Skippy Dies: Amazon.ca: Paul Murray: Books

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Praise for "Skippy Dies: " “Extravagantly entertaining . . . One of the great pleasures of this novel is how confidently [Paul Murray] addresses such disparate topics as quantum physics, video games, early-20th-century mysticism, celebrity infatuation, drug dealing, Irish folklore and pornography . . . Six hundred sixty-one pages may seem like a lot to devote to a bunch of flatulence-obsessed kids, but that daunting length is part and parcel of the cause to which "Skippy Dies," in the end, is most devoted. Teenagers, though they may not always act like it, are human beings, and their sadness and loneliness (and their triumphs, no matter how temporary) are as momentous as any adult’s And novels about them—if they’re as smart and funny and touching as "Skippy Dies"—can be just as long as they like.” —Dan Kois, "The New York Times Book Review"

“Murray’s humor and inventiveness never flag. And despite a serious theme—what h

Product Description

Ruprecht Van Doren is an overweight genius. Daniel "Skippy" Juster is his roommate. In the grand old Dublin institution that is Seabrook College for Boys, nobody pays either of them much attention. But when Skippy falls for Lori, the Frisbee-playing Siren from the girls' school next door, suddenly all kinds of people take an interest. A fatal doughnut-eating race and the ensuing tragedy will explode Seabrook's century-old complacency and bring all kinds of secrets into the light, until teachers and pupils alike discover that the fragile lines dividing past from present, love from betrayal—and even life from death—have become almost impossible to read ...

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Customer Reviews

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4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars A very sad story, Dec 14 2011

By

L. Ramsey - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Skippy Dies (Paperback)

One would think from the title that this book is meant to be humorous. And the first pages of the book would lead one to believe this is so. It is however, a book overfilled with pathos. The humour is lost in the sadness of the events. Skippy and his friends all attend an exclusive private school in Dublin, the Seabrook College of Boys with a sister college located right next door. Dialogue among the children is spot on and the interactions between staff and students also very believable. The plot however, is incredibly bleak. Skippy dies, obviously, but as the story unravels we discover just how tragic the events are that lead to his death. And the pathos? It's practically steeped in it. It makes life seem sad, cynical, hypocritical and ironic. Nobody gets their just desserts so to speak. Bad overwhelms good and we are left with a faint hope for humanity by the end. That said, Mr. Murray captures the voices of his characters fabulously and because of this, makes his sad and pathetic novel, eminently readable.

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5.0 out of 5 stars So Long Skippy, April 12 2011

By

Dave and Joe "De Video Darlings" (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Skippy Dies (Paperback)

Skippy's death, which is no secret given the title, strikes a hammer's blow into the lives of those around him. Murray takes his time to examine the life of one boy, his inner life - using the language with which he speaks to himself; and his life interconnected with others. The story of how Skippy Dies is a complex one, real lives are too complex for there to be simple explanations. The book is deceptively simple to read, one gets carried along on the stories and adventures of teenage life, that time of intensity, of casual cruelty, of BFF's and Bullies - it's easy to forget sometimes that Skippy Dies. I'm glad I read this book. I found myself having to force myself to read more than a few pages at a time ... you see, I liked Skippy, and part of me didn't really want to know why Skippy Dies.

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Amazon.com: 3.9 out of 5 stars (110 customer reviews)

129 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Nominated in the Best Fiction Category by the National Book Critics Circle & Ranked #3 in Time's Top 10 Novels of 2010, April 27 2010

By Geebus Maximus Americanus - Published on Amazon.com

This book (longlisted for the Booker Prize, shortlisted for Irish Novel of the Year and Costa Novel of the Year, and to be adapted for the big screen by Neil Jordan) grabbed hold of me on the very dramatic opening pages and tossed me out the other end (page 672!) only 3 days later. What a page turner. Hailing as I do from the same side of the Liffey where this story is based, it was like being transported back in time to my schooldays, though how times have changed with the onslaught of modern technologies.

Skippy Dies is based primarily in Seabrook College, home to day and boarding pupils alike. It fixes in on both the young teenage students and their teachers alike, and their lives away from school. What really struck me was how today's teenagers have no concept of what having a private life means. Camera phones and social networking sites are the norm and any indiscretions can be made widely known in seconds.

The book deals beautifully with the story behind each of the main characters, exploring their past, their family life, what brought them to the here and now and their current emotional state. When you add the girls school next door into the mix the story really takes off.

The title is self explanatory, but all is not what it seems, so my advice is to let Murray take you on this wonderfully touching journey of discovery.

I don't want to give away too much other than to say all the characters are wonderfully portrayed in such fantastic detail. Murray's style of writing is both hilarious and poignant.

This is not one to miss. I read the full, one book edition. It also comes in a really nice 3-volume box set if you fancy breaking it up.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A novel about death that's full of life, Sep 16 2010

By Susan Tunis - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Skippy Dies (Hardcover)

Pre-release customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program

A 672-page novel is an investment, but Skippy Dies by Paul Murray gets so much right that I hardly know where to begin. The novel opens with the death of the eponymous Daniel "Skippy" Juster as the 14-year-old collapses in a donut shop. From there, we are taken back in time to the myriad events that lead up to that moment, and we spend the next 450 pages falling in love with Skippy and hoping for a different outcome. The final 200 pages are the aftermath, and are arguably the most compelling of this affecting tale.

Now, a book about the death of a young boy sounds like a bummer--and Skippy's death is far from the only tragedy depicted--but as in life, the tragedy is balanced with high comedy. The novel is set at Seabrook College, an upscale private preparatory school in Ireland. This, the institution's 140th year, is a time of transition. The Catholic priests who have been in control for more than a century are beginning to take a back-seat to secular influences. (Yes, contemporary scandals in the Catholic Church are touched upon within the plot, but they are not the focus of the story.)

While Skippy is a pivotal character, the novel is an ensemble piece. We meet Skippy's school pals, the older boys who bully them, the teachers and priests that teach them, the girls from the neighboring school, and a smattering of parents and significant others. There's a plot. Many of them, in fact; it's an expansive novel and much happens along the way. But this story is character-driven, and that's where Murray excels. His characters are delicious! Ruprecht, the idiosyncratic genius; Mario, the teenage lothario; Howard "The Coward" Fallon, a teacher searching for identity; and an acting principal you'll love to hate. Murray perfectly captures the sweet innocence of young boys, right along with their monstrous side. Every word, every action rings true. In Murray's novel, protagonists disappoint. Good things do not always happen to good people. But through it all, there is just so much to laugh about.

I could not be less interested in Irish school boys, but Paul Murray has written a universal tale that simply shines. The writing is effervescent, and it only strengthens as the novel unfolds. It's hard to imagine a novel about death that's more vibrant and full of life. Don't let the length deter you from one of the year's finest reads.

89 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking with some elements of greatness, Sep 8 2010

By E. Jacobs - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Skippy Dies (Hardcover)

This book is exhausting, both emotionally and for your eyeballs. Although the story largely takes place within the narrow confines of a boys' Catholic school in Dublin, the breadth of the issues discussed is as wide as (and includes) the universe. The writing is insightful and the subject matter is interesting. However, the book was so densely packed with musings ranging from the origins of the universe to the nature of pop music that it just frayed around the edges a bit. A few of the threads in the book could have probably been trimmed to make it a tighter, more interesting read.

The centerpiece of the story is Skippy, a teenaged boy attending the Catholic school, and I won't be spoiling anything when I mention that Skippy Dies. The bulk of the book describes the events leading up to his death, with a large cast of characters who seem to corner each possible Catholic schoolboy (nerd, ladies' man, rich kid) and faculty (boring old priest, returning alumnus, hot chick, possible molester) stereotype. This is not to say that these characters are not interesting, and, in some cases, provide some much-needed humor in the midst of what is unquestionably a grim tale. The biggest problem with the story is that at times, the plot gets crushed by its own weight. There is a lot going on, and it does not necessarily all tie together in the end.

I finished this book a few days ago and wanted to let it marinate a bit before writing a review, because I could not decide if this was a modern classic and my initial impression of it being a bit over-done was just from reader fatigue. Ultimately, to me the book was between 3 and 4 stars, and fell to 3 stars for the long and rambling sections that I was hopeful would be tied together better. In the end, they were repetitive and just did not maintain my interest. Without question, Murray is an excellent writer and a deep thinker with a lot to say. In this book, there was just a bit too much of all of it.

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