Customer Reviews
Bitterly disappointing - By: Readalot, 25 Aug 2010 
I did read this book to the (bitter) end & I will read the sequelin the hope that it is more like Henry Smart. However, this was just a terrible read. The Louis Armstrong plot was ridiculous & so were the relationships Henry encountered with various women. Had the novel explored the experiences of those who emigrated from Ireland to the US, it would have helped Doyle to maintain his credibility. However, this just readin parts like a teenage boy's (circa 1920's) fantasy. The reappearance of Miss O'Shea was the only reason I persevered with this book- don't bother!
Not up to usual standard - By: BookWorm, 31 Jul 2010 I've long been a fan of Roddy Doyle. 'Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha' was one of the first 'adult' novels I read, & many of his other books have since become favourites. I was never a great fan of 'A Star Called Henry', the prequel to this novel, which I considered one of his weaker novels, but nevertheless it was still a good read. Many years later I got round to reading 'Oh Play That Thing'.
Maybe the gap between reading the two was one of the problems. I can't really remember anything but the very vaguest details of 'A Star Called Henry' & I did find that a serious impedement to enjoying this book. So much reference is made to past events & there's little there to guide the reader who might have forgotten or even not read the previous book. I wouldn't even attempt this novel without having read the predecessor.
I was never very keen on Henry as a character. In the first novel he had childhood & youth on his side, butin this story he's an adult. The strongest feature of 'A Star...' was Henry's relationship with his younger brother, Victor; that's absent from this sequel & isn't replaced by anything even close. Most of the other characters annoy me. The best is probably the nameless 'Half Sister' who is at least interesting, but she's not made as much of as she could be. I always dislike real people being fictionalised & I'm not sure Louis Armstrong's family would be too happy about the way he's portrayed here. It might be accurate or it might not - I don't like jazz music & know little about him - but it annoys me that I could have been given a false impression. For example, was he a house breaker & theif or is that Doyle's invention? If I was a surviving relative I wouldn't be impressed if the latter was the case.
The pacing doesn't work well - the latter part feels rushed & pointless. Maybe it's because it's a bridging novel, linking a stronger first & (maybe - I haven't read it) final instalment. There's definitely a sense of filling time, trying to quickly explain away several decades. So perhaps it fills a purpose but that doesn't make it a satisfying readin itself.
Don't get me wrong - Roddy Doyle can write. The style isn't bad at all, if you like it; it's the content that's letting him downin this case. I'm not sure whether I'll read the final partin the triology - this hasn't made me want to, but on the other hand experience tells me the best authors can have one duff novel & go on to reach their past glory. For me 'Oh Play That Thing' is forgivable given a previous good record - but if you're new to Doyle, don't for goodness sake start here.
oh play it again didnt get it! - By: Magda Trainor, 14 Apr 2010 
well what can i say! to claim to be a follow up of a star called Henry it just didnt cut the mustard! a let down!it just wasnt very interesting, at points i didnt even like Henry & started to dislike him! not the Henry of 1916 & the civil war! iv just started to read The Dead Republic, iL go out on a limb here, but what iv read so far the old Henry seems to be coming back into it! worth a read if only to lead you on to the final chapterin Henrys colourful life!
Almost unfinishable. - By: Ms. F. Simms, 12 Mar 2009 I am aware this book is a sequel to a better book; but having never read the first I can safely say that as a stand alone this book is dull, directionless & devoid of plot. In places it almost catches the attention- just enough to stop me from giving up entirely but instead slogging through itin the most joyless manner - but whenever one puts it down for long enough to even make a cup of tea the sparse plot details slip away & leave nothing but a grating wish to skip to the last few pages to end the whole task as quickly as possible.
Rambling, confusing & dare I say it - downright boring.
Very Disappointing - By: Scooby Doo, 24 Apr 2007 
Couldn't wait to read this as A Star Called Henry was soooooooooo brilliant and, indeed it starts well. Henry is escaping from Ireland & eventually arrivesin NY & history comes alive...this is NY as it must have been. However, from that point on the story gets lost. The plot becomes unbelievable. I suppose,in the end, if you enjoyed the first book it's worth reading just for the first few chapters....disappointing
