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kmblaney's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
paulsnelling's review against another edition
3.0
Poor johnsey, caught up by others’ greed in a world he doesn’t understand. Not Ryan’s best but still exceptional writing.
greybeard49's review against another edition
5.0
The writing here is quite exceptional.
Ryan scores a bullseye every time - dialogue masterful and so witty, characterisation amazing and the storyline is rolled out with such great timing and empathy.
'Johnsey Cunliffe' is a hero to die for. You tread in every step he takes and suffer when he does.
A sad heartbreaking tale but so compelling and beautiful.
Haven't been moved by a book as much in a very long time.
Ryan scores a bullseye every time - dialogue masterful and so witty, characterisation amazing and the storyline is rolled out with such great timing and empathy.
'Johnsey Cunliffe' is a hero to die for. You tread in every step he takes and suffer when he does.
A sad heartbreaking tale but so compelling and beautiful.
Haven't been moved by a book as much in a very long time.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
A special thanks to Steerforth Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In The Thing About December, by Donal Ryan, the innocent Johnsey Cunliffe finds his sheltered rural Irish life suddenly disintegrating. Following the deaths first of his father and then his mother, Johnsey inherits the family farm, and a healthy bank account, both of which he proves incapable of managing on his own. He's exposed to the terrifying responsibility of owning land that's in demand for a local real estate development plan. The locals think he is holding out for a huge sum for the farm.
Johnsey takes you month by month through the tragic events that happen in one year of his life and the misconceptions of others around him. An orphan, Johnsey is bewildered by the world around him, defenseless against the bullies and the schemers in his rural village.
Johnsey remains a lonely man struggling to keep up with a world that moves faster than he does. A gentle, simple soul who is virtually incapable of expressing himself verbally; however, in doing so he is able to communicate a powerful story through the pages of THE THINGS OF DECEMBER.
It appears, Ryan wrote The Thing About December before The Spinning Heart., where he used multiple narrators to express a community’s passions and anxieties after Ireland’s economic crash, while Johnsey’s singular story is set in the same village, a decade earlier, as the Celtic Tiger is starting to rear up.
Your love for this character grows, while Johnsey’s recuperation in hospital is the novel’s turning point. The first half of The Thing About December portrays his unhappy youth but the second contains laugh-out-loud moments, even as his neighbors try to force him to sell the farm to developers.
A heartbreaking novel mixed with humor, (you will cry and laugh)—a tale of a man’s struggle to make sense of a greedy and corrupt world. I look forward to reading Donal Ryan's debut novel, The Spinning Heart which I have not read.
“People are better inside in your head. When you're longing for them, they're perfect.” ― Donal Ryan, The Thing About December
In The Thing About December, by Donal Ryan, the innocent Johnsey Cunliffe finds his sheltered rural Irish life suddenly disintegrating. Following the deaths first of his father and then his mother, Johnsey inherits the family farm, and a healthy bank account, both of which he proves incapable of managing on his own. He's exposed to the terrifying responsibility of owning land that's in demand for a local real estate development plan. The locals think he is holding out for a huge sum for the farm.
Johnsey takes you month by month through the tragic events that happen in one year of his life and the misconceptions of others around him. An orphan, Johnsey is bewildered by the world around him, defenseless against the bullies and the schemers in his rural village.
Johnsey remains a lonely man struggling to keep up with a world that moves faster than he does. A gentle, simple soul who is virtually incapable of expressing himself verbally; however, in doing so he is able to communicate a powerful story through the pages of THE THINGS OF DECEMBER.
It appears, Ryan wrote The Thing About December before The Spinning Heart., where he used multiple narrators to express a community’s passions and anxieties after Ireland’s economic crash, while Johnsey’s singular story is set in the same village, a decade earlier, as the Celtic Tiger is starting to rear up.
Your love for this character grows, while Johnsey’s recuperation in hospital is the novel’s turning point. The first half of The Thing About December portrays his unhappy youth but the second contains laugh-out-loud moments, even as his neighbors try to force him to sell the farm to developers.
A heartbreaking novel mixed with humor, (you will cry and laugh)—a tale of a man’s struggle to make sense of a greedy and corrupt world. I look forward to reading Donal Ryan's debut novel, The Spinning Heart which I have not read.
“People are better inside in your head. When you're longing for them, they're perfect.” ― Donal Ryan, The Thing About December
ethanreadsb00ks's review against another edition
4.0
This is not a happy book.
I think it is a good book though. (A 'Good Read, if you will, eh? Eh? Did ye hear me there sir? I said...)
It's funny and sweet and there are some lines that really do jump out at you. "Oh God why send an angel to a fool?" and “People are better inside in your head. When you're longing for them, they're perfect.”
I have to say I really liked the writing style, and found the book much more enjoyable for it.
One thing I'm struggling over was Johnsey. Obviously I feel sorry for him, but at times his 'gormless' nature got irritating. He was clearly capable enough to live by himself, any yet the absolute silence with which he greets everything was almost inhuman, and because of that, it was hard to connect to him beyond a 'Awk the poor crathur" sort of way.
All in all, I ended up giving it a 4, as I really do recommend reading it. It really gets across a lot of rural Ireland and, if you consider the Celtic Tiger theme, the different characters you meet along the year become that bit more interesting.
I think it is a good book though. (A 'Good Read, if you will, eh? Eh? Did ye hear me there sir? I said...)
It's funny and sweet and there are some lines that really do jump out at you. "Oh God why send an angel to a fool?" and “People are better inside in your head. When you're longing for them, they're perfect.”
I have to say I really liked the writing style, and found the book much more enjoyable for it.
One thing I'm struggling over was Johnsey. Obviously I feel sorry for him, but at times his 'gormless' nature got irritating. He was clearly capable enough to live by himself, any yet the absolute silence with which he greets everything was almost inhuman, and because of that, it was hard to connect to him beyond a 'Awk the poor crathur" sort of way.
All in all, I ended up giving it a 4, as I really do recommend reading it. It really gets across a lot of rural Ireland and, if you consider the Celtic Tiger theme, the different characters you meet along the year become that bit more interesting.
mariesreads's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed this okay! It's melancholy but beautifully written, quite lyrical.
amn028's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely tale where each chapter is a month in the life of Johnsey as he tries to navigate the world without his parents. It is endearing but heartbreaking. The story grabs the reader and the narrative holds the attention until the last page is turned. It is one of those books that leaves you thinking of the character, even after you have finished the book.
icantwritegood's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Classism, Cancer, Bullying, and Death of parent
tabo98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
locari's review
4.0
a bit too grim idk i like some sadness and melancholy but reading this kinda exhausted me...