This makes two brilliant books in a row. Like the last book I read, this writer takes the slow, gentle approach and relates events at a comfortable pace. One big difference is that this book is a novel, but in many other ways they felt similar.
This is my first time to read a book by this author, and clearly she has some skills. The story plays out in several different points of view to examine love in some of its different forms, and we find that we care very much about the people involved. In fact, it isn’t until the second half of the book that I found somebody I disliked – and that was played for a sort of comedic episode.
The book takes place in Ireland, and I was struck by how sensitive the characters were to how they were perceived by others, and despite the modern age how much influence the Catholic Church still has on the way of thinking, especially among people in small towns.
One character is slightly autistic, and thanks to this he speaks in a very direct, honest way. I found this refreshing – why can’t more people communicate like this? I spent a lot of time worried that someone would come along and stomp all over his vulnerability, but the author has other plans and it was enjoyable to see it play out.
After finishing the book I found that the author is quite popular these days, and so I guess I can expect to read more from her in the future, which is good news.
Next I am reading The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens.
