Review of Irishman Dies of Stubbornness

Nzube Chizoba Okeke · Post by **Nzube Chizoba Okeke** » 11 Jul 2023, 04:11

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Irishman Dies of Stubbornness" by Caitlin Connors.]

3 out of 5 stars

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Irishman Dies of Stubbornness by Caitlin Connors is a book that revolves around the life of Christopher Clifford Connors. The book was written from the perspectives of people who knew and were close to Christopher Connors. He was a man that could be described as daring and brave, never backing down from any quest. This testament to his personality was evident in all who talked about him, past and present wife included. Despite his stubbornness, he created deep memories for all who knew him. Even while fighting on his deathbed, he still found a way to leave more things by which he would be remembered.

The author used vivid imagery, which helped draw readers into the world of the star character. Some of this imagery involved the use of literary figures. A typical example was seen on Page 19: "He should have been unsteady, sleepy even, but he was wobbling forward on two legs lined with a shadow of muscle, one calf softened with a now-healed scar from being stabbed intervening in a New York City mugging." Descriptions like that abounded all through the book. Thus, I could paint mental pictures of the author's descriptions.

In the book, two different fonts are used to distinguish between the narration of the character's daughter, Caitlin, and the accounts of individuals sharing their perspectives and experiences regarding Christopher Connors. The author also provides extra explanations within the paragraphs to clarify specific sentences or words. This practice extends beyond complex phrases and includes instances where the author believes the reader can benefit from a more in-depth understanding. It is quite thoughtful of the author and very commendable. The book is written with the reader in mind.

One aspect of the book that can be challenging is the scattered nature of the ideas and viewpoints presented. The story of Christopher Connors lacks a clear hierarchy or chronology, making it challenging for readers to grasp certain information. For instance, Caitlin initially mentions staying in the guest bedroom when visiting. Later, it is revealed that she moved into her younger brother's room due to her father's inability to climb to the master bedroom. However, later in the book, Caitlin mentions staying in the master bedroom with Emilia. The circumstances surrounding the changes and their timing are not explained.

The transitions between the present, past, and further past are not always seamless. While some transitions are well-executed, others can confuse readers and necessitate returning to understand what is happening.

In the chapter containing Russell Connors' memories of Christopher Connors, some sentences and words were blacked out with a marker, accompanied by the note, "Don't put any of this in your book." Instead of covering these parts, it would have been better for the author to remove them entirely, as they only created unresolved expectations.

The book was exceptionally edited in terms of grammar and spelling. However, due to the problems raised earlier, I would rate the book three out of five stars. I'd recommend the book to individuals interested in reading biographies.

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Irishman Dies of Stubbornness
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Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 13 Jul 2023, 17:50

I’m trying to make myself tolerate, if not really like, nonfiction. I know that I can learn a lot this way. This book seems like a very good place to start as I can identify with Mr. Connors.

Kebun Bunga · Post by **Kebun Bunga** » 17 Jul 2023, 03:33

The feedback on the review for "Irishman Dies of Stubbornness" highlights the vivid imagery and descriptive language used by the author to bring the star character to life. The inclusion of different fonts and additional explanations within the paragraphs is commended for enhancing the reader's understanding. However, the scattered nature of the ideas and viewpoints presented is mentioned as a challenge, with inconsistencies in the narrative and transitions between timelines causing confusion. The reviewer also suggests that the redacted portions in a chapter could have been removed entirely to avoid creating unresolved expectations. The book's editing is praised for its grammar and spelling, but due to the issues mentioned, the reviewer rates the book three out of five stars.

Catherine Radford · Post by **Catherine Radford** » 29 Jul 2023, 01:33

Amy Luman wrote: ↑13 Jul 2023, 17:50 I’m trying to make myself tolerate, if not really like, nonfiction. I know that I can learn a lot this way. This book seems like a very good place to start as I can identify with Mr. Connors.

I’ve in the last year or so enjoyed non fiction a lot more. I started with autobiographies and went from there. Definitely an easier introduction to the world of nonfiction.