Rating: 
Summary: Catcher in the Rye meets Clockwork Orange
Review: Perhaps the only psycotic killer I've ever felt deeply sorry for. McCabe's character, Francie, by an unlucky twist of events, becomes a demented but humorously scatter-brained lost youth; a Holden Caufield on acid, with a bent for violence. Skillful and subtle foreshadowing on McCabes part will keep you plowing through this book, because even though you can usually guess what's going to happen next, you can't wait to hear it from the mouth of the impetuous and pitiable Francie. The narrative by the story's protagonist makes this such a wonderful read. The writing style, minimalist puctuation and all, lends something to the story, but don't try reading this one out loud to a friend. I did, and it was a stumbling effort. Many sentences must be read twice to find the hidden sentece breaks. This is a fantastic book. You'll finish it and wish it was longer. If you like it as much as I did, you'll probably enjoy his other earlier books and and his latest, Carn. You'd probably also enjoy Cormac McCarthy's writing, Especially Child of God and Outer Dark
Rating:
Summary: Savage Wit, Wonderful Skill, Unforgettable characters
Review: Like Burgess' Clockwork Orange and Welsh's Trainspotting (the books not the movies) McCabe brings the reader inside the mind of a warped narrator with such convincing style and craft that the reader is left shuddering for days. The end has already happened in the beginning of the novel and the reader sees the why, the how, and especially the details of a boy's descent into black madness. Along the way, Mr McCabe offers a hilarious satire of small-town busybody Ireland. He truly is a descendent of Swift. The characters are real and accurate. He hits the reader on a number of levels. This book, mark my words, will be renown as a classic of modern literature for years to come. Europe's english language writers, such as McCabe and Irvine Welsh, are far greater writers than their american counterparts. Behold this book as an example to American writers. The style is here to stay
Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone with inner sarcasm
Review: Mr. McCabe captured a time in irish history that affected an entire generation that remains today. Francie Brady is an amazing character he's sarcastic, hysterical, witty with a vivid imagination. You cant help but feel that he is a hero in a twisted sense. In reality all the trouble started with him just trying to defend his family. Ironically enough he's taking ownership over his dysfunctional parents but obviously doing it in the wrong manner. He is proof of how easily you can tarnish your reputation in a small town, immediate family or community at such a young age and never be forgiven. After being treated like trouble many of us find ourselves falling into an unsuspected pattern. He shows how people love to hang on to the bad things but seem to forget anything that is good.
Rating:
Summary: UNSETTLING AND UNFORGETTABLE
Review: This is one of those books that will shake you to the core, and one that you will remember for the rest of your life -- whether you claim to 'like' it or not. McCabe's 'stream of consciousness' writing techniques greatly add to the discomfort the reader must feel in looking at the world through the eyes of Francie Brady -- a pre-teen Irish lad with a distinctly dark outlook on life. And it's no wonder his outlook is dark, considering the things he's been through -- the death of his mother, living with an alcoholic, abusive father, and generally being considered to be the blackest sheep in the history of his small Irish town. Francie's adventures -- and their consequences -- make for an absorbing if frightening story. The book is perfectly written for this type of tale...and for once, the film version stands up right alongside the book (probably because McCabe had a lot to do with it as well).
Rating:
Summary: A Claustrophobic Masterpiece of Modern Literature
Review: THE BUTCHER BOY is so much more than "a little gem;" it's a true masterpiece of horror of the most palpable kind. THE BUTCHER BOY isn't about vampires or aliens nor does it contain anything of the supernatural. What makes THE BUTCHER BOY so very horrific is the fact that its protagonist, Francie Brady's story could happen to anyone, anywhere. To me, Francie Brady seemed to be, at least in part, a victim of circumstances. Born to an alcoholic father and a good, but emotionally weakened mother, Francie begins life with two strikes against him. A misfit and a social outcast, the loss of his good friend, Joe, provides the third strike that finally sends Francie over the edge. McCabe has chosen to tell Francie's story in the first person and, in my opinion, it was certainly the wisest choice. We're inside Francie's head from the first page to the last. This makes the book extremely claustrophobic but it does heighten the horror and make Francie all the more believable. THE BUTCHER BOY belongs to Francie and Francie alone. Sure, there are other characters in the book, but this is Francie's story. We're with him from the moment his disintegration begins until the time it's complete. And what a disintegration it is. When the book begins, Francie lives in the "real" world though the seeds of his destruction have already been firmly planted. By the time the book ends, Francie is a completely different person and we've been "with" him all the way; we've witnessed every nuance, every quirk. Francie Brady is a very believable and a very unforgettable character. THE BUTCHER BOY is, of course, an extremely powerful book. It's not pleasant to read, but it is extremely impressive. I read it in two sittings, though it would be quite easy to read it in only one. It only takes a page or two to accustom oneself to the Irish cadence and one sentence simply flows into the next. The reason I chose to read THE BUTCHER BOY in two sittings had everything to do with the book's claustrophobic intensity, however, rather than its length. It really isn't very long. If you're looking for a pleasant reading experience or a little divertissement, THE BUTCHER BOY won't do. If, however, you're interested in exploring a true masterpiece of modern literature, from one of Ireland's finest authors, you couldn't do much better than this book. Patrick McCabe's writing, while claustrophobic, is, however, very different from the claustrophobic novels of his fellow countryman, John Banville. Banville's novels are far more "literary" and less gritty. McCabe resembles Patrick McGrath more, though McGrath is, in my opinion, more psychological. I would definitely recommend THE BUTCHER BOY to anyone who wants to read a first rate book and doesn't mind a bit of grittiness in his or her literature.
Rating: 
Summary: One star too much.
Review: I was going to post a much more bitter review, but I'm going to restrain myself. Unfortunately I have to read this [uninteresting story] - I don't have a choice as it's on my English course. I'm only halfway through it and I'm starting to feel like Francie. It's utterly harrowing, disgusting literature, which has yet to achieve any kind of merit with me. (...) I AM SO GLAD TO FIND OTHER NEGATIVE REVIEWS FOR THIS BOOK. I thought I was going crazy! How people could enjoy this purely as a work of fiction is well beyond me. It's just plain bad, falling into strange realms of incoherency at times. It's like some kind of experimental adolescent essay. As a Dublin native, I've heard all the Irish sob stories before in my youth (many a time, in school, wherever), but seriously - enough! I'm sick of people dwelling on pain, depression and anguish. (...). What's done is done, stop dwelling on the dreary past and look to the beautiful future. I will state this again : I have heard stories like this in myriad different forms. I think we all know what the deal was with rural Ireland in the 50s. If people want to get caught inside a world as dark as this by choice, that's fine - go ahead. I don't want anything to do with you. I don't want to spend a day immersed in the world of a messed up kid such as Francie. I'd rather use my energy to create something constructive that adds to the beuaty of the world. This does nothing but detract. Haven't you ever watched a movie that was so bad, or told a story so harrowing, that you could actually feel some kind of life energy being sucked out of you? That's how I feel reading this book. How can that possibly be a positive addition to human culture? People must be in love with their own sadness to acutally enjoy this drivel. Life is beautiful. Don't waste four or five precious hours reading this. Please ... As a collective, we can do without it and I'm sure the literary world would be better off without it. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Dangerous
Review: Written in stream of consciousness, this book just takes you away into a little boy's life and fantasies. Sometimes you look back and you can't pinpoint the place where reality turned to dream and dream turned to reality, but the consequences are very severe. This is a dark, almost dangerous story - very, very impressive.
Rating:
Summary: The Eyes of Francie Brady
Review: Francie Brady is mad, first a little, then a lot, and he is taking you with him. The claustrophobic narrative (you can't for a moment get away from Francie) creates pity, terror and exasperated laughter in the reader. Francie, the only child of a mean-drunk father and a slovenly, barely sane mother keeps his sanity by his all-encompassing friendship with Joe Mullen. He and Joe "mess around," do all the boyish things and bond as blood brothers. But as Francie's oddities increase, Joe pulls away from him. Francie shatters. From the very beginning, there is a tethered violence in Francie; as he descends into madness, his terrifying ferocity is unleashed. Mr. McCabe plays with us readers very well by putting us in Francie's lightning-quick mind and never letting us out. Francie is exhausting, humorous and the most Attention Deficient child you will ever meet. I felt a terrible sorrow for Francie, so much so I wanted to command events. I wanted to say "Not. One. More. Bad. Thing!" The child has had enough horrible things happen to him! But Mr. McCabe had his own story to tell. A gripping, marvelous, draining, exhilarating, tale. I'll never forget Francie!
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
Rating: 
Summary: From Francie's mouth to your ears
Review: Every word of this book passes through Francie Brady's lips creating an interesting perspective on life, friendship, family, and cold war politics. The language is funny and matter of fact. Really, this book is about the dangers of neglecting a needy child but McCabe doesn't beat the message too strongly. By the end, the story becomes horrifying and sad - but leaves the reader with an unforgettable character.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and frightening
Review: Patrick McCabe's novel "The Butcher Boy" is in many respects a masterpiece of voice appropriation. Narrated by the protagonist Francie Brady in a distinctive Irish vernacular, the narrative pulls the reader along with its impulsive energy and wacky flights of humour. Francie's world is not a happy one; it is filled with loss and death and the ignominy of having his neighbours regard him as something less than human. In the end, though a fugitive and a social outcast, Francie avoids despair, overcomes his losses, and relishes his revenge. Nominated for the Booker Prize, this novel is a must read for anyone interested in the kind of fiction that confronts the squalid horrors of modern life head on.
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