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paulsnelling's review against another edition
5.0
So much about love and loss but she also writes so well about the everyday. This book absolutely gripped me. Highlight of the year so far
nicjohnston's review
5.0
5* Anne Griffin just keeps getting better. Starting with the stunning debut novel When All Is Said (if you haven’t read it, you must), The Island of Longing is her third and is another stunner.
Eight years ago Rosie watched her teenage daughter cycle up the street towards their front door. But her bicycle was found abandoned on the other side of the hedge and her daughter hasn’t been seen since. As Rosie’s home life in Dublin limps on she receives a call from her father. Recently widowed and living in Rosie’s childhood home on a small island community, he needs Rosie’s help to keep the family business going over the Summer.
Rosie’s temporary move home evokes a life that could be lived alongside an incredible cast of characters.
Anne Griffin writes beautifully and imagines characters that the reader cares about deeply. The Island of Longing is a moving story that had me turning the pages and penetrated deeply into my (sometimes called concrete) heart.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC. I would highly recommend this book.
Eight years ago Rosie watched her teenage daughter cycle up the street towards their front door. But her bicycle was found abandoned on the other side of the hedge and her daughter hasn’t been seen since. As Rosie’s home life in Dublin limps on she receives a call from her father. Recently widowed and living in Rosie’s childhood home on a small island community, he needs Rosie’s help to keep the family business going over the Summer.
Rosie’s temporary move home evokes a life that could be lived alongside an incredible cast of characters.
Anne Griffin writes beautifully and imagines characters that the reader cares about deeply. The Island of Longing is a moving story that had me turning the pages and penetrated deeply into my (sometimes called concrete) heart.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC. I would highly recommend this book.
kerensa2108's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautifully written and incredibly powerful
story of a mother struggling to cope with the unexplained disappearance of her seventeen-year-old daughter. I found it quite hard to read (as the mother of a teenage daughter myself) but at the same time I couldn’t put it down and have just stayed up far to late to finish it. The way the author describes Rosie’s feelings of anger and loss, her relationships with her husband and son, her determination to find Saoirse, her hope and uplifted spirits when she returns to the island, is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. The development of her friendship with Iggy and the conflict with Liam are perfectly portrayed. The descriptions of the island and the other characters are really lovely, and the dialogue is written so well that you can hear the characters speaking - it really brings them and the story to life. I thoroughly recommend this beautiful story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
story of a mother struggling to cope with the unexplained disappearance of her seventeen-year-old daughter. I found it quite hard to read (as the mother of a teenage daughter myself) but at the same time I couldn’t put it down and have just stayed up far to late to finish it. The way the author describes Rosie’s feelings of anger and loss, her relationships with her husband and son, her determination to find Saoirse, her hope and uplifted spirits when she returns to the island, is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. The development of her friendship with Iggy and the conflict with Liam are perfectly portrayed. The descriptions of the island and the other characters are really lovely, and the dialogue is written so well that you can hear the characters speaking - it really brings them and the story to life. I thoroughly recommend this beautiful story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
What an utterly beautiful, totally heartbreaking story.
One day, after a minor row, Saoirse Driscoll, goes missing. We join the story some eight years later as Saoirse's mother, Rosie, has returned to her birth place to help her father run the ferry between Roaring Bay Island and the mainland. Rosie has come home after a breakdown both mental and marital. She has come to find some peace while she wants for Saoirse to come back to her family.
There are several threads to the story that includes brief looks at Saoirse's view of the day she went missing. Rosie not only has to contend with trying to convince everyone her daughter is still alive but also the recent death of her mother, keeping her ailing father and his job as captain of the ferry going all while trying to give herself some peace of mind.
The characters Anne Griffin gives us are all expertly drawn. They have real life to them. We feel everything Rosie feels from despair and confusion to hope and an unwillingness to lie down and give up.
This is my first Anne Griffin. It most certainly won't be my last. The book itself is easy reading but not easy subject matter. I had to constantly slow my reading down because it is such a shame to rush through such a beautiful book.
Highly recommended.
One day, after a minor row, Saoirse Driscoll, goes missing. We join the story some eight years later as Saoirse's mother, Rosie, has returned to her birth place to help her father run the ferry between Roaring Bay Island and the mainland. Rosie has come home after a breakdown both mental and marital. She has come to find some peace while she wants for Saoirse to come back to her family.
There are several threads to the story that includes brief looks at Saoirse's view of the day she went missing. Rosie not only has to contend with trying to convince everyone her daughter is still alive but also the recent death of her mother, keeping her ailing father and his job as captain of the ferry going all while trying to give herself some peace of mind.
The characters Anne Griffin gives us are all expertly drawn. They have real life to them. We feel everything Rosie feels from despair and confusion to hope and an unwillingness to lie down and give up.
This is my first Anne Griffin. It most certainly won't be my last. The book itself is easy reading but not easy subject matter. I had to constantly slow my reading down because it is such a shame to rush through such a beautiful book.
Highly recommended.
mh_books's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lainibop's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Missing persons, missing childsadhbhdunne's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hanarms93's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ecclescake's review against another edition
4.0
A family member going missing is something no-one wants to contemplate. When a case hits the headlines, we hardly dare to imagine how the family is feeling as they live through such a nightmare. This is exactly what happens to Rosie and her family when her 17 year old daughter disappears moments after Rosie had watched her ride up to the house on her bike.
The story begins eight years after Saoirse’s disappearance, when Rosie returns to her home town to help her father run his ferry service for a few months while his troublesome back recovers. We travel back in time to learn how Rosie and the rest of the family, and indeed the investigating police, have dealt with the nightmare of wondering, not knowing, hoping, despairing. Then we continue forward in time towards a discovery.
Scattered throughout the story are teasing snippets about how Saoirse came to disappear between the pavement and her own front door, which adds to the tension and sense of foreboding.
Despite the subject matter, there are delightful moments of humour: much like in real life, ‘normality’ continues in and around unimaginable catastrophes.
The story isn’t about solving the mystery of what happened to Saoirse (which is only partially resolved), but about a family living through and beyond the mystery. It’s refreshingly different and very well done.
The story begins eight years after Saoirse’s disappearance, when Rosie returns to her home town to help her father run his ferry service for a few months while his troublesome back recovers. We travel back in time to learn how Rosie and the rest of the family, and indeed the investigating police, have dealt with the nightmare of wondering, not knowing, hoping, despairing. Then we continue forward in time towards a discovery.
Scattered throughout the story are teasing snippets about how Saoirse came to disappear between the pavement and her own front door, which adds to the tension and sense of foreboding.
Despite the subject matter, there are delightful moments of humour: much like in real life, ‘normality’ continues in and around unimaginable catastrophes.
The story isn’t about solving the mystery of what happened to Saoirse (which is only partially resolved), but about a family living through and beyond the mystery. It’s refreshingly different and very well done.
sharonleavy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
*ARC
The Island of Longing is the third novel written by Irish author Anne Griffin.
Rosie has been in limbo for eight years since her seventeen year old daughter Saoirse disappeared without a trace. As the rest of the family have gradually come to the realisation that Saoirse isn't coming back, Rosie refuses to give up hope - which has put a huge strain on her and those around her.
When Rosie's father asks her to come home to her small island community of Roaring Bay, where she was once the Skipper of their beloved family boat, it could just be the break she needs.
We go back and forth in this novel, to look at the beginnings of Rosie & Hugh's relationship, how their loss has affected them, and how (or if) they can move on.
Scattered throughout are single sentences on pages - it becomes apparent fairly fast what these signify, and it was really heartbreaking to read.
This was a really engaging, heartfelt read. Rosie's experience of being at home with a small baby really hit home to me, it was so incredibly similar to my own experience. I also loved how the author described life for the island community, I could picture the place in my head and almost feel the change in atmosphere between Roaring Bay and Dublin city. It was gorgeous, and I'll make it my business to read Anne's other books ("Listening Still" and "When All Is Said").
Thank you to Elaine @hachetteireland for sending me a copy of the book! x
The Island of Longing is the third novel written by Irish author Anne Griffin.
Rosie has been in limbo for eight years since her seventeen year old daughter Saoirse disappeared without a trace. As the rest of the family have gradually come to the realisation that Saoirse isn't coming back, Rosie refuses to give up hope - which has put a huge strain on her and those around her.
When Rosie's father asks her to come home to her small island community of Roaring Bay, where she was once the Skipper of their beloved family boat, it could just be the break she needs.
We go back and forth in this novel, to look at the beginnings of Rosie & Hugh's relationship, how their loss has affected them, and how (or if) they can move on.
Scattered throughout are single sentences on pages - it becomes apparent fairly fast what these signify, and it was really heartbreaking to read.
This was a really engaging, heartfelt read. Rosie's experience of being at home with a small baby really hit home to me, it was so incredibly similar to my own experience. I also loved how the author described life for the island community, I could picture the place in my head and almost feel the change in atmosphere between Roaring Bay and Dublin city. It was gorgeous, and I'll make it my business to read Anne's other books ("Listening Still" and "When All Is Said").
Thank you to Elaine @hachetteireland for sending me a copy of the book! x