BILL and FRED?

At first glance Bill and Fred? by John Quinn looks like a revisit to the mood of his award-winning novel, The Summer of Lily and Esme. but Bill and Fred, the elderly ladies in his new novel, are quite different in attitude and abilities from Lily and Esme.

Born in Africa, they have come to Ireland to live in the large, neglected mansion left to them by an uncle. Their hope is to refurbish it. Bill can organise various schemes. Fred is the one who can carry them out, although her particular passion is car restoration. She can also play billiards. Her one fear is that a witch doctor will follow her to Ireland.

At first we see events through the eyes of local girl, Katie Lynch. Then the book concentrates on the ladies almost to the exclusion of Katie, as Katie's mother becomes the important observer of the elderly ladies. Yet the book never ceases to be a book for the over-tens, as exciting and as plot-driven as any book for thinking, diligent readers.

What John Quinn has given us is a book for young people about elderly people that neither romanticises nor patronises them. It is an excellent read.

One complaint: If that is supposed to be a donkey on the back cover, someone needs a trip to a farm.

BILL and FRED? By John Quinn with cover by Catriona Hardie from the O'Brien Press  €7.95

Tony hickey