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callum_mclaughlin 's review for:
From a Low and Quiet Sea
by Donal Ryan
Donal Ryan has once again crafted an intricate and quietly heartbreaking character study. The story itself is split into four parts. The first three each follow a different man, essentially struggling with pain, loss and the difficulty of accepting an ugly truth. Their stories seem entirely disparate until the fourth part, in which their lives are cleverly woven together.
The way Ryan handles this complex narrative structure is testament to his immense skill as a writer. Though I would say, as with his novel, [b:The Spinning Heart|15995144|The Spinning Heart|Donal Ryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1349169242s/15995144.jpg|21753684], I recommend reading this within a short space of time (or even a single sitting, if possible) to avoid losing the intricacy and intimacy of the inter-connectivity that emerges later on.
The way Ryan handles his characters is fantastic. Each one (main and supporting) feels fleshed out, flawed, emotionally charged, and highly believable. Reminding me in some ways of The Spinning Heart again, he omits the use of speech marks in this book, with conversations running on uninterrupted. I'm not personally a huge fan of this stylistic choice as a rule, but combined with the repeated use of overly long sentences, it arguably has real impact here. The almost breathless, extended nature of the narration gives the feeling of being inside his characters' heads; as though they are purging themselves of the secret pain they have carried throughout their lives, literally drawing out the truths they had buried. The floodgates have opened, and their confessions cannot be stopped.
It's a largely bleak book, with all the characters (again, both main and supporting) leading lives that are essentially a succession of miserable events - so perhaps not one for those who crave a neat solution and a happily-ever-after. It is, however, a masterful display of how to elicit an emotional connection within the reader. To me, it's also ultimately about the reality that we all suffer to a greater or lesser extent, and how we could benefit from admitting this fact, both to others and within ourselves. Ryan shows us that choosing to live in spite of it is the first step in moving on, and perhaps even finding happiness again.
The way Ryan handles this complex narrative structure is testament to his immense skill as a writer. Though I would say, as with his novel, [b:The Spinning Heart|15995144|The Spinning Heart|Donal Ryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1349169242s/15995144.jpg|21753684], I recommend reading this within a short space of time (or even a single sitting, if possible) to avoid losing the intricacy and intimacy of the inter-connectivity that emerges later on.
The way Ryan handles his characters is fantastic. Each one (main and supporting) feels fleshed out, flawed, emotionally charged, and highly believable. Reminding me in some ways of The Spinning Heart again, he omits the use of speech marks in this book, with conversations running on uninterrupted. I'm not personally a huge fan of this stylistic choice as a rule, but combined with the repeated use of overly long sentences, it arguably has real impact here. The almost breathless, extended nature of the narration gives the feeling of being inside his characters' heads; as though they are purging themselves of the secret pain they have carried throughout their lives, literally drawing out the truths they had buried. The floodgates have opened, and their confessions cannot be stopped.
It's a largely bleak book, with all the characters (again, both main and supporting) leading lives that are essentially a succession of miserable events - so perhaps not one for those who crave a neat solution and a happily-ever-after. It is, however, a masterful display of how to elicit an emotional connection within the reader. To me, it's also ultimately about the reality that we all suffer to a greater or lesser extent, and how we could benefit from admitting this fact, both to others and within ourselves. Ryan shows us that choosing to live in spite of it is the first step in moving on, and perhaps even finding happiness again.