Welcome to Litsy!

Starting a sequel to Brooklyn, which was good.

Did we need a sequel to Brooklyn? No. Did this really need to pick back up with the same characters versus creating a new cast of characters? Also no. I didn‘t care so much about Eilis in this but I was captivated by Jim and Nancy. I would have happily taken just their story.

Inspired by my recent NYC layover to read tagged book.

The Irish accent always draws me in, a story of a middle aged woman, married with nearly adult kids, who goes back to Ireland when her life in Long island hits the fan. A return to youth and an old love which becomes quite a mess. Of course the three main characters don‘t recognize the impending disaster, it‘s what makes fiction so fun. I struggled with Brooklyn some time ago, I think I could appreciate it now. I feel like there is more to come.

This was my first novel by this author. I didn't realize it was a followup to Brooklyn, but it was fine as a standalone book. I didn't love it though. The characters over multiple decades never said how they felt to people important to them. Perhaps this was a reflection of the times. On the upside, I was unsure how it would end so the plot made me want to keep reading.

Continuation of Brooklyn. I‘m not so sure about the ending, so forlorn. I would have done the same, I‘m not raising that baby!!!😳🤔. Good quick read.

Behind the bar, he was a prisoner. Anyone could say what they liked to him. He would never be able to predict when it would come. It could be a lone customer on a bar-stool after a few drinks saying in an insinuating tone, 'I hear that Lacey one went back to America.' On one crowded night, someone he had never seen before, as he was gathering his change from the counter, muttered, 'I'd say you're better off without that Eilis Lacey...

They had gone together to the cliff's edge and looked down at the strand and the calm sea. Asking a direct question about plans would have broken the ease between them. He let the moment pass.

In this quietly heartbreaking sequel, Ailis returns to Ireland to contemplate leaving her husband Tony. She reconnects with Jim; both men are terribly flawed. I couldn‘t put it down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love this!

This book was quiet but so complicated. I am still trying to wrap my head around each of the characters. They were all so flawed but in a way that makes you want the best for them.

Bloody hell he‘s good. A sequel to Brooklyn which I read years ago. The narrative style seems so simple and almost impersonal, but Tóibín is masterful at drawing characters and setting up dilemmas. What will the characters do? ???‍♀️?

The story of Eilis has stayed with me for all these years. For me, Eilis is one of the most well-written characters I have ever read and her continued story was so deeply personal to me. To see this book revisit her family, her friends, and of course Jim, was an absolute roller coaster of emotions. Tóibín is a master of character development and storytelling, and with this ending, I hope it leaves the possibility of a continuation of this story.

Well it turns out we did need this sequel and for me at least it is the stronger of the two novels. Faced with marital crisis and returning to Ireland for the first time in decades, Long Island could have been more of the same with nothing new to add. But instead, Toibin finds a subtlety and power of observation about the passing of time, the ripple effect of our decisions, and the distance and space that sits in relationships that is percipient.

Me and Mr. Rogers are doing some reading this morning!

A cool wintery morning here so I stayed in bed to finish this one. I can‘t stop thinking about it. I‘m not going to say too much as I don‘t know how to do spoiler alerts. What I will say is that I found the 3 main characters and their situations to be very real and I felt for them all. For discussion this would be a great book club pick. The beginning flowed easily and I thought I‘d finish it in a day then it slowed and seemed to drag a bit. 👇

This is a gorgeous story of a woman alone in a marriage and the deepest bonds she rekindles on her return to the place and people she left behind, to ways of living and loving she thought she‘d lost.

Quickest I've read a book in a while, it sucked me right in. Was nice to catch up with Eilis and poor downtrodden Jim.

This was great. Complex characters who were well meaning and well intentioned - but did not communicate! So much sympathy for Ailesh - and for sure over Tony. Good sequel!

Was hoping this would have arrived for my afternoon off #shouldhavegotitonkindle

Next up . . . Can not tell you how excited I am to get this tomorrow 😁

We were supposed to be going away today for a few days camping, but there is a weather warning for torrential rain for all 3 days we were planning to be away. A tiny campervan and a wet Labrador don‘t really mix so we cancelled.

Went to the shops instead! The Alternatives is for #camplitsy of course! I‘m going to re-read Brooklyn before Long Island. TM Logan is one of the authors at the Harrogate Crimewriting Festival in July.

I love getting book mail. These books arrived from the publishers on Saturday. Hardest part, which one should I read first!

Long Island, the sequel to Brooklyn just came out this month. Unlike Brooklyn, this was a strong pick for me. It picks up 20 years after Brooklyn. Brooklyn was very Hollywood for my tastes (I didn‘t see the movie) and Long Island was more literary fiction (aka gloomy and depressing). I‘m a bit concerned about what this says about my personality 😂

Full review on my blog. https://thereadersroom.org/2024/05/06/long-island-by-colm-toibin/

Just finished re-reading Brooklyn. Ready to dive in!

It‘s 1976 and nearly 25 years since Eilis returned to Brooklyn after visiting to her Ireland home. With her marriage on shaky grounds and her mother turning 80 she finally returns to Enniscorthy for an extended stay. This is a slow roll (I resisted peeking to the final pages) but Eilis‘ narrative represents the stories of so many lives. The lives where one can almost put themselves first. I hope we get to meet Eilis as she neared 70! 👇