A review by dawnp
Long Island by Colm Tóibín

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I read this immediately after reading Brooklyn, and I liked it, but not nearly as much as I liked Brooklyn.  It had the same terrific, immersive writing, and the same kinds of interesting, complicated characters, but I found their choices frustrating, and I didn't like that the basically the whole book was focused on different aspects of

infidelity

.  I also found several of the characters much less likeable than they were in Brooklyn.  (Tony and Eilis' mother, mainly, but also Eilis herself to a lesser extent.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity