I just finished Skippy Dies by Paul Murray and the title of this post was one of more prominent thoughts upon conclusion. I know being a girl is tough and comes with its own bundle of issues, and I suppose with each gender you come up with your own set of defense mechanisms, but man! Being an adolescent boy sounds tough!
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Within the first few pages the reader is aware the protagonist, Skippy, dies (that is, if the title didn’t clue you in). What the remainder of the novel does is explain the tough realities of boarding school life in Dublin for teachers and students alike. One of the most influential is the pressure parents put on their children, whether they are aware of it or not. How does a marriage’s dissolution affect the child? The screaming matches? The blame? The neglect?
Or a parent’s illness. One family’s method of dealing with terminal cancer is to play a Game, such that the disease does not exist and Mum is always “sleeping and unable to come to the phone.” Skippy Dies is at once funny (oh to be privy to 13-year-old conversations) and painful (suppressing emotions and feelings in order to save face), and achieves fluidity and cohesion throughout.
The reader wants to believe that everything will work out for the young boys, but the title ensures that these lads will undergo some sort of trauma. An additional element to the novel is how the boys and faculty will cope with such a Tragedy. How does Skippy’s own pain and lack of coping skills transfer to the other members of Seabrook Academy?
Toward the end of the novel two teachers are gathered together in a local watering hole. One says to another, “‘Life makes fools of us all sooner or later. But keep your sense of humour and you’ll at least be able to take your humiliations with some measure of grace. In the end, you know, it’s our own expectations that crush us.'” Naturally, as someone with more experience and wisdom, the teacher is able to reflect on the horror of Skippy’s death with more insight than the kiddos. What I took away from the novel stems from the aforementioned quote: life is tough and full of mishaps, but if we are able to live with a sense of humor and not take it all too seriously then we have a better chance of coming out on top.
Although difficult to read at some cringe-worthy points, I highly recommend this read.
A Broad At Home 