Citizens

’s tricky writing to say the least, this business of connecting events from a century ago to today and I applaud Kevin Curran for coming onto the device of a memoir and film of the Rising to make it all united and true. Ireland being a young country has the remarkable advantage that many an ‘auld wan’ today still has memories of conversations with real people who fought for independence. But does anyone today care? Aye, there’s the rub and there’s the novel. Citizens is important for people who think … it is not important. Canadians, Americans or Brits, Spaniards or Portuguese or Greeks, you may not at first see Ireland’s story as your story yet given that you all have birthed youth who are afraid, youth who are unfulfilled, youth who have doubts and fears; Citizens is your story too. ~San Diego Book Review

"While the novel ostensibly tells two stories, it gradually builds to brilliantly portray the human interdependency that an entire nation is built upon." ~Totally Dublin

"Un-likeability in a literary character is a tricky thing to respect. An unlikeable character needs something to make the reader decide to read on and Curran achieves this by writing spiky, visual dialogue for believable and flawed characters." ~HeadStuff

"*Book of the Week* Curran makes some astute observations about the personal costs of societal change. Like Harry's artistic endeavours, the writer's dual-era portrait of Dublin is cinematic in scope. Curran couples a close attention to detail with an overarching, subtle interrogation of the narratives nations are founded upon, lightened with a sharp wit." ~Irish News

"A book without any likeable characters wouldn’t normally work for me, but it actually plays an important part in Citizens... It does take a while for Citizens to get going, but it’s worth it so stick with it. It’s a good representation of a generation of Irish people who have felt let down by their country and that the only way forward is to leave." ~Pure M Zine

"Citizens is not the first time Curran has succeeded in capturing the cynicism and uncertainty of his generation. His wonderful debut, Beatsploitation, likewise offered an unflattering though thoroughly refreshing view on a changing Ireland." ~The Independent