by David Almond
audiobook on CDs, Hennepin County Library, 3:54
Read by Daniel Gerroll
Mary Verbick recommended this story. I found it very disturbing, but also touching. Bobby Burns is the main character, a boy growing up in a working class family. He is worried about his father's illness, has mixed feelings about his new school, loves Ailsa Spink, and is fascinated by McNulty. McNulty is the fire eater who asks Bobby to help him choose a skewer and collect money from his audience. His madness and seeming imperviousness to pain draw Bobby in to his world.
This would be a fantastic discussion book - why does is the title plural? Who are the other fire-eaters? Bobby? Joseph? How does his new neighbor alter Bobby's reality?
Gerroll's accents make this an auditory delight! He nails the characters and their various ways of speaking beautifully!
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2 comments:
I agree with Jean - There were some very disturbing elements to this story but I like stories that make me think.
McNulty was a homeless vagabond who made a living by "eating" fire and abusing his body for the "entertainment" of onlookers. He suffered from mental health issues possibly caused by his tour of duty in WWII. Bobby was fascinated and frightened by McNulty. He was drawn to him by curiousity but somehow Bobby saw the humanity and need behind McNaulty's frightening behavior. I think McNaulty sensed goodness and wisdom in the young boy.
There were several "fire-eaters". There were also angels. I loved the lift operator who journaled about the people who rode in his elevator and I liked the way Bobby began to keep a journal of his own. They both distilled important thoughts in their concise entries.
I definitely recommend trying the audio version of this book because the accents and characters come alive in the voice of the reader.
Mary Verbick
Oops, I meant "Jeanne"
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