Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha

”What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen.” ~Cynthia Ozick

Paddy Clark Ha Ha Ha --
by Roddy Doyle

A different kind of title, isn't it?

I checked out the audio version of this book from the library. I love to listen to stories while I fold clothes and take care of chores as the likes of the kitchen and the bedroom. Just mindless chores to me, as I'm not much on housework. I'm not saying housework is a bad thing, it's a necessary thing and an important task; I just don't care for it is all....
so I love to pass the time with audio books.

An actor using a thick Irish accent read Paddy Clark’s story. I love the accent. The Irish dialogue is just a hoot in this story! A bonus for listening to the audio track…

Paddy Clark is 10 years old. The story is written clearly through the eyes of the child and how he views his world.

He is a mischievous little boy, getting daily into little boy mischief, like it's the chief thing to do in the world. Finding dark places to hide in and crawl down, and barely escape from, throwing rocks at things they shouldn't throw rocks at, giving a Viking funeral for a rat, and taunting his little brother Sinbad (His name is Francis, but Paddy calls him Sinbad) for no good apparent reason than he's his little brother, and he can do it. But even though he does these things, you can tell he's a good boy, the kind with a good heart. And you can tell by how the teachers treat him that they can see that as well.

He rumbles along in all his boyhood until one day he notices the adult world. He notices one morning that the dishes from dinner are still on the table; the kitchen has not been cleared since last night and the house not prepared to meet the new day. Clearly, he is aware that 'this is not right.' He begins the task himself but remains terribly confused about it, as his Da comes in the room ~ his Ma is upstairs, and Paddy thinks, oh, for sure she must be sick for this to be the state of things.

So begins the noticing that things aren't right with his parent’s relationship, and his world begins to change.
He realizes that his Da hits his Ma. Then he 'figures out' that this never happens when he's around. He convinces himself if he never slept, then all would be well, because surely his being awake is the thing that protects her. He begins the vigil to save her, but he fails; after days of triumph he falls asleep in class. But you love him for trying. You love everything about him. You can relate to him. He’s 10 years old. You were 10 years old once. You thought you could save the world or at least things in your world.

He begins to see the grown ups and their world of secrets and visit a very different kind of pain; the kind that causes the child to disappear, and the man to come forward and make choices, and he chooses not to be like his Da, whom at one time he worshipped.

He realizes, too, that he loves his little brother, and he can't for the life of him figure out why he teased him so mercilessly, and he tries to make that right.

To explain the unique title is to give away the story. But it was a turning point for him, and he turned the right corner to make the right point with his life. And that's okay to know.

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“Childhood is the fiery furnace in which we are melted down to essentials and that essential shaped for good.” ~Katherine Anne Porter