Ireland might be one of the easiest countries to visit on a literary journey across the world. I read Irish novels on a regular basis and the country seems to have produced a disproportionate number of internationally acclaimed authors.
Oscar Wilde is one of my all time favourite writers. Samuel Beckett and John Boyne have both intrigued me to read more of their works. Tana French’s The Dublin Murder Squat is shaping up to become one of my favourite crime fiction series. And James Joyce and Colm Tóibín are authors I look forward to read in the future.
I may give Sally Rooney and Naoise Dolan a miss and the jury is still out on Claire Keegan and Maggie O’Farrell. But there is still plenty of contemporary Irish literature to explore. Below are two recent reads, both of which I would highly recommend.
Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry
Retired police officer, Tom Kettle, is now living a quiet life in his home overlooking the Irish Sea. One day, two former colleagues turn up at his door with questions about an old case. This incident stirs up suppressed memories from Tom’s traumatic past.
Old God’s Time is told in a stream of consciousness style. It meanders between present and past, between imagination, dreams and reality. Whilst beautifully written, it was sometimes a frustrating experience. Tom Kettle’s mind is a disturbing and confusing place to be. Little by little, snippets are revealed, which enable readers to understand Tom’s backstory. But along the way, I sometimes lost the thread. When it comes to events in the present time, we never get full clarity and there is certainly room for interpretation. How much of it takes place in Tom Kettle’s mind?
An article from The New Yorker has some interesting points relating to interpretation. Surprisingly, Einstein and the Block Universe theory, which also pops up in Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, may play a role. I certainly didn’t spot that.
Throughout the novel, we hear about childhood abuse, murder, suicide, war and terrorism. Luckily, there is also love. The love between Tom and his wife June is the sole light in a novel filled with darkness. Unfortunately, love may not be enough to counteract all the trauma from the past.
The ending includes some of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching writing I’ve come across in a while and it made up for my occasional frustrations earlier on.
Verdict: Old God’s time is a powerful depiction of how past trauma continues to penetrate the lives and minds of the victims. I won’t forget this one in a hurry.
Title: Old God's Time [2023] Author: Sebastian Barry Format: Audiobook, narrated by Stephen Hogan Genre: General Fiction
Kala by Colin Walsh
My Crime Fiction project is over, but I’ve continued my search for character-driven crime novels with an atmospheric setting. And Kala by Colin Walsh fits perfectly into this category.
In the seaside village of Kinlough, Helen, Joe and Mush meet for the first time in years. As teens, they were part of an inseparable group of six. But the group was dissolved, when one of its members, Kala, disappeared. When we meet the characters in the present time, it becomes clear how the event back then has affected all of their lives deeply.
Kala is told from the perspective of Helen, Joe and Mush, using a dual timeline. Gradually, we learn the circumstances around Kala’s disappearance in the past, whilst simultaneously following the characters in the present. Walsh is a master of characterisation. I loved, how we slowly got to know the protagonists, their motives and their secrets. Also, the description of the overall group dynamics between the six teens was exceedingly well done.
Although the plot is of less importance in a character-driven novel, I would still deduct 1/2 star, because certain parts failed to engage me. Whereas the teens were well fleshed out, other characters central to the plot were rather one-dimensional and I didn’t engage with the plot lines involving them.
Verdict: Kala a superb crime novel and it’s hard to believe this is a debut. I can’t wait to see, what the author comes up with in the future.
Title: Kala [2023] Author: Colin Walsh Format: Audiobook, narrated by Frank Blake, Moe Dunford, Seána Kerslake Genre: Crime Fiction
March is Reading Ireland Month, hosted by Cathy from 746 Books. An excellent occasion to read some Irish literature.
I’m reading God’s Old Time at the moment. Beautiful. It’s taking me a long time though – a book to savour.
We seem to have picked up some of the same books this year. It took me a while to read this novel as well. Definitely, one to savour.
Hi. Sitting on a table next to me is The Dead House, a novel by the Irish author Billy O’Callaghan. I haven’t started it yet. Have you read anything by him?
No, I haven’t heard of Billy O’Callaghan. I hope you will enjoy his book. 🙂
Me too. Still haven’t started it.
I just looked it up on Goodreads, where it is described as “eerie contemporary ghost story and a dread-inducing psychological thriller”. Very intriguing!
I absolutely loved Old God’s Time, and on your say-so have just reserved Kala from the library. Have you still not tried Maggie O’Farrell or Claire Keegan? Please do.
Old God’s Time was such a beautifully written story. Quite depressing, tbough. Didn’t you find it confusing in the beginning? Maybe it’s just me.
I should mention, there is a bit of animal cruelty in Kala. It isn’t a big part of the story, but I know it can be a deal-breaker for many readers.
I’ve read I Am, I Am, I Am by O’Farrell and Small Things Like These by Keegan. Unfortunately I didn’t love them as much as everyone else. I liked them enough to give both authors a second chance, especially if I don’t have to pay full price for the attempt. My library has Foster, so that could be an option.
Hooray for the library service! Kala has just come in for me. Thanks for the warning.
You have a good library! Hope you’ll enjoy Kala.
Sebastian Barry is one of those writers who’s always on my list but I never seem to get around too, may be this is the title that takes him off the list!
I think, you should try it. You may have to be a little patient, since the story is slightly confusing in the beginning. At least, I thought so. But once you get into it, it’s a gripping story.
I keep hearing great things about kala, I really must read it! Thanks so much for taking part.
I think, it’s quite difficult to find a good crime novel, but Kala was a positive surprise. It is definitely in the same category as Tana French with a slow story line and excellent character building.
Wow two good reviews, yay! I love Irish authors right now. So many good ones (I just finished a debut by Alan Murrin that is excellent too). I have read Old God’s Time. It’s pretty bleak. But I like how the old guy’s mind makes him a bit of unreliable narrator; it keeps the reader guessing a bit. I have had Kala on one of my TBR lists — glad to hear you think it’s excellent. I will move it up higher. I’m curious about it. thx
Yeah, it is quite amazing how new Irish authors pop up all the time and how they often feature on prize lists. I haven’t heard of Alan Murrin, but I’ll look him up. Are you reading crime fiction as well? I wasn’t aware of that. Kala is certainly one of the better ones in the genre, which I’ve come across recently. I should mention, it does include a bit of animal cruelty, in case that puts you off.
I read crime fiction just every once in awhile if I think something will be excellent (the last one I listened to was Dennis Lehane’s Small Mercies). Alan Murrin’s novel is coming out in June here, but might already be out there. Thx for the warning about animal cruelty …. that is a tough one. If it’s a small bit, I think I can try Kala …
I really enjoy crime fiction, but it isn’t that easy to find the right kind of books. The modern fast-paced mysteries with a twist on every other page isn’t really to my taste. I will look into Small Mercies, I hadn’t heard of that one.
Kala sounds pretty good. Character-driven stories can be soooo intensely immersive and fascinating when done right, even more so than world-building-focused stories too! Great reviews! 🙂
Thanks, it was a book, which just aligned so well with my reading taste. Probably not everyone would enjoy it, though.