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Netherland

by: Joseph O'Neill

May 06, 2008
Five stars for the first half, three for the second.

This book starts with a murder, but it is not a whodunnit thriller, it is a thoughtful take on a period in a man's life - More Hornby or Parsons than Kellerman - but more intelligent and less obvious than either.

I loved the faithful description of the Dutch culture and cricketing community, and the use of English by the main character is convincing in structure and evolution.

The loss of a star comes down to the end of the middle section, where it all goes a bit wooly, the author gets a bit carried away, and things which are elsewhere skilfully implied are blandly stated. The reminiscence scenes get to be rather dull, and the plot gets rather distant. ... Read More:

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Crime City: Manchester's Victorian Underworld

by: Joseph O'Neill

March 20, 2008
Having left my native Manchester some 30 years ago, I was intrigued to come across Joseph O'Neill's "Crime City", a book about Manchester's Victorian underworld.

After some deliberation I decided to buy the book. I was not disappointed.

The author transports you back to the streets of Manchester during the 1800's. He recreates the atmosphere in graphic detail and explores every crime, con and scam imaginable which were prevalent during this period.

It is clear that the book has been painstakingly researched and O'Neill skilfully examines the issues raised by crime from the villain to the policeman's point of view.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, crime and punishment ... Read More:

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Netherland

by: Joseph O'Neill

February 02, 2009
Having left my native Manchester some 30 years ago, I was intrigued to come across Joseph O'Neill's "Crime City", a book about Manchester's Victorian underworld.

After some deliberation I decided to buy the book. I was not disappointed.

The author transports you back to the streets of Manchester during the 1800's. He recreates the atmosphere in graphic detail and explores every crime, con and scam imaginable which were prevalent during this period.

It is clear that the book has been painstakingly researched and O'Neill skilfully examines the issues raised by crime from the villain to the policeman's point of view.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, crime and punishment ... Read More:

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Blood-dark Track: A Family History

by: Joseph O'Neill

February 28, 2002
This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1969. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men ... Read More:

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The Breezes

by: Joseph O'Neill

November 08, 1995
This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1969. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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Netherland

by: Joseph O'Neill

June 02, 2008
This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1969. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men ... Read More:

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This Is the Life

by: Joseph O'Neill

March 23, 1992
I unearthed this book recently when finally getting to unpack all my books from the boxes they've been sitting in for the last couple of years. I thought I had lost it. I read it years ago and couldn't remember the author's name or the title, but thankfully recognised the cover the instant I unpacked it. What I did remember is that it was very, very funny. It lodged itself in my mind as one of the few novels I would bother to read again, and now I have my hands on it, that's exactly what I shall do.

My ex-partner read it too, and shared my opinion. I can't recommend it highly enough. Such a shame it now seems to be out of print.

Average Rating:

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Blood Dark Track

by: Joseph O'Neill

January 23, 2001
This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1969. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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The Breezes

by: Joseph O'Neill

August 05, 1996
This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1969. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men ... Read More:

Average Rating:

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Netherland

by: Joseph O'Neill

May 20, 2008
This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1969. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men ... Read More: