By: Sierra Millns
Many people say that you must have plenty in common with someone in order to be their best friend. However, in the novel Finnie Walsh by Steven Galloway, this is not the case. Finnie and Paul have a few things in common, such as their passion for hockey, but they were (for the most part) complete opposites. Paul's family has a struggle with money throughout the duration of the novel, while Finnie's family is quite wealthy. After Mr.Woodward's accident, Finnie is struggling to escape the guilt; meanwhile, Paul is able to let it go. Finnie is a risk taker along with being very outgoing; but on the contrary, Paul is very timid and takes everything in stride. Paul and Finnie have few things in common; however, that is what makes them such great friends. Everyone in town knows how wealthy the Walsh family is. It is exploited across town through the pulp mill, multiple shops, and their large estate. After the loss of his wife, Mr.Walsh wants to give nothing but the best to his four sons. The downfall to that is Mr.Walsh is so busy and obsessed with the mania of owning things, that he neglects his sons. Finnie dislikes the impression his family leaves on the town and as a result, he humbly takes less and uses his money for important things. Paul's family is not the most financially stable family in town; fortunately, they are a stable family. The Woodwards love and support each other and they are astonished when Finnie be-friends Paul. "When I met Finnie Walsh, I was too young to realize that we weren't supposed to be friends" (pg. 2). Thanks to Finnie's blessing, Paul's dream of playing hockey eventually becomes a reality. The Woodwards accept Finnie as one of their own, and give him the attention he strives for from his over-achieving father. This is one of the reasons Finnie feels more guilt about Mr.Woodward's accident than Paul. After Paul's father gets in the terrible accident at the Walsh's pulp mill, things are never