Oh, Play That Thing

Oh, Play That Thing follows Henry Smart, an Irish rebel who flees to America in the 1920s after his IRA connections turn dangerous. In New York, Henry navigates the underbelly of American society, trying his hand at various schemes and hustles while staying one step ahead of those who pursue him. His journey takes him to Chicago, where his path crosses with jazz legend Louis Armstrong during a pivotal time in American music history. The novel chronicles Henry's attempts to reinvent himself in America while wrestling with his past, his identity, and his relationships with the people closest to him. This second installment of The Last Roundup series explores themes of reinvention, survival, and the intersection of personal stories with historical moments, set against the backdrop of Jazz Age America.

Readers found this sequel to "A Star Called Henry" less engaging than its predecessor. Many noted the book feels like two separate stories - the Chicago jazz scene followed by a New York survival tale. Readers liked: - The 1920s Chicago atmosphere and Louis Armstrong scenes - The historical details about prohibition-era America - The writing style in the first half Readers disliked: - Abrupt tonal and plot shifts midway - Unrealistic coincidences and plot developments - The protagonist becoming less compelling - Loss of focus in the second half One reader called it "a meandering road trip that loses its way," while another said "the magic of the first book gets buried under increasingly improbable events." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (50+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (200+ ratings) The book received lower ratings than both the first and third parts of Doyle's The Last Roundup trilogy.

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🎺 The novel features Louis Armstrong as a key character during his formative years in Chicago, where he revolutionized jazz with his innovative trumpet playing and scat singing. 📚 This book is the second part of Doyle's "The Last Roundup" trilogy, following "A Star Called Henry" and preceding "The Dead Republic." 🌆 New York's speakeasies, which feature prominently in the novel, grew from 5,000 to nearly 100,000 during Prohibition (1920-1933). 🏆 Roddy Doyle won the prestigious Booker Prize in 1993 for his novel "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha," establishing him as one of Ireland's most celebrated contemporary authors. 🎭 The protagonist Henry Smart appears in multiple works by Doyle, making him one of the author's most enduring characters and a symbol of 20th-century Irish identity.