Book Review: Christopher Nolan's "Under the Eye of the Clock"

Christopher Nolan's second offering to literature is entitled "Under The Eye Of The Clock". It is written as if fiction, but is clearly the memoir of his life. In this memoir, he changes the names of those involved. He calls himself Joseph Meehan, his father becomes Matthew, his mother Nora, and his sister becomes Yvonne. This is largely the tale of his school years and ends as he leaves Trinity College, Dublin. The title is a reference to the iconic clock of Mount Temple Comprehensive School.

What is the purpose of this book? Nolan himself says it best: "Best assessed messages lighted his writing, trying as he was to solve the mystery surrounding spoilt manhood, birth brain-damaged, but curiously, though seldom recognised, intellectually normal. Leaning on his family he cast down the guantlet- accept me for what I am and I'll accept you for what you're accepted as."

Here is life and its challenges from the viewpoint of the severely disabled, and it isn't watered down. His fears are clearly painted, his frustrations, his struggles, his joys and successes. Even his ongoing quests for acceptance and friendship in the midst of the ever-growing challenges he set for himself. The accurate and artful portrayal of these is the point of the book. And it is painfully, brazenly accurate. It is also well-written.

Possibly the best passage in the entire book as to that purpose is on page 152 just before "Joseph" learns that Trinity College is willing to consider an interview with him to be conducted by the celebrated poet Dr. Brendan Kennelly and Dr. Terence Brown. We already know that he will be accepted, but he does not yet. Meditating on the immensities of what he is asking from his family in support and from himself by applying to the prestigious institution, he feverishly stews:

"Crazy you must be in joining the academically brilliant he scolded, fool to kiss goodbye to dear old isolation. Imagine going looking for thrills. You'll get your bellyful my lad- hell hath no fury like scorn for spastics and you go looking for it, asking for it, offering yourself as a human sacrifice. But then again, why not go, why not chance it?"

Who of us has not felt that apprehension at every attempt at something new and personally uncharted, that nearly paralysing fear, followed by the instant rallying of our inner warrior that carries us through every conscious moment? "But then again, why not go, why not chance it?" Unless we try, we will never know if we can. And if at first you don't succeed try, try again. This is so entrenched in disabled and/or disadvantaged souls that it is difficult for us to know when we should back down and even more difficult for us to admit it when we do know- we fear that more than anything else. But eventually Nolan had the strength of character to recognise that moment and bow to it with dignity. Upon being invited to study further still for a degree (that he does not specify), he considered the terrible toll on himself and his family if he took things that step forward and, after a mental struggle with the issue, sent a letter to Trinity gratefully declining. He left school behind with a heavy heart, but a heart set determinedly on his writing.

I came across several phrases in Chapter 6 "Knife Used" that are echoed almost exactly in the first verse of U2's "Miracle Drug" and in the bridge that the Edge sings in it. If I had had a pen at easy reach I would have happily marked them, but alas! that was a rare moment that caught me without one.

For all of this, however, what I personally most enjoyed were the highly descriptive, native tours through various Irish locales. Through Nolan's acute observation skills, we visit Mullingar, County Kerry, the Burren, Dublin at all times of the year and weathers (most vividly on Christmas), the Dingle gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area), and the inside workings of the colorful halls of Mount Temple. I almost feel as though I have finally visited beautiful Ireland of poets, Ireland of dreams and bloody heavy history, Ireland of my most mysterious ancestor. I am eternally grateful to Nolan for sharing his experiences with such intensity. The only thing I wish for is that he had given us a clearer idea of Trinity College campus. Oh well.

This is a book I hope that everyone I've ever met can have the chance to read. It is that true.