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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
"She thinks a lot about eternity, these days, and why wouldn't she? Isn't it the dwelling place now of most of the people she's truly loved."
I love great writing, but I'm rarely interested in family dramas. I'm never comfortable with harsh language, but I do love good character sketches. I usually like timeline jumping, but not when it's too confusing to follow. I don't feel like it was time wasted (especially since it moved so quickly), but I definitely wouldn't do it again.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
The writing and imagery was beautiful but the story fell flat for me.
Audiobook.
Audiobook.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
— "Her home was decorated softly now, in a way that speaks of Moll, in the colours and styles that she knew would please her love, and no one else alive can ever know that. One of Moll's paintings hangs on the wall of her good room, of a willow tree, its branches cascading towards a pool of still water, its leaves backlit bright yellow and green by the sun. Two of Moll's landscapes hang in her bedroom, one above her bed of a calm sea ... and she lies some nights listening to Lucas' snores from his room next door, just looking at the dark sea in that picture, marveling at Moll's fine hand, picturing her as she must have looked while she painted it."
First half of the book was gorgeous and so tightly written, especially when it pertains to Paddy's love for his daughter and a gentle portrait of parental grief. Second half the book was borderline unreadable, underwhelming and meandering. The pacing was also too fast. I think Ryan was striving for a political commentary on the racial and gendered hierarchies of Ireland in the 60s-80s but it fell spectacularly short and was deeply questionable and purely gestural at best.
I wish Ellen and Moll's love story had gotten more presence, as do the other characters who somehow ceased to exist as the novel goes on. I love a good biblical allusion but Ryan overdid it in an obtuse manner - lacking the elegant subtlety of John McGahern - as if to say, here is a huge in-your-face metaphor about life and how Catholicism relates. He has an astute way of rendering character interiority at times, but I wish he hadn't included the bit about Alexander because there isn't enough much of him and the Elmwood family to make an impact - this contributes to the text's superficial and almost offensive portrayal of racism in Ireland.
First half of the book was gorgeous and so tightly written, especially when it pertains to Paddy's love for his daughter and a gentle portrait of parental grief. Second half the book was borderline unreadable, underwhelming and meandering. The pacing was also too fast. I think Ryan was striving for a political commentary on the racial and gendered hierarchies of Ireland in the 60s-80s but it fell spectacularly short and was deeply questionable and purely gestural at best.
I wish Ellen and Moll's love story had gotten more presence, as do the other characters who somehow ceased to exist as the novel goes on. I love a good biblical allusion but Ryan overdid it in an obtuse manner - lacking the elegant subtlety of John McGahern - as if to say, here is a huge in-your-face metaphor about life and how Catholicism relates. He has an astute way of rendering character interiority at times, but I wish he hadn't included the bit about Alexander because there isn't enough much of him and the Elmwood family to make an impact - this contributes to the text's superficial and almost offensive portrayal of racism in Ireland.
Thank you Donal Ryan for making me cry so much. My god this was good. Full credit to my mam for making me read this. Admittedly there were brief moments that I consider a “slog” purely due to his style of writing going against what I’m drawn to naturally.
His characterisation and how he writes these complicated characters however is incredible. I cried pretty much for the last 60 odd pages
His characterisation and how he writes these complicated characters however is incredible. I cried pretty much for the last 60 odd pages