The Guts

Roddy Doyle — 2013

Jimmy Rabbitte is back. The man who invented the Commitments back in the 1980s is now 47, with a loving wife, 4 kids ... and bowel cancer. He isn't dying, he thinks, but he might be. Jimmy still loves his music, and he still loves to hustle--his new thing is finding old bands and then finding the people who loved them enough to pay money online for their resurrected singles and albums. On his path through Dublin, between chemo and work he meets two of the Commitments--Outspan Foster, whose own illness is probably terminal, and Imelda Quirk, still as gorgeous as ever. He is reunited with his long-lost brother, Les, and learns to play the trumpet.

Reviews

Phil James@philjames

Sep 3, 2021

If you read a quick synopsis of this, you might think it was a bit grim. Middle-age desperation and colon cancer among musical nostalgia. But this isn't just a re-hash of the Commitments story, just aged, it's as if the characters have been living real lives all this time. So real I feel I knew them. This book made me laugh and cry, and left me with a warm glow. I love it when I enjoy a book so much. [ Lots of swearing, of course, it is Roddy Doyle] Quote from TV comedy "Father Ted" Father Dougal: I wouldn't know Ted, you big bollocks! Father Ted: [astounded] I'm sorry!? Father Dougal: I said I wouldn't know Ted, you big bollocks! Father Ted: Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!? Father Dougal: I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite!

Wilde@wildeaboutoscar

Jul 3, 2023

Martin Samuelsson@martinsa

Feb 8, 2022