BROKEN IRISH A NOVEL by Edward J. Delaney

Finished We 5/2/12

........... The novel reminds me of a certain style of film-making that has been popular for the past fifteen years or so. Multiple and divergent story-lines are introduced, and then they are overlapped and blended by the end of the film. They are probably too numerous to mention, but here are several of the better ones: NASHVILLE, PULP FICTION, BABEL, CRASH, and MAGNOLIA.
............ BROKEN IRISH is set in the Irish section of South Boston at the end of the millennium. This is a rough, but proud predominately Catholic area of the city. I thought it was mostly notorious for its Pro White stance, but Race is never once mentioned in the novel. Six major characters are developed and they are all from 'Southie', and they are all Catholic. The protagonists in the novel are--- an alcoholic with Advanced Liver Disease, a Desert Storm war widow with a fourteen year old boy who is kind of running away, a young teenage girl who is becoming involved in the porn industry, a Catholic priest who is being retired in disgrace, and a corrupt, yet very successful local businessman who is in the process of recording his life story. And, although, at the outset, these characters seem separate, but by the final page, their stories are all very artfully linked.
........... Delaney's writing is clearly expressed, and his descriptions are impeccable. The characters are beautifully presented, and developed with precision. And, the way that he seamlessly blends all of the stories together is a testament to his great skill as a writer. I will definitely try to read more by Edward J. Delaney.
........... John-Catholic priest who is being forced into retirement for his unethical dealings with young boys. This is not examined as to what he actually did. He is the much older brother of Terrance Rafferty.
............Colleen/Barry/Christopher-Colleen was married to Barry but he was killed in an accident during the Gulf War. He was hoping to become an airplane mechanic when he left the service. Christopher is Colleen's son who has been abused (sexually?) by the priest, John. Although this is never spelled out, the boy received a thousand dollars in cash from the man.
.............Jimmy-an alcoholic writer who suffers from ALD(Advanced Liver Disease). He is in the final stages and the book maintains that although he has quit drinking, he is prone to lapses of memory where he feels that he has spend the entire night in an alcoholic haze. I wonder if there is any truth to this assumption.
.............Jeanmarie-a sixteen year old runaway who has entered the Porn Industry. Her father is a Teamster boss, and the arch nemesis of Terrance Rafferty.
.............Terrance Rafferty-he is a rich and powerful investment banker who came from 'Southie'. He is a ruthless thug, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He is telling his story to Jimmy so that Jimmy can compose a private autobiography for him.
.............Chuckie-friend of Colleen who works with her at the airport.
.............Butchie Morrissey-a young hoodlum who falls from the back of a Ford Mustang, and becomes a quadriplegic. This incident helps Jimmy to stop drinking, but the real reason is that he was going to give the church six hundred dollars to atone for the six hundred that he stole from his father many years ago. Although, Jimmy does not remember where he was going when he witnessed the accident involving Morrissey.
..............Shelagh-A girl that Jimmy used to know when he was a freshman in college. She was attracted to him, and saw something in him that was worthy of saving, but by this time, Jimmy is oblivious.
..............Marty-Jeanmarie's pimp, and porn producer. He did create a website for her, but really he is taking money from men who he sets up to sleep with her.