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Details
Title: Paradise Road
Author: Stephen O’Donnell
Published: 1 Oct 2012
Synopsis
Paradise Road is the story of Kevin McGarry a young man from the West of Scotland, who as a youngster was one of the most talented footballers of his generation in Scotland. Through a combination of injury and disillusionment, Kevin is forced to abandon any thoughts of playing the game he loves, professionally. Instead he settles for following his favourite team, Glasgow Celtic, as a spectator, while at the same time resignedly and with a characteristically wry Scottish sense of humour, trying to eke out a living as a joiner.
It is a story of hopes and dreams, idealism and disillusionment, of growth in the face of adversity and disappointment. Paradise Road examines some of the major themes affecting football today, such as the power and role of the media, standards in the Scottish game and the sectarianism which pervades not only football in Glasgow but also the wider community.
More than simply a novel about football or football fandom, the book offers a portrait of the character and experiences of a section of the Irish Catholic community of the West of Scotland, and considers the role of young working-class men in our modern, post-industrial society.
The road Kevin travels towards self discovery, fulfillment and maturity leads him to Prague, enabling a more detached view of the Scotland that formed him and the Europe that beckons him.
Review
(By TheHumanTorpedo)
‘Paradise Road’ is the highly impressive debut novel from Stephen O’Donnell.
Following ‘The Road To Lisbon’ O’Donnell’s novel is the second fictional work this year to deal with Celtic-related themes. In many ways both these excellent book’s couldn’t be more different. Yet both complement each other as well as Auld and Murdoch. While ‘The Road To..’ offers the reader a gritty but nostalgic snapshot of Celtic, football and Scotland in ‘Paradise Road’ we are offered a sharp and insightful take on the change inflicted upon the club, game and nation we know today.
At the centre of Paradise Road is Kevin McGarry. With Celtic as the omnipresent backdrop to his life, we are taken on a journey from his days as a happy-go-lucky young footballer with the world at his feet, to a disillusioned and frustrated 30-something joiner. It is a highly entertaining journey – one constantly interwoven with ample wit and a healthy dose of cynicism.
Celtic is Kevin’s obsession. As we witness girlfriends and pals come and go the club remain his first and true love. But, as we all know, love hurts. Covering a period from the 1980’s to the present day, this is a journey many Celtic fans will have traveled. Indeed, Kevin is very much an “everyman” figure who will provoke much empathy – not just from a generation of Celtic fans but from football fans in general.
Told mostly through Kevin’s engaging first person narrative the story is a finely knitted collection of anecdotes which, as we follow the protagonist from teenager to his 30s, together paint a much bigger picture about Celtic, football and modern life. A picture which reveals a world where community and camaraderie have slowly and inevitably been replaced by commercialism and cash.
In lesser hands Kevin’s despair and anger at the alienating corporate world of modern football could descend into cliched whining. But thanks to the fine storytelling of the author there is never any danger of that. Instead we see the frequently voiced disillusionment of many supporters given a fresh, entertaining and humourous voice.
Paradise Road is in truth about much more than football and in Kevin McGarry the author has created a highly likeable and insightful character. A bold, biting and thoughtful novel, Paradise Road will strike a chord with many – and not just those of a Celtic persuasion. An excellent and entertaining read.
Product Details
- Paperback: 250 pages
- Publisher: Ringwood; First edition (1 Oct 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1901514072
- ISBN-13: 978-1901514070
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.8 x 2.6 cm
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