Bullfighting: Stories

Summary

Roddy Doyle has earned a devotedfollowing for his wry wit, his uncanny ear, and his ability to fully capturethe hearts of his characters. Bullfighting,his second collection of stories, offers thirteen bittersweet takes on men andmiddle-age, revealing a panorama of Ireland today. Moving from classrooms tolocal pubs to bullrings, these tales feature an array of men taking stock andreliving past glories, each concerned with loss in different ways—of theirplace in the world, of their power, their virility, health, and love.

“Recuperation” follows a man as hesets off on his daily prescribed walk around his neighborhood, the sightstriggering recollections of his family and his younger days. In “Animals,”George recalls caring for his children’s many pets and his heartfelt effort tospare them grief when they died or disappeared. The title story captures themixture of bravado and helplessness of four friends who go off to Spain onholiday.

Sharply observed, funny, and moving,these thirteen stories present a new vision of contemporary Ireland, of itswoes and triumphs, and middle-aged men trying to break out of the routines oftheir lives.