Robert Mcliam Wilson — Eureka Street

Minerva 1997 Paperback, 395pp. A hilarious and moving story of Belfast, in the six months just before and after the lastest ceasefires, where violence and desire go hand in hand. Chuckie Lurgan, fat, Protestant and poor suddenly becomes wealthly by various legal but immoral means. His mother, Peggy, indulges in a act which causes more damage in working class Protestant Belfast then the Anglo Irish agreement. Jake, reformed tough guy, recently abandoned by his English girlfriend is looking for love. Meanwhile the strange letters 'OTG' appear on the wall, paving stones, phonebox. No one knows what it means. The IRA and the UVF issue death threats, the police lay traps, all are concerned, all are ignorant. Finally, Jake discovers the meaning. It makes some sense to him. He buys a ladder. He climbs a wall. 'OTG', he writes, 'OTG'. (ISBN: 9780749396725). Good.