Now older than some of its charming and eccentric characters, The Chisellers (1995, O'Brien Press, Dublin, 190 pages) by Irish comedian Brendan O'Carroll remains amusing and enjoyable.
O'Carroll, born 52 years ago, the youngest in a North Dublin family of 11 children, drew on personal experiences to write The Chisellers. The book follows Irish widow Agnes Browne and her seven chisellers (children) during the 1970s.
"I was introduced to the beauty of reading when I was just nine years old,” the author says. “A young schoolteacher named Billy Flood gave me a tattered copy of Treasure Island. That man and that book changed my life forever.”
Spiked with humor, The Chisellers has its readers chuckling all the way from rollicking bingo games and inept romantic liaisons to a surprisingly tragic conclusion. At one point, a move to a new house causes upheaval:
“Having never had a refrigerator before, the Browne family was at a loss as to what to actually keep in it. Initially, all they put there was butter and milk, Over a period of time, it went on to contain bread, jars of jam and even tins of processed peas. It was three months before Agnes realised it should be plugged in!”
When Agnes visits a travel agency, the dialogue turns hilarious:
“Agnes placed her handbag on the counter and smiled at the man. ‘I want to go to Canada.’
Tim returned the smile. He took a pad and pencil and began to make notes. ‘Right, Canada. And where in Canada?’
‘Me sister’s.’
Tim looked up from the pad. The lady was still smiling, so this obviously wasn't a joke. He tried again. ‘And where does your sister live?’
‘I told yeh – in Canada.’
‘Yes, but whereabouts in Canada?’
‘Oh, sorry, luv.’ Agnes began to root in her handbag and extracted Dolly’s letter. She read the address aloud. ‘1202 Ironwood Court.’
Tim nodded at the lady slowly in a silent gesture for her to go on with the rest of the address but she didn't. She just looked again and smiled.
‘And where is Ironwood Court?’
Agnes was getting towards the end of her tether. ‘In fuckin’ Canada.’ ”
Memorable blokes, like narcotics trader Manny Wise and “the amorous Pierre", who assists Agnes “hormonally", parade through the short book. All advance the plot.
The Browne children make a rambunctious crew:
“ ‘When you were born, I was already walkin', pal.’ Mark emphasised his words by pointing a crust of toast at Dermot.
Dermot looked at him for a moment and then very seriously said, ‘Are yeh walking since you were two-and-a-half?’
‘Yep,’ Mark answered.
‘Jaysus, yeh must be knackered.’ ”
One schoolteacher praises a Browne youngster's artistic ability:
“ 'Mrs Browne, I honestly believe that in Trevor we could have another Monet, Picasso, Salvador Dali...!' Miss Conway was glowing.
Agnes stared at her blankly for a moment, hoping the names Miss Conway was rattling off were artists and not terrorists.”
As O'Carroll's second book, The Chisellers built upon the success of his debut novel, The Mammy, also about Agnes and her brood. Recognizing a good thing, the author stayed consistent in subsequent books like The Granny, The Young Wan and Agnes Brown.
As a comedian, O'Carroll has toured on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Approval rating: 81 per cent.
(May 21, 2007)
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