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Debra D. (MORRIS, IL)
Not Her Best Work
In Anne Enright's latest novel, three generations of women deal with the heartbreak, trauma, and fallout of a famous father and grandfather's abandonment. Nell, the granddaughter, never knew her grandfather, the esteemed Irish poet, Phil McDaragh. Despite this, she is haunted by his love poems. Nell's mother, Carmel, focuses on coming to terms with the cruel man she knew versus the poet. Carmel can't understand how he was able to leave her mother while she was fighting cancer. Carmel's sister, Imelda, is intent on defending her father, and seems to forget that he left his young family. All four women struggle with the ghost of the man who wrote beautiful love poems, but deserted those who needed him the most.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book. Carmel was my favorite character, probably because I could identify with her the most. The poetry sprinkled throughout the book added a lovely bonus, and I liked the references to birds.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but I do not think it is Anne Enright's best work.
Deborah W. (Boynton Beach, FL)
Not My Cup of Tea
I requested this book because I have enjoyed the author's previous work and generational family sagas are one of my favorite genres. So I was predisposed to like what I was reading, but was sadly disappointed. I found the opening section disjointed and off-putting in terms of style and content. Perhaps I couldn't relate to Nell, the youngest generation, because of my own age. However, I enjoyed the sections about Carmel, the middle generation, and the writing style there was more what I expected overall. The author's insights about motherhood were spot on, and the mother-daughter dynamics rang true. Over the course of the book I became more appreciative of Nell, until the writing again turned odd. Only at the very end has Nell matured enough to have her perspective conveyed in a more traditional style. This is a book for those more adventurous in their reading tastes, not for traditionalists.
Marion W. (Issaquah, WA)
A Tough Read
The premise sounded interesting: an Irish poet's effect on his wife, Terry; his daughter, Carmel; and his granddaughter, Nell. Talented Phil McDaragh may have been, but a family man he wasn't. The reader has to adjust to varying viewpoints from the three women, with sometimes no quotation marks used, and the occasional inclusion of Phil's poetry interspersed with medieval Irish verse. I found this a difficult book: too "literary", and more suitable for the subject of a university course than as entertainment for the average reader.
Mary Lou C. (Shenadoah Junction, WV)
Difficult to Read
I had no idea what to expect when I requested this book, but I thought it sounded interesting.
Unfortunately, I soon discovered it was not for me.
It was very difficult to get into and the author's writing style did not appeal to me at all. I almost gave up after the first chapter, but I was determined to stay with it. It did get better about halfway through, but not enough for me to recommend it.
Perhaps it would appeal to a younger audience, e.g. college age, but it did not appeal this this avid reader in her 70's.
Rosemary H. Florence, OR
Disappointing
I'm a former English instructor at the secondary and college level as well as an 80 year old who reads a lot for learning, discovery and entertainment, so I come to this review appreciating different kinds of literature. I respect language structure that communicates clearly. But I couldn't find a way to appreciate THE WREN, THE WREN.
In short, I did not enjoy this author's writing style. I found the narrative hard to follow with bewildering paragraphs where, for example, Carmel would be thinking about schoolbooks, Aunt Deirdre and Phil's death with no interplay or connection to the story that I could discern. Also, I'm put off by a writing style where dialogue is laid out in snatches of disconnected words, and I am confused by abrupt changes from one scene to another with no transitions. Nor could I find a way to appreciate characters who interact with themselves and each other in stream of consciousness that is difficult to follow. Perhaps a college class would benefit from reviewing this book, but It's not my cup of tea in the way of enjoyable reading.
Laurita M. (Harrisburg, SD)
The Wren, The Wren
A book that is hard to "get into" sometimes becomes one that you can't put down. With this book unfortunately, I struggled through much of the book waiting for the plot to come and the climax to happen.
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