Sean Hughes – It’s what he would’ve wanted (05-007)

Sean Hughes – It’s what he would’ve wanted (05-007)

I didn’t know Hughes until I started following the BBC television series “Never mind the Buzzcocks”, where he was the regular team captain for a few seasons. He was good. Obviously he doubled as a comedian, though I never saw anything of him.

On the web I discovered he also wrote two novels. So I ordered one, curious as I was, having read a good review. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Hughes writes a good story, with a lot of dark humour in it.

The story about Shea (coincidentally an Irish name as well?) who as a 30- year old doesn’t know what he wants to do in life. His father, a former weatherman, hence a minor BBC-celebrity, decides to hang himself on Christmas day. From then Shea finds out a lot about the life of his father. Firstly through his diaries, but also through talking to several people. He finds out a lot he had never expected. Probably more than he wanted to know. But having started the quest, he cannot suddenly stop.

Hughes has a very dark sort of humour, which is probably not for everyone, but it certainly worked for me. He was laugh out loud funny quite a few times, which is always annoying other people when you read the train. Not that I’m bothered. Have to buy his other novel as well I guess.

Number: 05-007
Title: It’s what he would’ve wanted
Author: Sean Hughes
Language: English
Year: 1999
# Pages: 290 (1263)
Category: Fiction
ISBN: 0-684-86029-5