Holding

I read the book over a year ago and loved it. I’ve always liked Graham Norton’s wit and this comes out in his writing.

After the first episode I really wasn’t sure but by the end, I thought it was brilliant. Well acted and well done to Kathy Burke.

Luckygirl, I really enjoyed this drama.There was some dry humour. I have not read the book, so I cannot comment. Sorry to hear so many of you didn't like the televised version. I thought this was quite different and I also loved the scenery.

I watched the TV series, having not read the book. I have watched the last episode on catch-up and I thought it was excellent!

Yes Dylan Moran refuses to go on panel quiz shows. I always wished he’d go on QI with his mate Bill Bailey, but I asked him after one of his shows and he said he never would!

Loved the book - hate the tv series. What a shame with so many brilliant actors .

Having come to it fresh without reading the book, I was unsure at first but it has grown on me.
I especially thought Brenda Fricker's turn in last night's episode was a tour de force, totally lyrical and mesmerising and not at all played for comedy.

Still watching but having a struggle to reconcile the book with the TV series.
The story of the rape was very movingly written and the recalling of it in the TV adaptation is not at all like it.

I was very disappointed in the series which I binge watched yesterday. I have read the book and I hardly recognise the storyline in this adaptation. I wasn’t sure if it was meant to be black humour but the characters are just caricatures and the heartbreaking story of the rape and subsequent aftermath is turned into a comic turn. A poor show.

Kim19

It's only recently occurred to me how sharp, intelligent and multi talented many comedians are. I've been watching some on quizzes lately and their speed of response and general intelligence is impressive. No, I've never thought they were less than average bright but I've been seriously underrating them. I will certainly give holding a look in tonight. I clearly remember seeing GN when he was a mere stripling at the Edinburgh festival. We always went for unknowns. He was real fun even then and has certainly matured beautifully.

Regarding those quiz shows which feature comedians.
They are highly scripted and edited.
There is very little spontaneous about them.
I know a famous comedian who refuses to appear on them because that are so artificial

I liked what I saw, read all Graham Nortons books, he is an excellent writer. He’s witty and articulate.

I watched 20 minutes of it and I have one word to describe it- dire.

sodapop

No,sorry if you are Lucca

Never read any

It won't put me off reading another Graham Norton book - nor from drinking "his" wine!

Lucca

sodapop

Graham Norton should stick to what he does best and it's not writing.

Oh dear not a fan then !

If you haven’t read the book please don’t judge his writing on this dreadful tv series. If I was Graham Norton I would have been furious. In fact he is a very good writer and I am “picky”about books as I can’t stand rubbish. The tv adaptation was a ridiculous, shambolic effort by a ham fisted untalented script writer. Give Graham Norton a chance. Read him and you will probably be pleasantly surprised as I was. I also enjoyed his second book.

Rosiebee

I finished reading this book yesterday and loved it. Could not believe that someone has ruined it for television. People's characters have been changed, storylines added. No subtly at all. Sooo disappointed. Awful adaption. Read the book instead.

I feel exactly the same. The change of characters started in the first episode which was bad enough but it got worse and worse.
They missed out the most important aspects of the story, changed things so that the ending was ruined and the new beginning for them never materialised. It was rubbish.

I finished reading this book yesterday and loved it. Could not believe that someone has ruined it for television. People's characters have been changed, storylines added. No subtly at all. Sooo disappointed. Awful adaption. Read the book instead.

I liked the programme. Gentle. Shades of Ballykissangel.

Take a gentle, humorous book with the added spice of intrigues, undercurrents and a possible unsolved crime and hit it with a sledgehammer - that's what this TV adaptation did!

I take issue with the judgement that GN isn't a writer. I've read and enjoyed this book and others. His depiction of small-town life in Ireland is humorous without being malicious and his plots are intriguing and not implausible. I, for one, will continue to read his books.

The book was a more gentle look at an Irish village, seemingly picture perfect but with all the simmering tensions and secrets underneath.
I didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did but this TV version is unsubtle and brash.

I agree that the book was much better but I’ll stick with it even though it has shades of Father Ted.

That was the biggest load of rubbish I’ve seen in a long time.

The book was so much better.
All the characters have been turned into caricatures.

Kathy Burke should never have been allowed near it!

I had seen this was coming on , I haven't read the book but was looking forward to the TV adaptation as Kathy Burke was directing too. Just watched 30 minutes and have giving up as no one was standing out as being any character you engage with it wasn't funny but it wasn't a drama either ,
the characters were all over acting and seemed stupid and silly.

I was trying to finish it before the series started.