Frank, tender, and brutally funny, Dimitri Verhulst's semi-autobiographical story details the vibrantly entertaining journey of a boy growing up in a family of alcoholics in Belgium
Sobriety and moderation are alien concepts to the men in Dimmy's family. Useless in all other respects, his three uncles have a rare talent for drinking, a flair for violence, and an unwavering commitment to the pub. And his father Pierre is no slouch either. Within hours of his son's birth, Pierre plucks him from the maternity ward, props him on his bike, and takes him on an introductory tour of the village bars. His mother soon leaves them to it and as Dimmy grows up amid the stench of stale beer, he seems destined to follow the path of his forebears and make a low-life career in inebriation, until he begins to piece together his own plan for the future.
“Verhulst's gift for imagery is impressive . . . the humour is pitch-black and very funny.” —Prospect
“Verhulst's prose is always a delight . . .This is a subtle and wonderfully told story.” —Financial Times
“Ceaselessly entertaining . . . it bursts with humour and energy that never lets up.” —BookMunch
“Outrageousness yields to eloquent recognition in this darkly intelligent novel.” —Irish Times
(A special thank you to book club member, Morgan Downie for the suggestion.)