Life as seen through the eyes of Patrick Freyne is stranger and more interesting than life as we generally know it. Like David Sedaris or Nora Ephron, he creates an environment all his own – fundamentally comic, sometimes unsettling, always deeply humane. Whether he is writing about the absurdity of life (the band he used to be in, some crappy jobs he’s had, ridiculous adventures one summer in Germany) or darkness and loss (his struggles with his mental health, encounters with the homeless in Dublin, his experiences as a care worker), he leaves the reader with the rare and comforting feeling of being in good hands. And when he writes about the deaths of two close friends, or life without children, or the power of group song, he brings us to the highest levels that the essay can attain.
OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea
€11.50
Description
LONGLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2021
‘One of the year’s funniest books’ i Paper
‘Funny, smart, soulful and sometimes devastating … It made me laugh and cry’ EMILIE PINE, author of Notes to Self
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Patrick Freyne has tried a lot of stupid ideas in his life. Now, he is here to tell you about them: like the time (aged 5) he opened a gate and let a horse out of its field, just to see what would happen; or the time (aged 19) he jumped out of a plane for charity, even though he didn’t much care about the charity and was sure he’d end up dead; or the time (aged old enough to know better) he used a magazine as a funnel for fuel when the petrol cap on his band’s van broke.
He has also learned a few things: about the power of group song; about the beauty of physically caring for another human being; about childlessness; about losing friends far too young. Life as seen through the eyes of Patrick Freyne is stranger, funnier and a lot more interesting than life as we generally know it. Like David Sedaris or Nora Ephron, he creates an environment all his own – fundamentally comic, sometimes moving, always deeply humane. OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea is a joyous reading experience from an instantly essential new writer.
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‘Patrick Freyne is a comic genius’ MARIAN KEYES
‘Clever, lovely and great, great fun’ RODDY DOYLE
‘Funny and adorable’ NINA STIBBE
‘The most gorgeous and heartbreaking book about humans and why we need each other’ DAISY BUCHANAN
‘Hilariously, painfully, Freynefully brilliant’ JOSEPH O’CONNOR
‘Wonderful … One of my books of the year’ RYAN TUBRIDY
‘Full of humour and tenderness, this book is an absolute JOY‘ SINÃAD GLEESON
‘F*cking fantastic. Patrick is a brilliant writer’ BLINDBOY BOATCLUB
‘A cracking, sad, funny, honest, brave and hilarious read’ LIZ NUGENT
‘Guffaw-out-loud funny’ Business Post
‘A writer of rare humour, depth, and humanity. These essays are a delight’ MARK O’CONNELL, author of To Be a Machine
‘Goosebumps! Guffaws! It’s got it all. I love this book’ DOIREANN NÃ GHRÃOFA
Additional information
| Weight | 0.162 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 20.3 × 13 × 1.5 cm |
| Book_author | Freyne, Patrick |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
| Imprint | Penguin Books |
| Cover | Paperback |
| Pages | 224 |
| Language | English |
| Edition | |
| Dewey | 824.92 (edition:23) |
| Readership | General – Trade / Code: K |
