Dub Thy Neighbour
by Cormac G. McDermott BA, MEconSc.
Trafford Publishing


"He also explained it was all part of these evil media men's plans he get all the attention he didn't want including that which he was totally undeserving of."

Almost all of us have had a neighbor whom we would describe as a bit unique, but what if one claimed to be the Counsellor, as in the Holy Spirit? This is the situation facing Tony when he learns about "the bloke who lives on his own in the corner house" in his very own Dublin neighborhood who believes he is part of the Holy Trinity. Naturally, such information cannot be kept to oneself, and Tony decides to tell his friend Dar Dar the whole story. The result is a book comprising five scenes of dialogue that expound upon what their mysterious neighbor has to say.

Actually, "dialogue" is a bit of a misnomer as Dar Dar's comments are mainly lines asking Tony to continue a thought, questioning a point, or voicing agreement. Tony is the main person speaking throughout, and even his words are primarily regurgitations of the bloke on the corner's ideas either as direct quotes or paraphrases. Intriguingly, despite the fact that their odd neighbor admits he is a schizophrenic and exhibits extreme paranoia, both Tony and Dar Dar seem to accept what he has to say as being profound wisdom. Eventually, Dar Dar is so fascinated by what he has heard that he asks Tony to take him along the next time he goes to visit their reclusive neighbor so that he will know that at least two people are on his side.

Stylistically, there is an almost Theatre of the Absurd quality about this work as evidenced in format and content. Filled with a quirky humor exacerbated by Tony and Dar Dar's unwavering credulity, it should appeal to fans of the author's other comedic writings.

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