It Ain't over yet, Danny Boy

Danny's mother, Fiona, traumatised by the early death of her parents and unhappy marriage to Jim, immediately clashes with her in-laws in the novel's opening scene. The animosity between Fiona and Jim's mother, Josie, sets the scene into which Danny, the novel's hero, is born. As the conflict between wife and mother-in-law grows, the action shifts from Josie's house in Dawky to the McKangle home in Rose Lawn. Fiona, unable to control her husband, seeks to mould Danny into her notion of...
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Danny's mother, Fiona, traumatised by the early death of her parents and unhappy marriage to Jim, immediately clashes with her in-laws in the novel's opening scene. The animosity between Fiona and Jim's mother, Josie, sets the scene into which Danny, the novel's hero, is born. As the conflict between wife and mother-in-law grows, the action shifts from Josie's house in Dawky to the McKangle home in Rose Lawn. Fiona, unable to control her husband, seeks to mould Danny into her notion of the ideal man, pursuing her agenda at home and school, alienating herself from family, friends and neighbours; interfering with Danny's friendships, as she tries to bend him to her will. In an attempt to conceal her insecurities, Fiona drives a wedge between father and son. If she can't control her husband she'll control her child, getting at her husband at the same time. Bogged down in an unsatisfying career and caught in the crossfire between wife and parents, Jim decides to move. Seeing this as a threat to her position and ambitions for her children, through whom she is trying to live her own frustrated hopes and dreams, Fiona resists. The conflict in the family grows - with Danny caught in the middle. (Notice to the reader: This a mini-book special edition of the opening chapters of the novel which will be published in full at a later date ;)