Bullfighting

"Recuperation" follows a man as he sets off on his daily prescribed walk around his neighborhood, the sights triggering recollections of his family and his younger days. In "Animals", George recalls caring for his children's many pets and his heartfelt effort to spare them grief when they died or disappeared. The title story captures the mixture of bravado and helplessness of four friends who go off to Spain on holiday. Sharply observed, funny, and moving, these thirteen stories present a new vision of contemporary Ireland, of its woes and triumphs, and middle- aged men trying to break out of the routines of their lives.

Roddy Doyle is the author of nine novels, most recently The Dead Republic, a collection of short stories, and a nonfiction book about the lives of his parents. In 1993 he won the Man Booker Prize for his novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and his novel The Van was a finalist for the prize. He has also written four screenplays as well as several stage plays and books for children and young adults. He lives in Dublin, Ireland.