Rating: 
Summary: A Claustrophobic Masterpiece of Modern Literature
Review: THE BUTCHER BOY is so much more than "a little gem;" it's a true masterpiece of horror of the most palpable kind. THE BUTCHER BOY isn't about vampires or aliens nor does it contain anything of the supernatural. What makes THE BUTCHER BOY so very horrific is the fact that its protagonist, Francie Brady's story could happen to anyone, anywhere.To me, Francie Brady seemed to be, at least in part, a victim of circumstances. Born to an alcoholic father and a good, but emotionally weakened mother, Francie begins life with two strikes against him. A misfit and a social outcast, the loss of his good friend, Joe, provides the third strike that finally sends Francie over the edge. McCabe has chosen to tell Francie's story in the first person and, in my opinion, it was certainly the wisest choice. We're inside Francie's head from the first page to the last. This makes the book extremely claustrophobic but it does heighten the horror and make Francie all the more believable. THE BUTCHER BOY belongs to Francie and Francie alone. Sure, there are other characters in the book, but this is Francie's story. We're with him from the moment his disintegration begins until the time it's complete. And what a disintegration it is. When the book begins, Francie lives in the "real" world though the seeds of his destruction have already been firmly planted. By the time the book ends, Francie is a completely different person and we've been "with" him all the way; we've witnessed every nuance, every quirk. Francie Brady is a very believable and a very unforgettable character. THE BUTCHER BOY is, of course, an extremely powerful book. It's not pleasant to read, but it is extremely impressive. I read it in two sittings, though it would be quite easy to read it in only one. It only takes a page or two to accustom oneself to the Irish cadence and one sentence simply flows into the next. The reason I chose to read THE BUTCHER BOY in two sittings had everything to do with the book's claustrophobic intensity, however, rather than its length. It really isn't very long. If you're looking for a pleasant reading experience or a little divertissement, THE BUTCHER BOY won't do. If, however, you're interested in exploring a true masterpiece of modern literature, from one of Ireland's finest authors, you couldn't do much better than this book. Patrick McCabe's writing, while claustrophobic, is, however, very different from the claustrophobic novels of his fellow countryman, John Banville. Banville's novels are far more "literary" and less gritty. McCabe resembles Patrick McGrath more, though McGrath is, in my opinion, more psychological. I would definitely recommend THE BUTCHER BOY to anyone who wants to read a first rate book and doesn't mind a bit of grittiness in his or her literature.
Rating: 
Summary: James Joyce meets Catcher in the Rye meets Ted Bundy
Review: The hard-to-read style of this book could be an attempt to copy James Joyce, I don't know. I'd like a translation into readable English though :) McCabe is no James Joyce, sorry. But his totally degenerate modern mind, filled with tons of trivial facts about modern culture, is worth the price of the book, yes. The TV movie about Ted Bundy starring Mindy's husband, whats-his-name, of Irish extraction, seems a more powerful psychological insight into a killer's mind than this, and I never quite believe the whole thing, or that there is any real Francie Brady. Still, it's the bargain of the month for people looking for reading thrills.
Rating: 
Summary: One star too much.
Review: Written in stream of consciousness, this book just takes you away into a little boy's life and fantasies. Sometimes you look back and you can't pinpoint the place where reality turned to dream and dream turned to reality, but the consequences are very severe. This is a dark, almost dangerous story - very, very impressive.
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