Comments on: About http://www.colinbroderick.com Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:21:22 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bobby Gamble McCausland http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-8727 Bobby Gamble McCausland Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:56:51 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-8727 Thank you for your book , and for the first time I feel that there is a story like mine ,hard drinking and drugging , new life in recovery, A.A. friends and girlfriends , and then relationships end ,and you return to the drinking and drugging. I have had many of the same things happen , and I followed you being the same age with the ups and downs,but I want to say that your memoir has inspired me to keep going forward. I live with my sons mother , my girlfriend , and she has Phase 4 breast cancer, and its been rough when you add the drinking. You are right that there are no Hollywood endings, but also there are not your A.A. endings as well. I still attend my local meetings , but the social network you described about A.A. is brilliant ( the rest of the world now has a small taste of that with facebook I think) But I want to thank you , as I have been inspired by your experience , that I can experience this life of mine sober, for my son, and to be with this woman in what will be her last year or two of life. God bless ya Colin and your family , and hope to read more of your work in the future! A kindred spirit Bobby McCausland. Thank you for your book , and for the first time I feel that there is a story like mine ,hard drinking and drugging , new life in recovery, A.A. friends and girlfriends , and then relationships end ,and you return to the drinking and drugging. I have had many of the same things happen , and I followed you being the same age with the ups and downs,but I want to say that your memoir has inspired me to keep going forward. I live with my sons mother , my girlfriend , and she has Phase 4 breast cancer, and its been rough when you add the drinking.
You are right that there are no Hollywood endings, but also there are not your A.A. endings as well. I still attend my local meetings , but the social network you described about A.A. is brilliant ( the rest of the world now has a small taste of that with facebook I think) But I want to thank you , as I have been inspired by your experience , that I can experience this life of mine sober, for my son, and to be with this woman in what will be her last year or two of life.
God bless ya Colin and your family , and hope to read more of your work in the future!
A kindred spirit
Bobby McCausland.

]]> By: Carmel Maguire http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-8615 Carmel Maguire Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:39:26 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-8615 Hi Collin, I received you book in the mail yesterday and finished it at 3 am this morning. Its the best thing I have read in an age. I have lived in the Woodlawn since 1994 so I was familiar with many of you haunts and characters. The opening of the book grabbed my attention with the description of the trip to work down the Deegan . This book is one wild ride. You really captured how the "Kings of Katonah Avenue" operated but without judgement or bias. I had always hoped there would be a book of this nature documenting life in the Bronx for irish imigrants such as ourselves. Good luck to you and your family, I wish you continued success professionally and personally. Thank you Carmel Hi Collin,
I received you book in the mail yesterday and finished it at 3 am this morning. Its the best thing I have read in an age. I have lived in the Woodlawn since 1994 so I was familiar with many of you haunts and characters. The opening of the book grabbed my attention with the description of the trip to work down the Deegan . This book is one wild ride. You really captured how the “Kings of Katonah Avenue” operated but without judgement or bias. I had always hoped there would be a book of this nature documenting life in the Bronx for irish imigrants such as ourselves. Good luck to you and your family, I wish you continued success professionally and personally.

Thank you
Carmel

]]> By: Ciara http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-6539 Ciara Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:59:29 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-6539 Hey Colin, I found your book on the kitchen table when I came into my house hungover this morning. I just finished it. It's brilliant. I finally can picture the scene that my parents, aunts and uncles immigrated to. It's helped me to understand a lot more about the construction scene and the immigrant exodus after 9/11. It was both entertaining and invaluable. Thank you and keep writing. Hey Colin,
I found your book on the kitchen table when I came into my house hungover this morning. I just finished it. It’s brilliant. I finally can picture the scene that my parents, aunts and uncles immigrated to. It’s helped me to understand a lot more about the construction scene and the immigrant exodus after 9/11. It was both entertaining and invaluable. Thank you and keep writing.

]]> By: Catherine Todd http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-5006 Catherine Todd Sun, 23 May 2010 01:24:14 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-5006 From a great storyteller and philosopher comes one of the best books I've read in years, "Orangutan." Couldn't put it down, and can't wait for more! Real life through one person's real eyes. It's all about the choices we make, isn't it? Sanctity To be a poet and not know the trade To be a lover and repel all women Twin ironies by which great saints are made The agonising pincer-jaws of Heaven -Patrick Kavanagh Copyright © Estate of Katherine Kavanagh You know the trade and I doubt you repel anyone now. Found this poem on another one of your blog entries and looked it up. More to think about. From a great storyteller and philosopher comes one of the best books I’ve read in years, “Orangutan.” Couldn’t put it down, and can’t wait for more! Real life through one person’s real eyes. It’s all about the choices we make, isn’t it?

Sanctity

To be a poet and not know the trade
To be a lover and repel all women
Twin ironies by which great saints are made
The agonising pincer-jaws of Heaven

-Patrick Kavanagh
Copyright © Estate of Katherine Kavanagh

You know the trade and I doubt you repel anyone now. Found this poem on another one of your blog entries and looked it up. More to think about.

]]> By: Ursula Hennerty http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-4662 Ursula Hennerty Sun, 16 May 2010 18:07:07 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-4662 Hi Colin, just finished reading "Orangutan". From the first page, I just couldn't put the book down. An absolutely fantastic read. I had many a laugh through it and felt like crying through parts too. I'm amazed that you are still alive to tell all those tales (thank god). Have to say I'm sad to be finished reading the book and wait anxiously for your next book. Any ideas when you will have your next book ready? Best of luck with it all anyway. Hope life is being good to you and your family. Hi Colin, just finished reading “Orangutan”. From the first page, I just couldn’t put the book down. An absolutely fantastic read. I had many a laugh through it and felt like crying through parts too. I’m amazed that you are still alive to tell all those tales (thank god). Have to say I’m sad to be finished reading the book and wait anxiously for your next book. Any ideas when you will have your next book ready?
Best of luck with it all anyway. Hope life is being good to you and your family.

]]> By: Nancy Mehagian http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-4416 Nancy Mehagian Tue, 11 May 2010 14:43:27 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-4416 Memoir being my favorite form of writing, I've literally read hundreds and yours will rank up there with my favorites for its brutal honesty. I loved your reading at Women Who Write and am so glad I bought your book. I've known quite a few drunks and addicts (I do live in Hollywood after all) and if Oprah wanted to choose a book about addiction, this should have been the one. Beautifully written, even with its often dark subject, I found myself laughing out loud. Great job. I'm recommending it all the time. Memoir being my favorite form of writing, I’ve literally read hundreds and yours will rank up there with my favorites for its brutal honesty. I loved your reading at Women Who Write and am so glad I bought your book. I’ve known quite a few drunks and addicts (I do live in Hollywood after all) and if Oprah wanted to choose a book about addiction, this should have been the one. Beautifully written, even with its often dark subject, I found myself laughing out loud. Great job. I’m recommending it all the time.

]]> By: Marianne D. Wallace http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-4077 Marianne D. Wallace Tue, 04 May 2010 23:41:49 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-4077 I was one of the many women totally engaged by your reading from Orangutan at Vicki Abelson's home last week in the Los Angeles area. Bought two books; sent one off to an Irish friend who's from Derry and just finished the one I bought for myself. Wow. Seeing you and hearing you speak, I would not have guessed the life in the book was yours. Compelling and engaging. Thanks for the good read. Have you seen the film, "Factotum?" It's about a writer drifting through dead-end jobs in an attempt to fuel his passion for alcohol and women. Based on the 1975 book by Charles Bukowski about a guy in 1944 America. Good luck to you I was one of the many women totally engaged by your reading from Orangutan at Vicki Abelson’s home last week in the Los Angeles area. Bought two books; sent one off to an Irish friend who’s from Derry and just finished the one I bought for myself. Wow. Seeing you and hearing you speak, I would not have guessed the life in the book was yours. Compelling and engaging. Thanks for the good read.

Have you seen the film, “Factotum?” It’s about a writer drifting through dead-end jobs in an attempt to fuel his passion for alcohol and women. Based on the 1975 book by Charles Bukowski about a guy in 1944 America.

Good luck to you

]]> By: Tim Breen http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-3529 Tim Breen Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:22:54 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-3529 Colin, great job on the book. The New York of the late 80's and early 90's, especially the Irish Bar scene comes alive...I remember it well, sort of, maybe. I was waiting to hear mention of the "Lookalikes" band, lol. Maybe that was more of a Queens Sally Obriens/The Bliss scene...I saw "Roaring Twenties" and developed claustrophobia and a hangover all at once! Anyway, congrats on surviving with your talent intact, many dont. Hope to read more of your stuff. All the best! Colin, great job on the book.

The New York of the late 80’s and early 90’s, especially the Irish Bar scene comes alive…I remember it well, sort of, maybe. I was waiting to hear mention of the “Lookalikes” band, lol. Maybe that was more of a Queens Sally Obriens/The Bliss scene…I saw “Roaring Twenties” and developed claustrophobia and a hangover all at once!

Anyway, congrats on surviving with your talent intact, many dont.
Hope to read more of your stuff.

All the best!

]]> By: Patrick Leone http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-3405 Patrick Leone Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:17:49 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-3405 I thought of you and your book today when I was gripping the cool condensation of my dorm-room toilet at 2 in the afternoon. That damn orangutan punching me over and over again in the stomach. Excellent book, I look forward to the next one. I thought of you and your book today when I was gripping the cool condensation of my dorm-room toilet at 2 in the afternoon. That damn orangutan punching me over and over again in the stomach. Excellent book, I look forward to the next one.

]]> By: Sinead McKenna http://www.colinbroderick.com?cpage=1#comment-2962 Sinead McKenna Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:56:45 +0000 http://www.colinbroderick.com/?page_id=2#comment-2962 I contacted you before on My Space just finished it for the second time liked it even more. Keep writing please. I contacted you before on My Space just finished it for the second time liked it even more. Keep writing please.

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