Whirligig Paperback – August 4, 2015

Clever and timely, Macintyre takes on some rather topical matters -- wind farming, climate change, and a sideways look at tech wealth even -- mixes it with a colorful locale and the class divide and ends with a tumbled but endearing tale.Whirlgig is pretty well written, it moves quickly and captures the small coastal community rather well. Giving a nice and interesting cast of characters that combine all walks of live with some amusing eccentricities. Essential for this type of book.Macintyre makes for some nice amusing jabs, managing to be a bit subversive as well as just having some blatant fun with his tale.My only quibble is the protagonist is just a little too hapless and a little too unappealing. Stupid is not funny for me. Hubris is a much better rake for the pratfall, than just deliberately walking into it and thinking that despite common sense you won't get smacked in the face. Comedy can be rich when it results from one's own actions in this type of story. But too many times the problems he faces are him lacking complete and utter common sense. Even as his common sense provides a backdrop analysis. For me this robbed the book of being as funny as I felt it could have, had the main character be seen to have a bit more sense than he did. Or at least a stronger sense of growing awareness as the book progressed.But even with a 'hero' that bumbles perhaps a bit more than needed, or even in this setting, more than once to the point of wondering how he can cross the street on his own, overall, the supporting cast is fun and provide plenty of nice elements to work against and with such a lead. Macintyre does a great job of making them a rich element in the novel without them becoming too clownish or overwhelming.In the end, the author manages to deliver some twists that aren't too extraordinary to swallow and fun to read. Wrapping everything up in a way that is satisfying and a bit clever.

I really do like his writing style, but wasn't wild about this particular book. Mainly because Claypole, the main character got on my nerves. He was at times rude, condescending, and just, well...stupid! He was weak and pathetic and I just didn't like his personality.

This book is a real joy. I picked it up not knowing what to expect. A fat entrepreneur and an eccentric Scottish community at war over a wind farm? Ok ... But the first chapter, which describes one of those devastating moments of childhood insecurity and guilt that can haunt you for years, intrigued me, and then when the tone changed thereafter to breezily witty and sharply observant, I was hooked. It's really a novel about characters that will make you want to keep moving forward for the sake of the plot and slow down for the sake of fun sentences and insightful observations at the same time. Give it a go.

That Whirligig is Magnus Macintyre's first novel is neither here nor there - It's simply an accomplished one that I loved reading.It's laugh out loud funny. Regularly. And the characters - particularly the central fish out of water our hapless Gordon Claypole - are as richly drawn as they are delicately placed. Whirligig is a refreshing story full of life, a real taste of country to cure city headaches. Thoroughly recommended.