I’m reading a book at the moment.

There is nothing inherently strange about that, as I read a lot.

I don’t know where this book came from but I found it lying around the house and started on Chapter 1.  As one does.

The main character in the book is Marty, a bloke who gives up his studies in Trinity College in Dublin and moves back to the family farm down the country.  So far, so good. 

After the first chapter, I began to have concerns about our friend Marty.  He is obviously meant to be a sympathetic character as we are told of all his anguish at settling in back on the farm.  He even buys himself a pet lamb to keep himself company.  Anyone who does that can’t be all bad?

Wrong.

I have rarely read about a worse character.  He is self indulgent, bad tempered, depressed and generally thoroughly dislikeable.  He screws his brothers wife, hates his best friend and worst of all, treats the lamb like shit.  Every chapter sees him sink to a new low.

Why do I continue to read it?

Because I can’t wait for him to have the shite beaten out of him by someone.  God knows, there isn’t a sinner he hasn’t done the nasty on.

I hope he meets with a grizzly and painful end.

I keep hoping it will happen in the next chapter.