Wednesday, 14 December 2011

What is the sound of an eighty-nine-year-old heart breaking? It might not be much more than silence, and certainly a small slight sound.

Could you imagine having the skill to craft a sentence like that? And what a beginning to a novel. From those first few words, I was completely and utterly drawn in.

I'd been wondering for a few days about compiling a list of my 'books of the year.' More in the spirit of postponing writing the Christmas cards than because I think that anybody else cares ...

But I certainly wasn't expecting to discover my out-and-out best read of 2011 now in the last couple of weeks of the year.

I've only just finished On Canaan's Side and I'm still reeling from the breathtaking quality of Sebastian Barry's writing. And sad because, if my mum were still here, and she'd have been 89 this year, I'd surely be buying this for her Christmas present. She'd have read it more slowly - and it should be read slowly, but I couldn't help myself and now I'm feeling bereft that it's finished.
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14 comments:

  1. Mystica14 December 2011 at 02:02

    Thank you for this heartfelt review.

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  2. mary14 December 2011 at 02:25

    I could almost go back to the beginning and start it again, Mystica.

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  3. scrumptious days14 December 2011 at 06:13

    I heard him on the radio on Book Club, just listening to him speak made me want to read his novels. I'm buying this as a gift for myself, thanks for the recommendation..

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  4. rachel14 December 2011 at 10:44

    I'm going to google it right now. There are very few books that I've felt sorry to finish; time for another, perhaps.

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  5. Darlene14 December 2011 at 12:39

    Don't you just love it when a book does that to you? And then I wonder about the other books that will never cross my path but I would love every bit as much.

    Making a note to add this one to my list, Mary.

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  6. Anonymous14 December 2011 at 16:34

    I think I have to add that to my want list as it comes with such a great recommendation. Thank you Mary.

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  7. mary14 December 2011 at 16:48

    Jude: He has a lovely voice, doesn't he? And somehow you can 'hear' his books as you're reading them.
    Darlene: He's a very Irish writer ... and you're such a committed Anglophile!
    Rachel and Toffeeapple: I love the way characters wander in and out of his different books.

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  8. Anonymous14 December 2011 at 19:33

    I'm reading this post at work and there is a copy on the shelf - I will run out and grab it before anyone else can!
    And I would love to see the rest of your favorite 2011 books!

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  9. SmitoniusAndSonata15 December 2011 at 18:46

    i must investigate . our library here has a lot of english books but not everything , obviously .
    i wonder if audiobooks have it yet ... and , very importantly , if so , read by whom ...

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  10. mary15 December 2011 at 19:10

    Coming soon, Anbolyn.

    I looked it up out of curiosity, S&S, and it's read by an Irish singer whom I've never heard of. Not for me, anyway, as I get fidgety being read to.

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  11. Noelle the dreamer16 December 2011 at 18:55

    A book certain to reach out to many and thank you for sharing Mary! Our library (located on the mainland, sadly for us)has a nice selection and I will try there first! If not, I wonder if the piggy bank still have a few pences in...
    Happy Holidays everyone!

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  12. mary16 December 2011 at 19:02

    Noelle, now I'm intrigued ... I've visited your blog and worked out that you live on a private island somewhere in America. How romantic.
    Although not very handy for the library, as you point out.

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  13. Cait O'Connor17 December 2011 at 17:02

    So glad you loved it too. Barry is one of my top favourite writers.

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  14. mary18 December 2011 at 00:49

    Wonderful, isn't he, Cait? I enjoyed this one nearly as much as A Long Long Way. But I still haven't caught up with Annie Dunne and Eneas McNulty.

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