Books

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Coddle is a Revolting Mess of an Irish Dish. Chowder's Nice.

The Valparaiso Voyage
Dermot Bolger
Manufacturer: Flamingo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0006552374

Customer Reviews:

Coddle is a Revolting Mess of an Irish Dish. Chowder's Nice........2005-02-28

Dublin has been portrayed dirty old times. But Navan, County Meath? The Valparaiso Voyage is the only novel that I know of which explores that gateway town. It also explores the realities of political corruption- a topic, sadly, only too Irish and too true. The news in recent years has been filled with tribunals, while homes have been planted and promptly flooded on unsuitable lands that dodgy officials enriched themselves rezoning.

This examination of power in towns small and large was the novel's most interesting feature. Rather than the satisfying wish-fulfilment of revenge that most writers would offer, The Valparaiso Voyage explores what goes on within these men. What's their side of the story?

That theme is only one within The Valparaiso Voyage's breadth. It is a human story, aimed at the heart- family, love, immigration and racism, gambling, homosexuality, marriage. Like Bolger's earlier novel, Father's Music, a mystery keeps the pages turning.

I don't believe the pieces fuse so well, though. A boy living in a back-garden chicken coop? Like Augustus juggling skulls for relaxation in Carl Hiaasen's magnificent Stormy Weather, that's a great place for a character to start. But this Brendan Brogan did not convince me. His many issues, conflicts and passions felt like a coddle of random odds and ends. Irish pieces? Yes. I don't care how Dublin it is, though. I don't like coddle. Give me that perfect, natural blend seafood chowder from The Anglers' Rest, any day.

Two and a half stars.

Deck and port: Or, Incidents of a cruise in the United States frigate Congress to California : with sketches of Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso, Lima, Honolulu, and San Francisco

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Deck and port: Or, Incidents of a cruise in the United States frigate Congress to California : with sketches of Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso, Lima, Honolulu, and San Francisco
Walter Colton
Manufacturer: Cleaves, Macdonald
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Diary of Benjamin Reynolds (The Journal of a Voyage 'round Cape Horn from Philadelphia to Chile and Back Again Via Rio De Janiero in 1840-41)

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The Diary of Benjamin Reynolds (The Journal of a Voyage 'round Cape Horn from Philadelphia to Chile and Back Again Via Rio De Janiero in 1840-41)
Benjamin Reynolds , and Rosalie Esmond Blizard
Manufacturer: Heritage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

South America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1556137966

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VALPARAISO VOYAGE
DERMOT BOLGER
Manufacturer: Flamingo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8T3H4

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Deck and port; or, Incidents of a cruise in the United States frigate Congress to California: With sketches of Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso, Lima, Honolulu, and San Francisco
Walter Colton
Manufacturer: H.W. Derby & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Un llarge viatge entre Kuwait, al Golf Persic, i Valparaiso, a Xile (1959-1960) (L'Ancora)

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Un llarge viatge entre Kuwait, al Golf Persic, i Valparaiso, a Xile (1959-1960) (L'Ancora)
Josep Pla
Manufacturer: Ediciones Destino
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United-Arab-Emirates & Yemen | Middle East | Travel | Subjects | Books

Catalan | More Languages | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 8423320847

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The Valparaiso voyage
Dermot Bolger
Manufacturer: Flamingo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8P5SU

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Le Voyage à Valparaiso
Dermot Bolger , and Marie-Lise Marlière
Manufacturer: Albin Michel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 2226137491

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