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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
If you had to pick five people to sum up your life, who would they be? If you were to raise a glass to each of them, what would you say? And what would you learn about yourself, when all is said and done?
This is the story of Maurice Hannigan, who, over the course of a Saturday night in June, orders five different drinks at the Rainford House Hotel. With each he toasts a person vital to him: his doomed older brother, his troubled sister-in-law, his daughter of fifteen minutes, his son far off in America, and his late, lamented wife. And through these people, the ones who left him behind, he tells the story of his own life, with all its regrets and feuds, loves and triumphs.
A beautiful story, beautifully told. The story just flows as Maurice remembers his life and the significant people in it. There's a huge amount of love but it's never mawkish just incredibly moving.
This is the story of Maurice Hannigan, who, over the course of a Saturday night in June, orders five different drinks at the Rainford House Hotel. With each he toasts a person vital to him: his doomed older brother, his troubled sister-in-law, his daughter of fifteen minutes, his son far off in America, and his late, lamented wife. And through these people, the ones who left him behind, he tells the story of his own life, with all its regrets and feuds, loves and triumphs.
A beautiful story, beautifully told. The story just flows as Maurice remembers his life and the significant people in it. There's a huge amount of love but it's never mawkish just incredibly moving.
Oh, my heartstrings. All of them were tugged again and again by this quiet, slow, and wholly character-driven novel. Reflecting on a long life, a man gives five toasts to people he's loved, and through them, readers learn of his successes and his failures, his loves and his losses. His voice was so strong and distinctive, really rounding out his character well with very little current-day interactions or dialogue beyond what he retells in his memories. Just lovely.
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of those books I’ll probably truly understand in a few more years
Anne Griffin somehow manages to give perfect voice to an 84-year-old Irish codger, still grieving the death of his wife two years ago and taking a good, hard look at his life before he moves out of his home and into the next phase of his life. In each section, Maurice toasts five influential people in his life. He does so with a lot of regret for things unsaid, especially to his son, Kevin, to whom he's sort of dictating his thoughts. Griffin uses these memories to tell the story of Maurice's life - a life like any other with its joys, sorrows, accomplishments, and failures - while conveying the idea that maybe all of us should evaluate our lives and relationships before it becomes too late. Readalike: Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf; A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
A very Irish book. It's the story of a life, cleverly told. I enjoyed the dialogue (reminded me of my very dear Irish friends). Loved the crotchety old man. Loved what he said in the last few pages. I did find it slow at times, especially to start. But overall, much enjoyed.
Was utterly engrossed in this - some really beautiful writing and human characters, and a really satisfying read.