LEONARD AND HUNGRY PAUL (edició 2019)

A quiet book about friendship and what happens when things, as they inevitably do, change. Very pleasant read and I adore the cover. ( )

Bluemoose Books are a wonderful indie publisher, banging the drum for publishing in the North of England since Kevin and Hetha Duffy started in Hebden Bridge in 2006 and really hitting the headlines when Ben Myers’ The Gallows Pole won the Walter Scott Prize in 2018. Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession has been their latest breakout success and its iconic jacket has steadily increased its presence on tables at the front of many a bookstore since its publication in March 2019. It has been listed for awards, selected as the One Dublin One Book title for 2021, and looks certain go on to wider success internationally. I am delighted to join the vocal supporters and become an advocate - it really is worth the fuss. Friendship, belief, and innocence are everywhere and it is clearly striking a chord with many readers. It’s charming, thoughtful and one of those books that appears to be so sweet and simple but you know has taken so much talent and skill to make it seem so. Highly recommended. ( )

Please read my review on Amazon.com under C. Wong. Thank you! ( )

This was a book about gentle introverts, in particular Leonard, who writes the text for children's encyclopaedias and whose mother has just died leaving him alone in the world, and Hungry Paul, who works the odd Monday as a relief postman, and otherwise hangs out with his parents. There were many many well-observed moments in this novel; the family dynamics in particular rang really true - we all have our particular unwritten rules for how to play Scrabble etc. However, there were also elements of the story which made me uneasy: Hungry Paul as President of the Mime Association? Silence as the answer to everything...? ( )

I loved this gentle, down-to-earth, wise story about friendship and family. The writing is beautiful, humorous and comforting. I need comfort reading at this time. ( )