Welcome to Litsy!

This was so devastating - as so many of his books. So much going on: immigrant life, racial identity and passing, inter generational trauma, familial grief and love.

My least favourite book by Barry so far. I prefer his less epic novels with a smaller, more domestic setting.

Yet another Irish immigrant story! I really enjoyed the beautiful, immersive writing, although the plot had a few problems. This was a book group pick—I was going to suggest Days Without End by Barry, but this happened to be the English Honor Club read at my teacher friend‘s hs, so we went with it! I‘m glad we did. Lilly‘s tale made for a great discussion. I‘ll definitely read more of Barry. There was some amazing writing going on in this novel.

Lily was as a young woman forced to leave Ireland for America. It is her story, sure, but more than that it is the story of America, the land of possibilities and hope.
The land where people from all over the world can find a place and live together. Lily‘s life shows a perfect example of this. An important moment is 1968, when Martin Luther King was killed. ‘The death of hope‘, Barry calls it, ‘on Canaan‘s side‘. #booker #manbooker

#marchintoreading #irishauthors I didn't actually like this book, but got to listen to and talk with Sebastian Barry at a writing course, and he was the nicest man. Funny, self-deprecating, warm, and all-round delightful person!