NAMA Mia! explained

NAMA Mia!
Author:Paul Howard
Illustrator:Alan Clarke
Cover Artist:Alan Clarke
Country:Republic of Ireland
Genre:Comic novel, satire
Language:English
Series:Ross O'Carroll-Kelly
Pub Date:6 October 2011
Publisher:Penguin Books
Dewey:823.92
Pages:398
Set In:Dublin, 2010
Media Type:Paperback
Preceded By:The Oh My God Delusion
Followed By:The Shelbourne Ultimatum

NAMA Mia! is a 2011 novel by Irish journalist and author Paul Howard and the eleventh in the Ross O'Carroll-Kelly series.

The title refers to the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) and to the Catherine Johnson stage musical Mamma Mia!.[1]

Background

Author Paul Howard insisted that the novel's storyline — with Ross becoming the lover of an older Northern Irish woman — was not inspired by the Iris Robinson scandal, which became public knowledge in January 2010.[2]

Plot

Ireland is in recession, but Ross's shredding company is successful. He becomes a "toy boy" for Regina Rathfriland, a wealthy older woman. Ross tracks down Oisinn and brings him back to Ireland. Fionnuala has switched to writing "misery lit" memoirs.

Reception

The Irish Independent reviewed it positively, saying "Howard has given Ross a new lease of life in this book and it's a testament to his skill not as a writer but as a keen observer of society that Nama Mia! actually ranks up there with his best work."[3]

NAMA Mia! was nominated for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: O'Carroll-Kelly, Ross. NAMA Mia!. September 21, 2011. Penguin Books Limited. 9781844882274. Google Books.
  2. Web site: It's not about 'Irisgate', roysh, says gigolo Ross. Independent.ie. 11 June 2011 .
  3. Web site: Review: Fiction: Ross O'Carroll-Kelly Nama Mia! by Paul Howard. Independent.ie. 17 September 2011 .
  4. Web site: Chick lit vies for top book awards. Independent.ie. 7 November 2011 .
  5. News: Heaney honoured at book awards. Ronan. McGreevy. The Irish Times.