Five years ago, I reviewed Niall Williams’s This is Happiness which I very much enjoyed despite his somewhat florid writing style, very different from my preferred pared-back prose. A pleasing coming-of-age story, Williams’s novel was set in the rain-soaked coastal community of Faha, on the cusp of entering the modern world as the village welcomes electrification. Time of the Child is a sequel of sorts which is what made me want to read it. Set in December 1962, it’s the story of what happens when a child is discovered abandoned in the lee of the church wall during the Christmas fair.
She was a soft and kind woman, with blue eyes of long hurt, and the anxious look of one married to an instability.
On the first Sunday in Advent, Father Tom forgets himself mid-way through Mass signalling a precipitate descent into dementia. Doctor Troy is in the congregation with his daughter and right-hand woman, Ronnie, carefully watching whether aid is needed. Rumours swirl around Faha, as they always do, but the Christmas fair distracts many. Twelve-year-old Jude helps drive the family’s cattle to the fair with instructions from his mother not to let his reprobate father drink and gamble away the proceeds. While waiting for Pat, Jude finds a baby, abandoned and barely alive, taking it to Doctor Troy who manages to revive her. Knowing what awaits the child should Church and State get wind of her existence, the doctor swears Jude to secrecy while Ronnie takes on her care as if she were her own. Still nursing the hurt from his own thwarted love, Doctor Troy comes up with a hare-brained scheme to keep the child, but things have a way of working themselves out in Faha where pragmatism is well practised.
In parishes everywhere, stratagems around babies were old as the codes that tried to contain them. That infants were sent to be raised by aunts, that there was some whose sister was their mother, whose mother was their grandmother, and every other twist that desperation could think of, was not new, and in this Faha was no different to anywhere else.
It took me a while to become accustomed to Williams’ richly lyrical style again but his storytelling skills are such that it was worth the effort. Rather like Claire Keegan’s superb Small Things Like These, this is a quintessential Christmas story which follows similar themes but in a very different way. The same affectionate, occasionally dark humour runs through Williams’s narrative as This is Happiness, studded with stories of Faha’s more colourful characters, but he has points to make about the cruelty of Church and State towards both abandoned children and the aged, and makes them well. I enjoyed this one but, looking back at my review, not as much as Williams’s previous novel which I loved. Keen fans of Williams’s writing will probably be more than happy with it but I’ve a feeling I won’t be visiting Faha again.
Bloomsbury Books London 9781526675163 304 pages Hardback (read via NetGalley)
I have difficuty with florid too. But I’m prepared to take your word for it that dealing with it is worth the effort. It’s in our libary, so not too hard to source.
If they have This Is Happiness, I’d plump for that one first.
Noted. Thanks.
I just finished This is Happiness as a preemptive move for this one. I really loved his style. I was quoting from multiple pages to my hub who’s a Kerry man from the countryside. I think the fact I’m Irish created a stronger connection to his style/prose. I found it very easy to visualise the scenes. I will be reading this one very soon I hope so I’m intrigued to see will I feel the same!
I think you’re right about that connection. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. He’s clearly an immensely talented writer and I love his storytelling but I don’t think that style’s for me.
Not sure whether I’ll go for this one having recently read an earlier novel The Fall of Light and finding the florid style rather too much
I’m still not sure why I managed to get over my reaction to his style with This Is Happiness but not so much with this one although it maybe the season. The summer backdrop in Happiness was beautifully done.
I feel the same as you about Williams, I adored Four Letters of Love but found it, at times, to be slightly overwritten. I have a copy of This Is Happiness which I must try and get to soon,
He’s such a good storyteller but that style grates for me after a while. This Is Happiness was worth it, though.
Apparently Williams is very popular with American readers, and still somewhat of an unknown entity in Ireland. He lives in County Clare, and has said that tourists search out the fictional Faha not believing it does not exist. I haven’t been drawn to his books as I have a perception they might be somewhat sentimental. Maybe that’s my blind spot. I love Clare Keegan and his new book sounds somewhat similar to her Small Things Like These. Although Keegan is subtly political. The film version of Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy is an extremely good interpretation of it.
I didn’t know that. You’re right about sentimentality although he does know how to tell a story. I was very impressed with the film of the Keegan having been somewhat apprehensive. It’s an excellent adaptation, isn’t it, understated like The Quiet Girl.
I must admit that first sentence you quoted put me off. I prefer a more straightforward style too – sometimes if prose looks too creatively crafted it seems to draw attention away from the story.
It is a tad over written, isn’t it. He’s a good storyteller but I think two’s enough for me.
I read Williams first few novels when they came out and I enjoyed them, but I wonder if I’d find them too much now. I think I had more tolerance for the florid back then!
I’m much more of a Claire Keegan reader!
Yes, I’m not thrilled with florid as a style, but I love the small town Irish story almost as much as I love the small town America version. I’ve been wondering about Niall Williams and having read your excellent review, I think the previous novel is one I should try, if I want to read him. Adored Claire Keegan!
Good choice! Wasn’t the Keegan wonderful? I saw the film last week. A very faithful adaptation, well worth seeing. I was apprehensive beforehand but a fellow Keegan fan reassured me and she was right.