My second novel by Donal Ryan this year and I can’t help feeling sad I didn’t read him sooner and delighted I still have the rest of his books to discover.

This is the story of three men, the story of their heartbreaks and the things they have lost in life.

Farouk whose country is being torn apart by war, Lampy who has had his heartbroken by the girl he loves and John who is confessing his life sins to us.

We learn about each man separately. What makes them up and how those parts are broken down.

The worlds Ryan create are so easy to fall into. He writes in a particularly Irish way with a quietness and empathy that I am drawn too. That said, I did enjoy the character of Lampy’s grandfather whose cantankerous humour and heart brought a beautiful side to the story. ( )

The structure of this one is not the norm. I would barely characterize it as a novel. The first three parts are truly much more like short stories than any other fictional form. The last part brings the first three parts together in an interesting way, but still didn’t leave me feeling like I read a novel. All that being said, I LOVE short stories, and the writing is so well done. Ryan brings these characters to life, and honestly I could have read entire novels about each one. For me, this book is the first one that I feel is worthy of the short list. I felt like I was reading about real people, and as if my friend was telling me about these people over a cup of coffee. The way Ryan wrote about them, I was riveted. ( )

“But if you observe a man closely and properly you’ll eventually come to know the shade of his soul. No soul is brilliant white, save for the souls of infants. But there are men alive who will do evil without pause, who are without mercy, and there are men alive who would rather die than harm another, and all of the rest of us fall somewhere in between.”

I was not expecting this book to open with three seemingly disparate 50-page short stories. I loved the opening story. Farouk, his wife, and daughter flee Syria in a boat arranged by traffickers. I found this story tremendously moving and thought it a perfect setup for the rest of the novel. However, the next section abruptly shifts to Lampy, a young man pining for a lost love, who drives a bus for elderly patients in Ireland. There is no apparent connection, and I was left wondering why we left Farouk at a critical juncture. I attempted to forget about Farouk and concentrate on Lampy, but the next story shifts again to a completely different scenario. We now follow John, also in Ireland, who makes a confession about the horrible things he has done in his life as a lobbyist. Again, I was left wondering why the story abruptly shifted.

In the final section, it eventually becomes obvious that these characters do have a common connection; however, by that time, it was too late for me to become fully engaged. So, I recommend going into this book with the expectation that it is a series of short stories. I think the reader’s appreciation for the book will be in direct proportion to how well the ending is received. It would have worked better for me if there were a few hints about the interrelatedness along the way.

Donal Ryan writes beautiful prose throughout the book, except for the dialogue, which is filled with more profanity than I would expect in a work of literature. If this had been Farouk’s story, or if the stories had been more connected, I probably would have loved it. As it is, I enjoyed the prose and will probably read another of his books at some point.
( )

This is my first Donal Ryan and a very interesting format is used. It features strong characterisation.
The book comprises three separate stories. Farouk a medical doctor is fleeing wartorn Syria with his wife and young daughter.
Lampy is a young man going nowhere in small town Ireland. His relationship is habit rather than love, the love of his life having moved on.
John is a man close to death seeking redemption for his past wrongs and they are many. He is far from likable.
Their three stories are cleverly brought together in the final section. I will be seeking more of his writing. ( )

Book club choice. Farouk, Lampy and John. Each has a chapter telling their story. At the end there is some overlap. ( )