Skippy Dies

By: Paul Murray

Narrated by: Nicola Barber, Fred Berman, Clodagh Bowyer, Terry Donnelly, Sean Gormley, Khristine Hvam, John Keating, Lawrence Lowry, Graeme Malcolm, Paul Nugent

Length: 23 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

This touching and uproarious novel by author Paul Murray made everyone’s best fiction of 2010 lists, including The Washington Post, Financial Times, Village Voice, and others. Why Skippy dies and what happens next is the mystery that links the boys of Dublin’s Seabrook College (Ruprecht Van Doren, the overweight genius obsessed with string theory; Carl, the teenager drug dealer and borderline psychotic; Philip Kilfether, the basketball-playing midget) to their parents and teachers in ways that no one could have imagined.

This unique production of Murray’s heartfelt exploration of the pain, joy, and beauty of adolescence features an all-star narrating cast of 16 Audible favorites: John Keating, Graeme Malcom, Khristine Hvam, Nicola Barber, Fred Berman, Clodagh Bowyer, Terry Donnelly, Sean Gormley, Lawrence Lowry, Paul Nugent, Tim Smallwood, Fiona Walsh, Fiana Toibin, Declan Sammon, Heather O'Neill, and Ed Malone.

©2010 Paul Murray (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Hilarious, haunting, and heartbreaking, it is inarguably among the most memorable novels of the year to date." ( Booklist)

"Dazzling... If killing your protagonist with more than 600 pages to go sounds audacious, it's nothing compared with the literary feats Murray pulls off in this hilarious, moving and wise book." ( Washington Post Book World)

"Extravagantly entertaining." ( The New York Times Book Review)

I was skeptical...

as I often am when a book is universally hailed as groundbreaking, or a must-read. I humbly admit that this book earned every accolade it received. The story itself unfolds with multiple story arcs that slowly and artfully come together. The overarching story is so touching because it speaks to that vulnerable, completely alone and insecure person in all of us...whether we think we have outgrown those aspects of our lives or not. I was moved more by this book than by nearly any other I have read (listened to?).
As for the audio presentation. Performed by a cast, every voice was distinct and easily discernible and carried the story with momentum. I cannot recommend this audio purchase highly enough!!!

Realistic

I was most struck by how realistic this whole story felt. The descent into drug use and abuse. The compounding of one tragic factor on top of another. The stories of the people who should have known that there was a problem but missed it, wrapped-up in their own lives.
It is a lesson to be learned, a wake-up call.

A novel filled with different themes, too many

This book took forever for me to get through. I almost didn't finish but I'm glad that I did. I agree with other reviews that state that this novel is very reminiscent of Dead Poet's Society. The author painted a very grim picture of boarding schools as this novel works under the premise that the majority of teenage boys and girls do drugs of all kinds, have sex, and hate most adults. There were parts of this novel that I enjoyed and others that were too weird to really make sense within the novel's context. Instead of a movie, this novel would do well as a TV show where it could be broken up into segments. Some of the segments would be laugh out loud funny and some would be too horrible too imagine, perhaps not unlike Parenthood.

Get the abridged version

Get the abridged version unless you like hours of character development. Part three makes the whole story come together in an enthralling way but the lead up was a struggle for me to get through. Plot is spread a little too thin to keep my interest but I was glad I endured the end. Some perverse content may be a turn off for the morally staunch.

Sense of humor required!

Although I can understand why this book may be disturbing to some people, I think that it is its point, isn't it? If you are willing to read (or listen) to Skippy Dies as a comedy, you will laugh at absurdity but you will also be forced to confront ugly truth. Isn't that humor at its best? Paul Murray's neatly planned and resolved plot and his vernacular dialogue are nothing less than Shakespearean. I loved the many voices narrating the book; I loved the book.

This book was mesmerizing!

I am so glad this book was so long as it gave me the opportunity to enjoy it longer. I must start by also saying that this book is not for everyone due to its themes and Paul Murray's writing style (which I absolutely love). This book is very funny, poignant, beautiful, haunting and surprising. Murray is a true genius at bringing his characters to life and getting you to feel emotionally involved in their outcome. This is a messy book so don't expect everything to wrap up in a neat package.

I must also comment on the 3 wishes song (no spoilers). I loved that song and it keeps going around in my head. I thought it was a real pop song (maybe Murray missed his calling).

A long haul, but worth the time...

I found this tale to be a bit long winded, but anyone who has ever been a teenager ;-) or has raised a teenager can relate to it. The story is wonderfully narrated, which absolutely helps, but the author really delves into these teenagers - almost too deeply.

These are some seriously disturbed people and some of it is very difficult to listen to, however the situations the author has put these kids into is very vivid. Even if you aren't Irish, Catholic or a boarding school alumni, you can easily imagine how the circumstances could play out.

Wonderful Book, Stay With It!

This book was a dream. Yes it has a difficult start, but if you stay with it, you will be rewarded. You will notice that every unfavorable reviewer did not finish this book. I believe it is only fair to review a book you have read to the end.
So now having finished this book I can say that I too thought it wonderful, very insightful, about what goes on and on in our minds and hearts, the push and pull of it all. I am such a fan.
I too loved the narration, great work!

Weird, Wonderful and Painfully Realistic

The plot and presentation of this tale are so weird and so painfully true-to-real-life that I don't want to listen to it again, though I fear I'm fated to do so. Its an excellent book.

Funny, Unique and Human

I loved this tale of humanity, life and the angst we all feel growing up, growing old, just growing. The narration is great and despite the fact that the story was sad at times (isn't everything?) I was entertained from start to finish.