Hello, I see you are a bunch of folks who have also read At Swim, Two Boys --- Am I the only person who had trouble with it? I posted in my blog today about what a slog it's been.
I meant to post about this earlier, but had to leave. So, now, I'm back, and will try to, er, help out... The thing is, a lot of those words Jamie O'Neill actually just made up. They're half-Irish, half-O'Neill, and you don't have to get stuck on them (like, the exclamations) in order to understand the book, if that makes sense. 'Readamadaisy' means 'reading', by the way. It'll become a bit clearer when Mr. Mack talks to a young boy and tells him to mind his 'readamadaisy' and 'rickmatik'. (Arithmetic.) Mr Mack tends to get words wrong, too. So...just go through it as it is, eventually you'll get used to it. I promise.
Well I don't feel so stupid now but I still think there should be a support group or reader's notes or something, just to get you past the first few chapters. It's like Trainspotting and Porno all over again.
I'm committed to getting to the end though, because I'll have to answer to all the people who told me the story was so beautiful.
Oops I just ran into another one -> "Rapparee Friday. Our swain has stepped off his wall and inside the chapel for the nonce." LOL, the only thing missing from that sentence is a couple flibberitydejibbits or two.
He did indeed make some up. They sound convincing, don't they? He took words that exist and scrambled them about a bit. "Squeeze me peas" cracks me up, for one. Say that outloud, I dare ya.
Don't feel stupid - the first chapter is almost completely incomprehensible to those with no good Irish background, and I only began to completely understand it my second, third times through. I'm not even talking about the prologue. "Pardon me parsnips while I do the aqua" - yeah. You kind of have to take that from the context. That goes for a lot of things, really. When somebody exclaims "cheeses" they most likely just mean "Jesus" - stuff like that. Mr Mack, like I said, makes quite a few mistakes like that. It's extremely funny once you get used to it.
But like everybody else said - it's very much worth it. Take your time and enjoy it. It will surprise you.
I feel as though I have an At Swim, Two Boys support group now! This saves me from calling Dad every two seconds: "Is being a 'slatey one' good or bad?" . . . . .
Same here. English isn't my native language. I'm Greek. The book is wonderful. More than wonderful. It's so worth the effort. Just take your time and read. You will not regret it. Kisses
Well, Ni absolutely had to read it, don't you know!
Oh, darling, I know. This is all crazy, insane and beautiful. It brought so many people together - much like HP, no? - and brought so much joy and happiness and just...yeah.
And Jo is incredibly easy to love. I know, I've been doing it for aaaaages. *g*
You should believe, silly woman, and don't bow to me!! GAH!!
Happy anniversary Liz! And thanks again! I feel so honored for reading At Swim . It's great to get obsessed with a book once more. It's been a while since Harry. A year. WoW :-)
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xx
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mwah :)
(the horror!)
The Troublesome Irish
Re: The Troublesome Irish
Re: The Troublesome Irish
Well I don't feel so stupid now but I still think there should be a support group or reader's notes or something, just to get you past the first few chapters. It's like Trainspotting and Porno all over again.
I'm committed to getting to the end though, because I'll have to answer to all the people who told me the story was so beautiful.
Oops I just ran into another one -> "Rapparee Friday. Our swain has stepped off his wall and inside the chapel for the nonce." LOL, the only thing missing from that sentence is a couple flibberitydejibbits or two.
Re: The Troublesome Irish
Don't feel stupid - the first chapter is almost completely incomprehensible to those with no good Irish background, and I only began to completely understand it my second, third times through. I'm not even talking about the prologue. "Pardon me parsnips while I do the aqua" - yeah. You kind of have to take that from the context. That goes for a lot of things, really. When somebody exclaims "cheeses" they most likely just mean "Jesus" - stuff like that. Mr Mack, like I said, makes quite a few mistakes like that. It's extremely funny once you get used to it.
But like everybody else said - it's very much worth it. Take your time and enjoy it. It will surprise you.
Re: The Troublesome Irish
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Flibbertyjibberity!
Re: The Troublesome Irish
Kisses
Re: The Troublesome Irish
Poor you!! Still, you give me hope.
Re: Happy Birthday!
Oh, darling, I know. This is all crazy, insane and beautiful. It brought so many people together - much like HP, no? - and brought so much joy and happiness and just...yeah.
And Jo is incredibly easy to love. I know, I've been doing it for aaaaages. *g*
You should believe, silly woman, and don't bow to me!! GAH!!
*HUGS and forty kisses*
I love you, too.
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A year. WoW :-)
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A year. Wow, indeed...