SHIFTLESS

A teen’s newfound adulthood in England means enduring blue-collar jobs and whatever life throws at him in this coming-of-age work.

Murphy’s book comprises two novellas. In the title story, 18-year-old Sean Reilly says no to college and now must pay rent to continue living with his dad, Joe. Father and son take temporary jobs at local warehouses and factories. Sean has money for pints but quickly learns he can’t get drunk the day before his night shift. At work, he and Joe face unforeseen hurdles. For example, English co-workers are prejudiced toward Joe, who’s Irish. As Sean’s responsibility grows, a sudden tragedy may force him to go out on his own. In the second novella, Doghouse, Sean moves to a bail hostel. He’ll live there while awaiting his sentencing for theft (something he stole from a workplace). To fit in with the other hostel residents, he agrees to pick up mysterious packages. But Sean comes to realize that he may be someone’s scapegoat. This book’s likable protagonist bolsters Murphy’s leisurely paced but absorbing tales. Sean drinks and may occasionally do drugs, but he’s sympathetic and relatable. He, like many people, resists bidding adieu to his past; he’s long pined for an old female friend and doesn’t want her to leave for a distant university. He’s moreover content with his and Joe’s current relationship, even though his father hasn’t been the best parent. The narratives are often gloomy, especially the descriptions of people’s loathsome treatment of Sean, including Joe’s Irish family. But the author’s lyrical prose makes the copious pubs Sean frequents seem like a series of adventures: “The human hubbub of the pub gets sucked down the stunned plughole, yet there is still sound, a few gurgles and a ‘What the feck?’ from a dark corner.”

A pair of engaging novellas about the tribulations of growing up.