Nothing here was part of her. It was false, empty…
Longlisted for The Man Booker Prize (though it did not make the shortlist), Colm Toibin’s book is about young Eislis Lacey’s journey from Ireland to Brooklyn and from girlhood to womanhood.
I did enjoy reading about Eislis’s immigrant experience and her struggles in her new surroundings, but the story was a bit slow moving. I normally don’t mind that at all in books, but the novel was perhaps a bit too muted. In some ways I do expect that that could have been Toibin’s intent, however, and perhaps was an indication of Eislis’s character.
I heartily sympathized for Eislis at the end, but I also felt that she made the right decision. If you’ve read the book as well, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
2009, 262 pp.
[Disclaimer: This book was obtained using my public library.]
I have this book on my wishlist.
I have this to read one of these days. I will be curious to see what I think!
Sounds good- but not my type of book definitely!
I’m almost 1/3 of the way in, I like it so far, but she’s only just arrived in NY. I really enjoyed the time in Ireland.
I’ll get back to you..
I definitely didn’t get to as many Long Listers as I thought I would but this is definitely on my TBR. I was sad that it didn’t make the short list.
I really enjoyed this one, probabbly a lot more than you did. Loved the 50′s cover too.
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