johannacraig's review against another edition
5.0
Exquisite.
So close to the bone at times it was uncomfortable… yet I devoured it. A must read for the younger generations of Belfast who deserve more than to live in the shadows of generational trauma.
So close to the bone at times it was uncomfortable… yet I devoured it. A must read for the younger generations of Belfast who deserve more than to live in the shadows of generational trauma.
dwatson13's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
synnereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
3.75
A community that knows you can be both a blessing and a curse. Especially when that community is still coping with the aftermath of the Troubles and struggling with a lack of oppurtunity.
Sean has a university degree in English literature, but can barely find ANY work when he returns to Belfast; and it doesn't exactly help when he assaults someone at a party (it's not a spoiler – it's mentioned in the blurb).
His family is not doing great either, and some long-kept family secrets are slowly being revealed.
This book might sound bleak, with themes like poverty, feeling stuck, self-loathing and the pitfalls of masculinity, but it's also a book about love, hope, reconciliation, and finding a way forward; and I really enjoyed it.
Sean has a university degree in English literature, but can barely find ANY work when he returns to Belfast; and it doesn't exactly help when he assaults someone at a party (it's not a spoiler – it's mentioned in the blurb).
His family is not doing great either, and some long-kept family secrets are slowly being revealed.
This book might sound bleak, with themes like poverty, feeling stuck, self-loathing and the pitfalls of masculinity, but it's also a book about love, hope, reconciliation, and finding a way forward; and I really enjoyed it.
ailishmccafferty's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
samhorry's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
salmonator's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
poorlywordedbookreviews's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
2013: Sean returns home to Belfast after completing his English Literature degree in Liverpool. The academic, well behaved one out of his brothers and class mates - he’s done everything he’s supposed to, yet here he is, back where he started…
Close To Home is a concise character study of working class men in post-troubles Belfast. Sean and everyone he met felt shockingly realistic - its not often the spell of a story is broken because I’m so surprised at how real the character feel.
It brilliantly captures the subtle dynamics of communication between often taciturn boys and men. The generational clashes that occur when so much goes unsaid. It highlights how poverty works as a trap through psychological means as well as financial, how trauma permeates down the generations, and that pasts, unconfronted, stalk individuals and communities like malevolent ghosts.
There is hope here too, that part of the trap is self inflicted, and can be tackled with personal resilience, hard work and family/friends support. That it presents this without undermining the consistent empathy it shows to those who can’t/don’t have the support, is admirable.
Whilst Sean’s upbringing is a tough one, it is also full of love. Trauma and struggles often simultaneously fracture and bond families. The relationship with his mum and eldest brother are moving. His relationship with his brother is particularly well captured - how you can love, fear, look up to, be repulsed by, pity and admire the same person.
The only thing that bugged me was Sean’s level of uncomfortableness around Mairead’s uni mates, which seemed over-egged given he’d assumedly mixed in similar circles in Liverpool. There wasn’t such place specific nuance with that group as with the house party fight etc.
jellygirl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
debsd's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
topolfan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0