A beautiful little story which is witty and sad and depicts an almost typical Irish childhood. Given this is a little book, it can be enjoyed immensely in one sitting. Recommended. ( )

This novella tells the story of the relationship between a young boy and his father in 1970s Ireland. Written in a style that reminds me of Sherwood Anderson and Ernest Hemingway, the Plunkett family grapples with death, divorce, and dishonesty while living life on the skids in Glasthule. The title references the bleak and dry humor that the elder Paddy uses to cope with his sense of loss and lack of control over the circumstances of his life. The Irish and British colloquialisms in the book are relatively light, and the prose is easily understandable to an American who watches PBS. That said, the bookmark-sized glossary taped to the inside cover of my copy did come in handy during my two-hour read-through. The Comedian is worth the light afternoon commitment. ( )