Just for an hour, as the morning sunlight entered his room and bathed his face, he minded nothing and no one. He cradled the memory of his wife as if she were still a living being.
Tom is living in the annex of a Victorian villa in Dalkey overlooking the sea. He’s taken aback when two young detectives knock at the door one stormy night, asking questions about the unsolved murder on which Tom and his partner Billy worked. Billy’s now dead but Tom may be able to shed some light on what happened. The two men are awkward. Tom is a decorated officer, a detective like themselves. It’s thirty years since Father Matthews met his brutal end but they’re eager to ensure that his curate is finally brought to justice. Tom wants to help but he has periods of confusion. He’s suffered terrible losses in a life which didn’t start well, having suffered brutality and depravity in the orphanage where he was raised. His ex-colleagues are considerate and kind but they know more than they let on. When the young woman who has moved into an apartment in the main house with her son asks for his protection, having fled her abusive husband, Tom willingly agrees.
But the priests have brought this on themselves. They’ve cooked the devil’s stew for themselves. And now they must sup.
Barry’s writing is gorgeously poetic, lyrical and striking in its imagery. Tom’s narrative reflects a confusion which maybe memory loss or the aftereffects of trauma, slowly unfolding a story the details of which he has been hiding from himself for thirty years. The loss of his beloved wife a decade ago, a fellow orphan unable to live with what was done to her as a child despite the happiness of their marriage and their two children, has left him bereft. Memories of her and their life together, full of an anguished yearning, are woven through a narrative which at times brings you up short as the depths of Tom’s trauma and what it has done to him become clear. His is a desperately sad story, one which makes tough reading even for readers fortunate enough to have enjoyed a happy childhood. There’s a beauty in Barry’s telling of it which makes the ugliness all the more stark.
Faber & Faber: London 9780571332779 300 pages Hardback (Read via NetGalley)
Intriguing review, must pick this up. I’ve enjoyed the lyricism of Barry’s writing since ‘the whereabouts of Eneas McNulty’ many years ago.
This is my first Barry for sometime. I’d forgotten how beautiful his writing can be. I’ll look out Eneas McNulty.
I haven’t read this book yet. However, I’d like to warn you about the saddest, most depressing book I’ve read. Please don’t read it. I had to force myself to finish Independent People by Haldor Laxness. I was in a funk for weeks. I think caution signs should go up every time the tiltle is mentioned.
Thanks for the warning. I did try reading that a few years ago but didn’t get very far with it. Quite a doorstop as I remember.
What a timely review. The library has just contacted me to say my reserved copy awaits collection. Though it sounds as if a degree of fortitude is required to read this.
Ah, but it’s worth it for such gorgeous writing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Sounds like he is back on form with this one. I do love his writing, but he can really push the emotional buttons!
Indeed, he can. Definitely back on form!
The sound of the writing appeals but this does seem to go into rather dark territory.
It does although not unfamiliar territory for readers of Irish fiction.
I’m keen to read this. Barry’s Days Without End is one of the most beautiful books of my recent memory.
I was brought up short by its beauty and sadness. Highly recommend it.
I haven’t read anything by Barry yet but this sounds compelling, the beauty of his writing with the ugliness of the subject what a fascinating contrast.
Sounds paradoxical, doesn’t it, but such is Barry’s skill that its the effect he achieves. Highly recommend this one.
Susan fantastic review. I read it and I most definitely need to go back & do the audio next. So much to digest in this powerful tale.
Thanks so much, Maireád. I was so impressed by this book. Such a towering achievement!
Too bad it’s so sad! I’m in the mood for happy right now, but glad you enjoyed the book anyway.
https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com
Thank you. Hope you find something cheery to enjoy!
This does sound desperately sad. One to read with a light novel lined up to follow! It’s such an important topic and it Barry sounds like he handles it all so sensitively.
He does, indeed. Definitely not one to read when feeling down about the world!
I have read a few Barry novels, though not for years. This really sounds good. Well worth looking out for I think.
This is my first of his for some time and it’s excellent, although wrenching.
It doesn’t go into …um… physical detail, does it? I recently had to abandon one which was so explicit I could not go on and still have vivid images in my head.
Oh dear, that sounds grim. Barry’s more subtle than that, leaving his readers to infer rather than spelling it out for them. His emphasis is on the devastating aftermath of abuse. Harrowing in a different way, of course.
Yes, still harrowing and rightly so, but not grim, as you say.
Oh this sounds quite heartbreaking and, I expect, difficult to read at times.
It is but absolutely worth it.
Just finished this book at 6am. I couldn’t put it down after picking it up at 4am as I couldn’t get back to sleep. Love the way Barry delivers heart-felt emotion through his beautifully sculpted characters, packing a punch right to your chest.
Extraordinarily powerful, isn’t it, and so beautifully expressed.
Yes indeed. I haven’t read many of his books to date (Temporary Gentleman, Days without end and his first novel, Macker’s Garden) but this will change as from now!
His earlier ones are well worth investigating. Hope you enjoy exploring his work!
Beautifully written insight into PTSD and cultural/religious biases and justice. We never really know what others are living with. Thank you
We do, indeed. This is such a beautifully expressed, compassionate novel. I was so pleased to see it on the Booker Prize longlist.