O’ Brother -John Niven

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I am a big fan of John Niven and his absurd and hilarious plots. But this time it is very different as he turns his attention to something monumental in his own life. The suicide of his brother. It is an intense roller coaster of a story, pulling on all manner of emotions.

Quite how he managed to inject humour in to a story of despair is incredible.

It think it resonates with me as I was born in the same year and also have a younger brother. Some of the stories of growing up are the same, the inherent daftness of it all.

But the parts about the impact of drugs on the ecstasy generation are stark. Exploring the role his father played can be at times a difficult read.

Its a story about helplessness versus anger, about guilt and denial.

The final chapter where suicide is re-imagined through his brothers perspective is harrowing and had me in tears.

But in darkness there is light. The scene where Mum moves to her new house, surrounded by the next generation. Families finding ways to replenish and renew.

This must have been a very emotional book to read, and I applaud him for doing it.