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- General fiction - |
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Knick Knack Paddy Whack |
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 Knick Knack Paddy Whack byArdal O'Hanlon Henry Holt 244 pages, 2000 (American edition) ISBN 0805063307 Reviewed by Morgan Ann Adams Knick Knack Paddy Whack is Patrick Scully's story. Patrick at 19 is full of potential, raging hormones and confusion. He is vulgar, witty and frightening at the same time. The narrative cuts between Patrick's real time experiences and excerpts of his girlfriend, Francesca's diary. Patrick and everyone in his world are vibrant, flawed portraits of life for young adults during the early eighties in Ireland and England. Life in Patrick's world and words are engaging. His mistakes penetrate the readers own consciousness. His actions are dangerous and daring. Patrick's everyday life is never mundane, no matter the activity, thanks to his vivid and active thoughts. Alternating from witty rants to pure cynicism, Patrick sucks the reader into his life and his idiosyncrasies. I even found my own thoughts imitating his Irish brogue. However, Patrick's language is not for the faint of heart. He speaks with the utter truth of a man well acquainted with the underbelly of the English language. The forays into Francesca's diary are a calming influence. Mr. O'Hanlon shows his talent by switching to Francesca's poetic and dramatic style. She is actually the voice of reality, showing through her descriptions Patrick's unreality. In fact, as the novel continues, it becomes clear that this is not simply the difference in thought between a man and woman. Patrick read virtually every situation incorrectly. His misunderstanding becomes sinister when he claims to forget important and damaging events in his life. The finale of Knick Knack Paddy Whack is blinding. As a surprise, it is well-fitting with the tone and style of the rest of the novel. Even so, I felt betrayed enough to re-read the first half of the story to see where I had been misled. O'Hanlon pulls a trick on the reader. I was left to wonder if the beginning of the novel was Patrick's denial, or simply a tool to lure the reader off the correct path. This is not a mystery in plot, though it appears to be a mystery of the human spirit. The setting and characters are rich in substance. No one is as they first appear. Be warned that this is the type of novel which may alter your own perceptions. |
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