Leonard and Hungry Paul
by Ronan Hession
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Pub Date 11 Aug 2020 | Archive Date 4 Feb 2021
Melville House Publishing | Melville House
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Description
In this charming and truly unique debut, popular Irish musician Ronan Hession tells the story of two single, thirty-something men who still live with their parents and who are . . . nice. They take care of their parents and play board games together. They like to read. They take satisfaction from their work. They are resolutely kind. And they realize that none of this is considered . . . normal.
Leonard and Hungry Paul is the story of two friends struggling to protect their understanding of what’s meaningful in life. It is about the uncelebrated people of this world — the gentle, the meek, the humble. And as they struggle to persevere, the book asks a surprisingly enthralling question: Is it really them against the world, or are they on to something?
A Note From the Publisher
Digital Reading Group Guide available
Advance Praise
Praise for the UK edition of Leonard and Hungry Paul
British Book Awards 2020 Debut Book of the Year Finalist
Irish Book Awards 2019 Newcomer of the Year Finalist
“This quietly brilliant book is as funny as it is wise, as tender as it is ground-breaking. Rónán Hession mines for gold in the modest lives and ordinary friendships that might appear unpromising to another writer, and my goodness, he finds it. It is also a happy book — and we need those.” — Diane Setterfield, author of The Thirteenth Tale
“A charming, warm-hearted celebration of all that is treasurable about everyday life.” — The Guardian
“Charming without being twee, this funny, warm book will bring you sunshine.” — The Irish Times
'God, what a voice Ronan has. It is spectacular and already feels like a cult classic. I was absolutely hooked.' — Donal Ryan, author of The Spinning Heart
“For a book that defies convention I would heartily recommend Leonard and Hungry Paul. It’s as simple as it is unique . . . a celebration of kindness and having enough and being content — and living a life devoid of high drama and conflict. It’s very funny, and well-written, poetic in places. But above all it’s kind, a celebration of often overlooked people.” — Kit de Waal, author of My Name Is Leon
Marketing Plan
National media campaign with a strong focus on literary outlets in print and online
Target book reviews from newspapers such as Washington Post, NYTBR, WSJ, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and more.
Target reviews and features at NPR Books, Vulture, Entertainment Weekly, People, Buzzfeed, O Magazine, Esquire, Refinery29, Vox, Vice, Slate, Daily Beast, Huff Post, etc.
Target literary coverage at Harper's, New Yorker, Paris Review, The Millions, Guernica, NYRB, LARB, LitHub, Vol 1 Brooklyn, Entropy Magazine, Book Riot, etc.
Target excerpt placed at a literary outlet such as LitHub or Paris Review
Pitch for inclusion on Summer Reading lists
Aggressive social media campaign promoting blurbs and reviews
Bookstagram campaign targeting fans of comparably charming books (The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, etc)
Newsletter campaign to general audience (18K recipients), librarians (17K), and booksellers (7K) with excerpt and giveaway info
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781612198484 |
| PRICE | US$25.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Featured Reviews
Susan D, Reviewer
Ronan Hession has authored a gold nugget of a novel. It taps into the readers soul. It glistens with humanity. It lives the ‘kind’ in mankind and faces what it is to be comfortable in ones own skin. We see a pact between two men both socially insecure, where friendship is savored and life is lived simply just by being themselves. They understand one another and accept one another without condition or expectation.
In several instances I could identify with their thoughts. I could feel how they were feeling because the writing touched upon it so beautifully.
The reality of today is hard for many of us. The reality of this novel reflects on the positives of living ones own truth. It is warm, charming and comforting to know that Ronan Hession sees that there may be a bit of Leonard and Hungry Paul in all of us and that it is wonderful to be ‘just us’.
Thank you NetGalley and Melville House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Abby S, Reviewer
A lovely book two sweet souls quirky innocent charming.I fell in love with this story the characters will be recommending and gifting it to special friends.One of my favorite books of 2020#netgalley#melvillepublishing
Ann E B, Media/Journalist
This is my favorite book of 2020 (though technically it came out in the UK in 2019). I've gone through and highlighted my most cherished bits. Ronan Hession writes simile and metaphor like a boss. Some of my favorites involve cats, baldness, sunfish, cola, lift shafts, balloons, and sun flowers. While the imagery is so, so good, the language in general is flat-out delightful. The characters are equally delightful and so richly drawn. I imagine I will re-read this book many times, and I will dip in and out, too, just to visit Leonard and Hungry Paul -- particularly Hungry Paul.
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