Emerald Germs of Ireland
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Patrick McCabe |
|---|---|
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | March 1, 2001 |
| ISBN | 0-06-019678-5 |
Emerald Germs of Ireland (2001) is a black comedy novel by Irish writer Patrick McCabe.[1][2][3][4] Each chapter uses the title of a different song and begins with an epigram of the lyrics.
The title "Emerald Germs of Ireland" is a reference to a music book mentioned in McCabe's earlier novel The Butcher Boy titled "Emerald Gems of Ireland".
Plot summary
[edit]The book focuses on the life of Pat McNab. Through the use of flashbacks and dreamlike hallucinations it tells of the alternately adoring and critical attention of his mother, Maimie, and the abusiveness of his father and how it finally sent him over the edge.
After initially killing both his father and mother, he proceeds to kill his neighbors and local visitors to the village some of whom he believes to be aware of his crimes and are attempting to blackmail him.
Eventually he exhumes his mother after the removal of each successive "germ".
Chapter titles
[edit]- Whisky On a Sunday
- The Turfman from Ardee
- Old Flames
- South of the Border
- Courting in the Kitchen
- Three Lovely Lassies in Bannnion
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Fly Me to the Moon
- Waka Waka
- Love Story
- The Garden Where the Praties Grow
- Island of Dreams
- For What It's Worth
- Twenty-One Years
References
[edit]- ^ Foster, Aisling (27 January 2001). "Germs, madness and murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Emerald Germs of Ireland". Publishers Weekly. 5 March 2001. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Emerald Germs of Ireland". Kirkus Reviews. 15 January 2001. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Emerald Germs of Ireland". Booklist. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 5 September 2024.