of the Venerable Saorseach O'Rahilly, founder of the Brothers of Godly Coercion. the Brothers Lot is available in paperback in the US from Akashic Books and in the UK and Ireland from No Exit Press and also in kindle.
"A witty, brilliant, devastating expression of outrage. . . this novel is so subtly imagined, so elegantly structured, written in such hilarious prose but with such horrifying details, that what it offers is an overpowering, visionary judgement of a society."--Times Literary Supplement

"The mix of dire experiences that goes into the education dished out at the Brothers of Godly Coercion School for Young Boys of Meager Means adds up to a mordantly funny debut from Dublin native Holohan."--Publishers Weekly

"Taking dead aim at the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church and the atmosphere of repression that allowed abuse to flourish, this first novel uses satire to stinging effect . . . Terribly bleak and terribly funny, this skillful debut pays tribute to the irrepressible spirit of all the rebellious young boys who would not give in to authoritarian rule."--Booklist

"[Holohan] possesses his own distinct voice. Especially useful as therapy for recovering Catholics or to tweak apologists of the church, this impressive debut is highly recommended."--Library Journal, Starred Review

"Holohan's ability to write the kind of free-flowing naturalistic dialogue that so potently conveys the anarchic spirit of schoolboy warfare . . . is grounded by a shadow play of macabre references to horrors that ghost around the edges of the narrative, many eerily similar to some of the more infamous real life reports that have emerged in recent years."--Irish Times

"The book is funny, fast-paced with one crisis after another, but always pulls at the heartstrings."--Brooklyn Rail

"The Brothers' Lot takes on serious subject matter--the grim aftermath of World War II, the abuse of children by priests--with biting satire that lends comic relief to an otherwise dark novel."--The Daily Beast, Book Beast

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[MrDanbloom]

I just finished reading ''The Brothers' Lot'', and I'm happy to say that it is a powerful, funny, provocative story that pulls no punches. Mr Holohan manages to capture the fear, horror and spirit of tormented youth, while maintaining a sense of social critique that is thought-provoking. And, like a great Irish allegory should be, the story is hilarious, scary and delightful, all at the same time. Anyone who has ever suffered at the hands of an oppressive educational system will get it. BRAVO

[elquebin]

thanks for this and you other comments

[MrDanbloom]

Kevin, Yr nice piece about Russell Hoban on another side was great, but not once do you mention he was Jewish. Your novel is about your Catholic upbringing, no? Would a reviewer review your book and not mentiion even once that you a Catholic, maybe lasped now, but a Catholic nevertheless? No way. So why in your full 2500 word piece on RH, you don't even credit the heritage that gave him his insights, just as your heritage nurtured you? Oversight. please fix.

-- Danny O'Bloom, a friend in Taiwan

[elquebin]

Dear Danny,

Indeed an oversight on my part. Will try to have it fixed. I wish I knew enough to get the resonances of his heritage in his work. Best Kevin.

[MrDanbloom]

dear El Kevin, thanks for notes and bravo, great piece on Hoban, I also did not know he was Jewish until after he died and i read the obits here in Taiwan. My dad was from Brooklyn, avenue J, he escaped to Springfield Mass, i born there, i escaped to Japan now Taiwan. o life, where does it end? danny bloom (1949-2032)

[bennettcerffan]

Go O'Rasherrrleeeee!