The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian Barry
2008, 300 pp.
Booker Prize Shortlist
Rating: 
What can I tell you further? I once lived among humankind, and found them in their generality to be cruel and cold, and yet could mention the names of three or four that were like angels.
I’d be happy if this book won the Booker Prize. Yeah, I would, and I haven’t read any of the other contenders yet! Sebastian Barry is a magnificent writer, and I will definitely be reading more of his work.
Roseanne McNulty is almost 100 years old, and Dr. Grene is the psychiatrist attending her at Roscommon Mental Hospital. The story slowly unfolds by giving alternating accounts of Roseanne and Dr. Grene. As he seeks to understand her and her tragic past, he must also deal with some tragedy of his own. As everyone knows, ‘grief lasts two years.’
With Ireland as a backdrop and themes of religion, mental illness, and family loyalty and betrayal, The Secret Scripture is superbly crafted and is definitely worthy of the Booker Prize.
This is on my TBR list, I’m glad you enjoyed it, and reviewed it.
This sounds really good – I’m going to add it to my wish list. Christmas is coming!
The library has this one on order, and I’m near the top of the list. Now I can’t wait!
What a pretty cover! It sounds good, too.
Oh, wow, this sounds right up my alley! Thanks.
Sounds interesting, I will look into this one thanks. I like the Booker winners and nominees I have read so far.
I checked this out on Amazon to get more info, and it is going on my list NOW – thank you!
This one sounds excellent. I’m going to put it on reserve at library. Is it a Booker nominee? I’m not sure how that works, and I couldn’t tell from the original post. I’ve been going around recommending Recovering Charles to all my reading friends. (I actually, sadly, have some friends who are not…) It’s by New York Times best-selling author Jason Wright. It’s a really beautiful, well-written story about personal redemption set in the context of a physical recovery. Great, great read.
[...] I was really surprised. Not only did it have the longest odds to win, but I had recently read The Secret Scripture and not-so-secretly hoped it would win. In fact, the committee admitted these two were the main [...]
[...] I was really surprised. Not only did it have the longest odds to win, but I had recently read The Secret Scripture and not-so-secretly hoped it would win. In fact, the committee admitted these two were the main [...]
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[...] I was really surprised. Not only did it have the longest odds to win, but I had recently read The Secret Scripture and not-so-secretly hoped it would win. In fact, the committee admitted these two were the main [...]
[...] The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (2008, 300 pp.) [...]
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