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Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
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Plot Summary of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
"The novel tells of the childhood trials and traumas of 10-year old Patrick Clarke Jr., named for his pa. Every chance he gets he torments his younger brother whom he dubs Sinbad. Despite the abuse Sinbad constantly hangs around his older brother and his friends. Paddy lacks the gifts of natural leadership among his young hooligan peers and therefore likes a bully named Kevin. He does things to impress Kevin, including the bullying of his brother and other friends. Paddy and the gang of boys do all the things a parent would dread including lying, stealing, smoking, and fighting.

Paddy's life in Barrytown, Ireland takes on a more serious note as his parents proceed to constantly argue, with his father eventually becoming violent and dysfunctional in his interactions with Paddy's mother. The boys are traumatized by the thought of their family falling apart. Paddy takes on a paternal concern for his younger sibling but realizes he may be making the gesture too late to prevent his brother from suffering anguish over the impending breakup. Doyle's novel won the prestigious British Booker Prize."

David Fletcher, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - humorous
Time/era of story - 1960's-1970's
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Age group of kid(s) in story: - grade school
Parents/lack of parents problem? - fighting with domineering daddy
Wild kid(s)? - committing crimes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - student
Age: - a kid
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - Irish/McCourt
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 (an above average amount)
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
City? Yes
City: - dirty, grimy (like New York)

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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Roddy Doyle Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David Fletcher  

SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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