A story of two friends trying to find their place in the world
Introduction to the author and book
Rónán Hession (born Dublin 1975), also known as Mumblin’ Deaf Ro, is a multi-award nominated writer and Irish blues musician. He is also Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection.
Hession has performed in several bands in Dublin: Rinty, Boxcar, and The Critters. He also performed under the name of ‘Johnny Horsebox’. As Mumblin’ Deaf Ro he had his first release in 2003.
Hession reviews fiction for the Irish Times, with a particular focus on fiction in translation, and has also written articles for LitHub.
Leonard and Hungry Paul is his first novel (published 2019)
It was chosen by the Sunday Times and the Irish Times as one of the 50 Great Irish Novels of the 21st Century. It has also been added to the Irish secondary school curriculum.
Set ina fictional, unidentifiable “everywhere”, it closely resembles the suburban Dublin where the author grew up. The specific location isn’t named to maintain the book’s universal themes and focus on overlooked aspects of human nature. By keeping the setting vague, the author emphasizes the universal traits of human nature and the ordinary lives of the characters.
Although the book doesn’t mention autism, explicitly or obliquely, people seem to view it as an “autistic” novel. Hungry Paul might be viewed as an autistic man who finds a bridge to “normal life” via his friendship with deeply introverted Leonard.
Leonard and Hungry Paul are two friends who see the world differently. They use humour, board-games and silence to steer their way through the maelstrom of the 21st century.
The book is a charming and heart-warming debut novel about two shy, middle-aged best friends in Dublin who find quiet meaning in their simple routines, but must adapt to unexpected life events, particularly Leonard’s grief after his mother’s death. The novel explores themes of kindness, anxiety, and family, celebrating the overlooked people who navigate the world with gentle appreciation rather than force.
Leonard: A nervous, quiet man who writes for children’s encyclopedias and is grieving the loss of his mother.
Hungry Paul: A part-time mailman who lives with his retired parents, embodying mindfulness and contentment. He is a kind, considerate, and self-contained man.
Themes
- Gentleness and Kindness: The book highlights the quiet virtues of meek, humble, and kind people who may be overlooked
- Grief and Anxiety: Leonard’s loss introduces themes of grief, loneliness, and his struggle to cope.
- Finding Meaning: The novel encourages readers to appreciate the “small things” and find specialness in the ordinary.
- The Uncelebrated: It celebrates the uncelebrated people of the world, suggesting that we might learn from them.
- Home and Family: The importance of strong family bonds and appreciation for home life is a key aspect of the story.
In May 2025 it was announced that Leonard and Hungry Paul was in production by the BBC and Subotica as a six part TV series starring Alex Lawther, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell and Laurie Kynaston adapted by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson for BBC Northern Ireland.
What do you think of this novel?
Share your comments – but please not until the month is at an end. We don’t want any spoilers! And please remember to follow the Site rules.
We aim to post a book of the month on here at the start of every month, so why not encourage others to read them and get some ‘book’ discussions going on within the community.
Once you’ve read this month’s book, and after the end of OCTOBER please, use the comments box below to say what you think about it; what you liked and didn’t like. What about the writing style, pace, mood, characterisation, use of description, the plot … ? Or get in touch with your comments and opinions by email to (rhossilihwb.cymru@gmail.com).
Vicki James & Helen Sinclair
The next book for November 25 will be …
“Butter” by Asako Yuzuki (translated by Polly Barton) (published February 2024 – 464 pages. Amazon 4*)
Waterstones’ Book of the year; ‘Compelling, delightfully weird, often uncomfortable’, ‘Unputdownable, breathtakingly original’.
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