Ok, Let’s do Your Stupid Idea
Patrick Freyne
2020 • Penguin
For nonfiction and personal stuff, people need to feel like they’re in safe hands. And if you’re too raw when you approach things, I think it can unsettle the reader. I realised that humour is an important part of my personality. So when I reapproached it I saw the funny side to it and I started writing it in a different tone.
— Patrick Freyne
Ok, Let’s do Your Stupid Idea
Patrick Freyne
2020 • Penguin
For nonfiction and personal stuff, people need to feel like they’re in safe hands. And if you’re too raw when you approach things, I think it can unsettle the reader. I realised that humour is an important part of my personality. So when I reapproached it I saw the funny side to it and I started writing it in a different tone.
— Patrick Freyne
Description
Patrick Freyne has tried a lot of stupid ideas in his life. Now, he is here to tell you about them: like the time (aged 5) he opened a gate and let a horse out of its field, just to see what would happen; or the time (aged 19) he jumped out of a plane for charity, even though he didn’t much care about the charity and was sure he’d end up dead; or the time (aged old enough to know better) he used a magazine as a funnel for fuel when the petrol cap on his band’s van broke.
He has also learned a few things: about the power of group song; about the beauty of physically caring for another human being; about childlessness; about losing friends far too young. Life as seen through the eyes of Patrick Freyne is stranger, funnier and a lot more interesting than life as we generally know it. Like David Sedaris or Nora Ephron, he creates an environment all his own – fundamentally comic, sometimes moving, always deeply humane. OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea is a joyous reading experience from an instantly essential new writer.
On RadioMoLI
Dublin Review Podcast
Excerpts
Interviews
- The Journal: Patrick Freyne - 'For Personal Writing, People need to feel they're in Safe Hands - if you're too raw it can Unsettle the Reader'
- Irish Examiner: ‘“I was Probably too raw” - The Joys, Sorrows and Truths of Patrick Freyne’
- The Irish News: Arts Q&A – ‘Journalist and Author Patrick Freyne on PJ Harvey, the Star Wars Holiday Special and his Literal “Pet Hate”’
- Penguin: meet the Author – Patrick Freyne
- Hotpress: ‘Patrick Freyne on Writing, Humour, and OK, Let's Do Your Stupid Idea’
- Books Ireland Magazine: Patrick Freyne – This Literary Life
- Dublin Book Festival: Questions with Patrick Freyne
- Bookanista: To do or Not to do by Patrick Freyne
Prizes & Awards
Reviews
- Hilary A. White, Irish Independent
- Grace Keane, RTÉ
- Pat Carty, Hotpress
- Sarah Moss, The Irish Times
- Joe Joyce, Totally Dublin
- Eva Wall, Extra.ie
- Kildare Libraries Blog
Audio
- My Roots are Showing: Patrick Freyne joins Nadine O'Regan for My Roots Are Showing
- The Dublin Review Podcast: Episode Two – Patrick Freyne
- An Irishman Abroad: Writing Funny with Patrick Freyne
- You’re Booked: Patrick Freyne
Video
- West Cork Literary Festival: Patrick Freyne
- Belfast International Arts Festival: Patrick Freyne
- Ennis Bookclub Festival: Ennis Bookclub Festival Presents - Roddy Doyle and Patrick Freyne
- Rick O’Shea: Shelf Analysis – Episode 41 – Shelf Analysis
- Dublin City Literature: Dublin City Libraries Readers Days - Emerging Writers (Alice Lyons, Elaine Feeney, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Patrick Freyne)
- RTÉ: RTÉ - Creative Ireland – Patrick Freyne (Dublin Book Festival)
