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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
The first word that comes into my head when I recall this book (which I only just now finished) is lovely. It is a lovely story, through and through. Hanna Casey is a librarian and a sourpuss. She has returned some years earlier to her native home in Ireland after years in London, married and raising a daughter. Her return is precipitated by a divorce, which partially explains her lingering bitterness. The perspective of this novel switches seamlessly between Hanna, the main voice, and a few supporting characters, as Hanna has to put aside her gruff exterior and work to mobilize her community, which is facing a life-altering change. Of course the setting and the story are near and dear to my heart. I’ve never been a small town librarian, but the descriptions here make me wish I could be, despite Hanna’s discontent. I do know the reality of trying to explain to non-believers the value of the library, and I admire the struggle put up by these downtrodden but resilient folks. Finfarran is an imaginary place, but the author brings it to vivid life. I can hardly wait to visit again.
Lovely. Planning to read the next one in the series.
This book wasn't bad, it just was very boring to me. Nothing really happened, there was no drama, there was no major romance, no urgency to the conflict... just not my style. If you're looking for a pleasant read about a charming town and a (reasonably disgruntled and honestly unlikeable [in my opinion]) recently divorced mom, go for it, but it is a very slow pace and very low stakes.
While it is not a perfect novel, I thoroughly enjoyed this story of community building and personal growth set in the southwest of Ireland.
One of the story's delights is its authentic Irishness. The author, a part-time resident of the Dingle Peninsula on which the book's setting is loosely based, absolutely nails the dialogue, scenery, food, caustic humor, and politics of rural Ireland. I have seen many of the dynamics underpinning this story, from the demise of the village shop to the struggles of farmers trying to make a living and hold onto ancestral land, play out among my own Irish in-laws. In addition to providing an honest depiction of rural life, [b: The Library at the End of the World|8909|The War of the Worlds|H.G. Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391644s/8909.jpg|3194841] raises useful questions about the real meaning of connectedness in the digital age and offers an interesting model for community building.
That said, it has a few flaws. The main character, Hanna, is a true misanthrope, and her anger and abrasiveness make her very hard to sympathize with. Her approach to running a library is ludicrously outdated. I assume these were deliberate choices by the author to give her room to grow, but if I hadn't enjoyed the setting so much, Hanna's personal flaws might have caused me to give up.
Pacing is another issue. The central plot crisis is not disclosed until about halfway through the book; everything before that is setup. For me it was interesting setup, but after roughly 150 pages of not much happening, I began to wonder whether I'd been misled by the book's description. Once the crisis occurs, it gets resolved fairly quickly, and there's a deus ex machina to give the story a happy ending.
Nevertheless, I really did enjoy this story and I look forward to future installments.
One of the story's delights is its authentic Irishness. The author, a part-time resident of the Dingle Peninsula on which the book's setting is loosely based, absolutely nails the dialogue, scenery, food, caustic humor, and politics of rural Ireland. I have seen many of the dynamics underpinning this story, from the demise of the village shop to the struggles of farmers trying to make a living and hold onto ancestral land, play out among my own Irish in-laws. In addition to providing an honest depiction of rural life, [b: The Library at the End of the World|8909|The War of the Worlds|H.G. Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391644s/8909.jpg|3194841] raises useful questions about the real meaning of connectedness in the digital age and offers an interesting model for community building.
That said, it has a few flaws. The main character, Hanna, is a true misanthrope, and her anger and abrasiveness make her very hard to sympathize with. Her approach to running a library is ludicrously outdated. I assume these were deliberate choices by the author to give her room to grow, but if I hadn't enjoyed the setting so much, Hanna's personal flaws might have caused me to give up.
Pacing is another issue. The central plot crisis is not disclosed until about halfway through the book; everything before that is setup. For me it was interesting setup, but after roughly 150 pages of not much happening, I began to wonder whether I'd been misled by the book's description. Once the crisis occurs, it gets resolved fairly quickly, and there's a deus ex machina to give the story a happy ending.
Nevertheless, I really did enjoy this story and I look forward to future installments.
Maybe 3.5. The first half/two-thirds of this book really didn't do it for me--I've no patience for Malcolm or any of those related plot lines--but I loved Sister Michael and the library/community aspect of the last half.
Still think the chapters were oddly short (you can have?? more than one scene??? in a chapter???) and that they ended rather too abruptly for my taste nine times out of ten, but over all not a bad read.
Still think the chapters were oddly short (you can have?? more than one scene??? in a chapter???) and that they ended rather too abruptly for my taste nine times out of ten, but over all not a bad read.
A fun romp through the Irish countryside. I loved it, although I’m docking a star because the protagonist can be very irritating. She gets better! But the beginning can be difficult.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one might have hit a bit close to home with the protagonist, so now I must move to Ireland and rehab a small cottage.