Strange and compelling
The Boy from the SeaThis is another family saga set in a fishing village on the west coast of Ireland. Plenty rain and angst. But the characters are complex and the story held my attention from start to end. A good read.
Reviews by Jenny (69)
Heart warming and lyrical
Deadend MemoriesFive short essays on recovery from from loss, and finding happiness in everyday affairs. She writes like a poet - the stories are carefully crafted and evoke a sense of beauty and connection. I loved this book.
The Moral Question posed by Emperor of Gladness
The Emperor of GladnessFrom the TalkEasy interview I have posted in links: Quoting Ocean, the moral question of the novel is 'What is the function of altruism when there's no way out? What is kindness, what is goodness, when it doesn't lead anywhere? Does goodness matter in an ant farm?'
Powerful writing
The Safe KeepVery difficult to review without giving too much away. This is an extraordinary story of two war damaged women who end up in a relationship in a house that has special meaning for both of them. The writing is sharp and the very clever story unfolds in a haunting, troubled way. Highly recommended
Interesting islands
Vet at the End of the EarthThis is the memoir of a vet who had some amazing experiences working with unusual animals on the islands in the South Atlantic. It was especially interesting to me as I have spent some time on St Helena and it was great to be reminded of the life and places there. But I felt he needed a better editor or even ghost writer. The language is quite plodding which detracts from the excitement of his travels.