Another portrait of a manchild in bleak, claustrophobic, post-industrial Scotland and/or Ireland, with a setting and atmosphere reminiscent of [Shuggie Bain], [Young Skins] and others. This time we're inside the head of 16-year-old Murdo. His sister and mother have recently died, and his father is usually hiding behind a book. The difference in this story is that it describes a trip they take to the American South, a place that's weird but less dismal.

Murdo is forever trying to make sense of things: not just the family tragedies, but also this country's racism, religiosity and close-to-the-surface violence. He takes things in as they come, without judgement. He knows that he doesn't always get it. There's a wonderful loose sentence structure, with fragments and repetitions, throughout the book that conveys his bemusement about the things he encounters.

He's also trying to figure out what he might do with his life. He's passionate about music, and a brilliant player on guitar and accordion. He meets a family of Zydeco musicians who invite him to join them on stage at a festival. His father is adamantly oblivious to this stroke of fortune. And thus begins Murdo's quest. No spoiler, but the boy achieves, if not a happy ending, a happy chance at a life he's sure he wants. (Even Shuggie Bain, whose family is much poorer and far more dysfunctional, and whose story is horrifying, gets a promising ending, after all.) ( )

Brilliant. James Kelman puts you right inside the head of a 16-year old boy as he comes to terms with the tragic loss of his sister and mother, resents the stifling protectiveness of his grieving father and begins to discover the world for himself.

For me, it started quite slowly, but after a while I realised I couldn't put it down as the main characters revealed themselves. Murdo himself, Queen Monzee-ay, Tom, Aunt Maureen, Uncle John and others - they all came vividly to life in this skilfully written, moving story. Men aren't supposed to cry? I did!

Thanks to Canongate. Never read any James Kelman before winning this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I definitely have some catch-up reading to do. ( )

I listened to the BBC abridged audio of 10, 15-minute segments. I really enjoyed this story, which was enhanced by the excellent reading by Finn Den Hertog. I'm not sure how I would like reading the complete novel, though -- I might find it slow and dragging. And I don't know why it's called "Dirt Road". ( )