The machinations of a fractured mind can make for great literature, and in The Folly of Sweeney by Brian J. O’Sullivan, readers get a raw glimpse into a truly unusual brain. Touching on elements of the immigrant experience, mental health, alcoholism, family and self-preservation, this book may be erratic and unpredictable, but there are powerful messages lying beneath the surface of this drunken New York fairytale from a true seanchaí.
The central character of the novel, Liam, is an Irishman who now calls New York home, but he hasn’t lost the stereotypical penchant for alcohol. He is a difficult character to pin down at first, particularly with his deeply colloquial speech and self-referential style, but he is oddly lovable nonetheless. He is a construction worker who prefers to fly under the radar, hung over, drunk or otherwise. On one particular morning, however, he begins suffering what appears to be a stroke, but stoically, or stupidly, instead of going to a hospital, he merely finds somewhere to hide from his hateful boss.
This is where the psychological fracturing begins, as Liam descends into a hallucinatory trip down memory lane, back to life in Ireland, the mistakes he has made in the past, a failed bank robbery, missed chances with lovers, and late-night drinks he should have avoided. As his condition worsens, so too do the visions – bizarre stints in psychiatric wards and shadowy, impossible encounters with family members. Readers are dragged through the mess of Liam’s psyche, and it becomes difficult to tell what is real and what is part of the character’s imagination. This creates a sense of intrigue, pulling readers in deep.
The book functions well as a raw memoir of an Irish immigrant who has overcome a life of struggles to “make it,” but the plot doesn’t seem to possess a strong direction. The main conflict in the novel is the mysterious affliction that drives Liam into this period of feverish self-reflection, but after finishing the book, it seems like that is just a convenient tool for a rambling dictation of personal experiences and nostalgia. There is no climax to the novel, just a quickly wrapped up conclusion that seems to solve the initial conflict, but doesn’t result in personal growth or revelation for the main character.
Technically speaking, the book relies heavily on colloquial language, which can be difficult to do well, but the editing is consistent and there are very few errors in the text. The dialogue and character interactions with Liam and his “mad” friends were not always believable, but those other figures only served as foils or functional tools, not dynamic characters, with limited exceptions (e.g., Jim). The rambling nature of the tale could also be shaped and structured a bit more, making the experience more enjoyable for the reader, particularly in terms of a denouement or satisfying resolution.
That being said, as a memoir, this book is a unique and slightly manic peek into the undeniably difficult life of an immigrant in America. Perhaps the ambiguous “message” and vague resolution of O’Sullivan’s novel is appropriate, a reminder that reaching America is only the first step. After that, surviving and maintaining one’s sanity become the focus, and for many, that is a lifelong struggle. A dark and humorous journey into the rabbit hole of brain injury, The Folly of Sweeney is a deep, dizzying read.
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