Annie Dunne

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Essentially, they are a metaphor for new beginnings, but can Annie let go of her troubled past to start afresh with two youngsters in her charge?

The world of childish innocence also proves darkened and puzzling to her, and she struggles to find clear ground, clear light - to preserve her sense of love and place against these subtle forces of disquiet. What is this growing old, when even the engine that holds our despair and hope in balance begins to fail us"? This passage, written about Annie's brother, Willie, who died in WWI, sums up their dilemma perfectly: "He died in the mud like a beast for us, our Willie, so that everything could continue as before, and despite that he did that, and gave his life, it never did. A lot happens in this short novel, good and bad, as these old ladies try to navigate their small world, deal with 2 small children left with them for the summer, emotional upheavals, love in all its guises, and old memories and guilts. It really is lovely, though, and the next time Bethany and I decide that we want to pick out books for each other to read, I think I’m going to have her read this one.My spirit is altered by the deepening length of the days, the pleasant trick that summer plays, of suggesting eternity, when the light lies in the yard… Hopefully heaven itself will consist of this, the broadening cheer of light when I walk out into the morning yard. In a society where emotions are often severely repressed and expressed only obliquely, small incidents hint at larger feelings and Barry has written a story in which these are subtly and poignantly unfolded. But while Annie Dunne moved me, and did eventually repay my close attention, there were times when it did seem to be meandering, and Barry's prose, which is usually so transporting, didn't seem as lucid as in other works. Never far from Annie Dunne’s mind are memories and tales of Ireland during the high old days of respect, stability, wealth, and country estates—back before independence from England.

The one fly in the ointment is Billy Kerr, the handyman who works for their other cousins and who, sometimes, does work for Annie and Sarah. Rooney precisely articulates everything that's going on below the surface; there's humor and insight here as well as the pleasure of getting to know two prickly, complicated people as they try to figure out who they are and who they want to become. I have to agree with Annie, I too thought A Long Long Way should have won the Booker and that The Secret Scripture had that flaw…but having read more about Barry’s reasoning behind that ending I have forgiven all because as you so rightly say Annie, his flawed is way better than perfect elsewhere. Tony Mastrogiorgio for the San Francisco Chronicle wrote the book was a "superb new novel" although says there "was there is a brief flickering of regret at first impressions" he says "that brief doubt is replaced by what can only be described as wonder.A very moving and often lovely story; intense and exciting at times, occasionally horrifying and terrifying.