Recent Reviews
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
In his newest novel, Colm Tóibín delves deep into the inner lives of his characters, revealing their thoughts and emotions. His emphasis is not on what his characters do but on how they think about their deeds. Combining a keen sense of Irish cultural norms with psychology, this book tackles the complexity of human communication and connection.
In Tóibín’s previous novel Brooklyn, a young woman named Eilis Lacey immigrated from Enniscorthy, Ireland, to Brooklyn, New York, and eventually married Tony Fiorello. When her older sister unexpectedly died, Eilis returned to Ireland and began a summer romance with local Jim Farrell. Neglecting to mention her marriage to anyone in Enniscorthy, Eilis found herself torn between her husband in Brooklyn and her feelings for Jim Farrell in Ireland. In the end, she returned to Brooklyn.
When Long Island begins in the 1970s, it has been twenty years since Eilis’ abrupt departure. Eilis and her husband have moved to Long Island and have two teenagers. Tony’s parents and brothers and their families live in the same cul-de-sac are intimately involved in Eilis’s family. And they constantly remind her that she is not Italian. When a man knocks on her door and tells Eilas that Tony has fathered a child with his wife, Eilis is shocked. The man states that after the baby is born, he or she will be brought to Eilis and Tony’s home. Eilis leaves Long Island and returns to Enniscorthy. She has no plan, but a determination that she will not raise the child. In Enniscorthy, she sees the still unmarried Jim Farrell. The story digs into the dynamic between Eilis, Jim, and Elias’ childhood friend, Nancy Sheridan, who has been dating Jim Farrell. Love and loyalty, betrayal and misunderstanding make their interactions complex and poignant.
Tóibín ability to mine his characters’ interiors makes the book riveting. He captures the contrast between the characters’ convivial public banter and their private angst and stresses. Even with those to whom they are closest, these characters rarely share their thoughts and feelings. Instead, they withhold, obfuscate or refrain from speaking. Living in Enniscorthy makes a person feel both supported and suffocated.
Though readers see the characters become assertive as they better understand their needs, I wish Tóibín had included more about their upbringings to shed light on why they make the choices they do. Nonetheless, there is no murder or mayhem, just good people with flaws and virtues navigating their lives as best they can. 4.5/5
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
Patti Callahan Henry’s new novel reminds us that stories are essential to the human experience. The sharing of stories provides connection and comfort, especially during troubled times. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is part WWII saga, part mystery and part character analysis. Except for a couple plot points, I found the story engrossing and quite enjoyable.
Hazel Linden and her sister Flora are sent by train from London to the countryside in September of 1939. This was under the English government’s Operation Pied Piper, a mass evacuation plan to protect children from imminent German bombings during World War II. To help her little sister cope with being separated from their mother, Hazel, age 14, tells her five-year-old sister stories about a magical land called Whisperwood. They close their eyes and visit this imaginary world and Hazel tells Flora,”You are always safe in Whisperwood.”
In 1960, Hazel found solace in a London bookstore. Her sister Flora was last seen sitting by the Thames River in the English countryside twenty years ago. The police believe she drowned. Since Flora’s disappearance, Hazel has trudged through her life, attending university, securing a job, and living independently. Yet, she is filled with grief and traumatized by what happened. She feels enormous guilt about her sister’s disappearance. When a manuscript titled Whisperwood and the River of Stars arrives at Hazel’s bookstore, Hazel embarks on a search to find out who wrote this book and if the arrival of the book means her sister might be alive.
Chapters rotate between 1940 and 1960, each one a testament to the power of storytelling. Henry’s writing and her depiction of Hazel’s internal life after her sister’s disappearance are described well. Yes, the ending might be too tidy , but I felt it was gratifying and plausible. More importantly, all the characters are decent people who want to be kind. In our own troubled times, a happy ending feels like a gift. 4/5
The Dead by James Joyce
James Joyce’s The Dead is a perfect book to read during the Holidays. This seemingly simple story about an Irish family’s annual Holiday dinner is a complex and layered narrative. Joyce’s language is not just lush, but it also offers profound psychological insight. Some scholars interpret this story as a critique of the Catholic Church, Irish parochialisms, and the treatment of women, which are undoubtedly present. However, for this reader, the true allure of this novella is Joyce’s profound psychological insight into his protagonist’s inner life.
The Year is 1914. Gabriel Conway and his wife Gretta arrive at the Dublin home of Gabriel’s aunts and niece for their annual post-New Year’s dinner. Though there are many guests, Gabriel, as the family’s sole surviving male, is welcomed as the guest of honor. He is described as an educated but anxious man whose sense of self may be more fragile than the respect bestowed upon him. Once he arrives, the evening of eating, drinking, laughing, singing and dancing can begin. Tradition dictates that Gabriel will carve the goose and offer the toast. As the ubiquitous snow falls gently outside, Gabriel speaks of the lives of the assembled guests and acknowledges the dead relatives they miss.
At the end of this joyful evening, as the guests bundle up to leave, Gabriel sees his beloved wife, Gretta, sitting in the stairwell, listening to another guest sing a lovely song. Transfixed, she looks like she has been transported to another world. Her thoughts and feelings seem unknowable to him. When they return to their hotel room, Gabriel queries Gretta and is flattened by what she tells him. He does not respond with empathy but with narcissistic rage, as he wonders if he truly knows his wife. Does he even know himself? Has he deceived himself about their relationship? Has he misunderstood who he is? Joyce’s ability to capture Gabriel’s crushing feelings and internal reflections with such psychological acumen is exquisite. This powerful short story is as beautiful as it is perceptive about the intricate complexities of the human soul. 5/5
