Things You Should Know by John Mackenna
From the pen of one of Ireland's finest writers, "Things You Should Know" by John MacKenna is a story told in parallels. On the one hand, it is an account of a writer hitting forty, a man whose marriage has ended at his own behest. Trying to reconnect with his children - kids he has neglected for many years - he stumbles from one day to another, never fully relating to them while trapped under the weight of his own guilt and uncertainty. On the other, it is the story of a young boy growing up in a small midland village, running free through the summer, dreaming of becoming a writer. However, despite the promise of youth, he eventually grows into an uncertain young man who misses no opportunity to snipe at his father. "Things You Should Know" is a book about growing up and growing old, about freedom and responsibility, about being a father and a son at the same time.
"'MacKenna is the major discovery of latter day Irish writing, McGahern's inheritor, he harvests and hoards his words, knowing their nuance, their gram-weight worth' Scotland on Sunday"
John MacKenna was born in Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland. His books include: The Fallen and Other Stories (1992); which won, and A Year of Our Lives (London, Picador, 1995); Clare (1993) and The Last Fine Summer (London, Picador, 1998).
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781905494170 |
| ISBN 10 | 1905494173 |
| Title | Things You Should Know |
| Author | John Mackenna |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | New Island Books |
| Year published | 2006-10-01 |
| Number of pages | 240 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |