City of Bohane

by Kevin Barry
City of Bohane cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 1464
  • Added: 2025-10-06
  • Updated: 2025-10-06
  • ISBN: 9780099549154
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2012-05-14
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 4
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

City of Bohane is a unique literary experience that draws from a rich tapestry of influences, including film, graphic novels, Trojan beats, calypso rhythms, Celtic myth, and fado. This novel is not just a story but a sensory journey through a world that feels both familiar and fantastical, where the rhythms of language and the echoes of ancient tales collide with modern storytelling techniques. /n/n The book's narrative is as much a character as the people and places it describes, creating a vivid and immersive atmosphere that lingers long after the last page. With its blend of mythic grandeur and gritty realism, City of Bohane stands out as a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring legacy of Irish literature.

Reviews
Coal Hill Review · 2025-10-06
immersive 4.50

The prose is explosive and uncontainable, reflecting the hectic pace and vibrant life of the city. The environment is truly immersive.

The reviewer is struck by the explosive and uncontainable prose of 'City of Bohane,' which mirrors the hectic pace and beating life of the city. The environment created by Kevin Barry is described as truly immersive, drawing the reader into the world of Bohane. The writing style is praised for its energy and dynamism, making the setting feel alive and vibrant. This immersive quality is a standout feature of the novel, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Quick quotes

    His prose (explosive, uncontainable) exemplifies the hectic pace and beating life of his city.

    Making Bohane a truly immersive environment.

    The writing style is praised for its energy and dynamism.

Pechorin's Journal · 2015-06-01
excellent 4.00

The novel is seen as a visionary work that blends various influences seamlessly. It is considered a masterpiece that deserves multiple readings.

The reviewer considers City of Bohane a visionary novel that masterfully blends influences from film, graphic novels, and various cultural rhythms. They believe it is a literary work of such depth and richness that it warrants not just one, but multiple readings. The reviewer appreciates the novel's unique blend of styles and its ability to transport readers into a vividly imagined world. The prose is described as explosive and uncontainable, perfectly capturing the hectic pace and life of the city.

Quick quotes

    City of Bohane is Barry's first novel. It won him the 2013 International Impac Dublin Literary Award, and favourable reviews nearly across the board.

    His prose (explosive, uncontainable) exemplifies the hectic pace and beating life of his city, making Bohane a truly immersive environment.

    City of Bohane is a book that is definitely worth not only a first read, but a second read and likely a third.

The New York Times · 2012-03-29
fantastic 4.50

The prose is both dense and flowing, taking readers on a roaring journey through a city filled with complex characters.

The reviewer praises Kevin Barry's prose in City of Bohane, describing it as both dense and flowing, which effectively takes readers on a roaring journey through the city. The characters are noted for their complexity and the way they are trapped in the realities of their lives. The reviewer appreciates the vivid and immersive descriptions of the city and its inhabitants, making it a compelling read. The novel's ability to capture the essence of its setting and characters is particularly highlighted.

Quick quotes

    In prose that is both dense and flowing, Barry takes us on a roaring journey, among human beings who are trapped in life its own damned self.

    The characters are noted for their complexity and the way they are trapped in the realities of their lives.

    The vivid and immersive descriptions of the city and its inhabitants make it a compelling read.

The Guardian · 2011-05-13
good 3.50

The book is praised for its engaging storytelling and satisfying twists, though some elements feel familiar. The prose brings the city to life vividly.

The reviewer highlights Kevin Barry's skill as a storyteller, noting that the twists and turns in City of Bohane are both satisfying and engaging. However, they mention that some aspects of the gangland narrative feel familiar. The prose is particularly praised for its ability to bring the city of Bohane to life, making it an immersive read. The reviewer appreciates the vivid descriptions and the way the city's character is woven into the story.

Quick quotes

    Kevin Barry is a great storyteller, and the twists and turns of City of Bohane are satisfying, if, in places, familiar.

    The prose brings the city to life vividly.

    The twists and turns of City of Bohane are satisfying.

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