chirson's review against another edition
4.0
I tend to be a literary utilitarian: I care more about the overall effect the text makes on me than the literary means it uses, substance over style. Obviously incompetent writing is a no-go, but I'd sooner read an interesting novel that is less than ingenious than a navel-gazing achievement of style. But every once in a while even I must give its due to style. This novel uses style to make itself substantial and it doesn't even need that, because the story and character are strong enough to stand on their own. But the language is what makes this so astonishing. At times intensely lyrical (and so beautiful it could bring tears to my eyes) and at times drily witty and funny, McNulty's narration may have been too beautiful for 1st person narrator but somehow I don't think that makes it any less powerful. Maybe it's not always the language McNulty would use when telling his story, but it certainly the way it is best conveyed.
I hesitate to speak about the plot, but the novel is beautiful in portraying queerness that doesn't know its name (that perhaps doesn't have it yet), in showing how violence is systemic, in showcasing its social and psychological effects and in painting images of astonishing brutality. The older I get, the more difficult it is for me to read about historical acts of cruelty, and this novel is unsparing in its portrayal of suffering of its narrator (the Famine in Ireland, the passage to America) white violence visited on Native and Black characters as well as in showing the continuum on which it exists. The narrator and John Cole are both victims of violence as well as implicated in war crimes they strive to atone for. Genocide happens on both sides of the Atlantic.
The characters are compelling even though we are not allowed into their heads aside from McNulty's. I loved the matter-of-fact way in which the relationship between the characters was portrayed, on page but always in a way that felt respectfully demure, denying any possibility of voyeuristic pleasure.
I cried when I finished the book but I also cried when I thought about the meaning of its title. It's a novel that made me think about the meaning of time, love, death, survival and family, and it will stay with me for a long time. A remarkable achievement.
I hesitate to speak about the plot, but the novel is beautiful in portraying queerness that doesn't know its name (that perhaps doesn't have it yet), in showing how violence is systemic, in showcasing its social and psychological effects and in painting images of astonishing brutality. The older I get, the more difficult it is for me to read about historical acts of cruelty, and this novel is unsparing in its portrayal of suffering of its narrator (the Famine in Ireland, the passage to America) white violence visited on Native and Black characters as well as in showing the continuum on which it exists. The narrator and John Cole are both victims of violence as well as implicated in war crimes they strive to atone for. Genocide happens on both sides of the Atlantic.
The characters are compelling even though we are not allowed into their heads aside from McNulty's. I loved the matter-of-fact way in which the relationship between the characters was portrayed, on page but always in a way that felt respectfully demure, denying any possibility of voyeuristic pleasure.
I cried when I finished the book but I also cried when I thought about the meaning of its title. It's a novel that made me think about the meaning of time, love, death, survival and family, and it will stay with me for a long time. A remarkable achievement.
Spoiler
At the end, I think there is no way to tell if Thomas is transgender, non-binary or a gay man: given the opportunity to be whoever he/she wants to be, what would the choice be? Perhaps the lack of language to describe the experience is a gift here, so identity can flactuate and change. Thomas is a fighting man and a mother, inhabited by his soul and the ghost of his dead sister. Either way, even though they are all fictional, I'm so glad they live to tell this tale.hiltzmoore's review against another edition
3.0
This was really lyrical and poetic. It took me a while to get used to the voice of the narrator, but when I did I found it soothing in an odd way. It read much more slowly than I thought it would and then picked up very quickly at the end. A really nice, thought provoking book.
burrowsi1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
fendeviper's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.5
himalayahigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Racism, Genocide, Murder, and Violence
gorecki's review against another edition
5.0
Some time ago I realised that I’ve stopped feeling swept away by books. I'd noticed that no matter how much I liked a book, I almost never felt dizzy with wonder or book-hungover or whatever it is you call that feeling you have when you read a story and can’t get over it. I was afraid I might have lost my interest in books in general, or might have pushed it too far and read too much too soon (is that even possible?). Went out of order. But then I read Days Without End by Sebastian Barry and it hit home so hard, I was left there breathing heavily, wanting the book to never end, simulating fating in front of my friends (literally.)
Barry guides us through the world of a man fighting in the American Indian Wars in the 1840s and 1850s. I loved how he used raw, mid-19th century American language to introduce a person who does not use big words, who is not very educated or well-read, but who nevertheless possesses an exceptional emotional intelligence and brightness of mind, with thoughts and observations so stark they make you shiver. The richness of his emotions, of his attachment and feelings for John Cole bring tears. His simple wish for a quiet and happy life next the ones he loves was both soothing and heart-wrenching.
This book is easily my favourite read for 2017. I will probably not be able to stop thinking about it for quite a while.
Barry guides us through the world of a man fighting in the American Indian Wars in the 1840s and 1850s. I loved how he used raw, mid-19th century American language to introduce a person who does not use big words, who is not very educated or well-read, but who nevertheless possesses an exceptional emotional intelligence and brightness of mind, with thoughts and observations so stark they make you shiver. The richness of his emotions, of his attachment and feelings for John Cole bring tears. His simple wish for a quiet and happy life next the ones he loves was both soothing and heart-wrenching.
This book is easily my favourite read for 2017. I will probably not be able to stop thinking about it for quite a while.
jessie_lewis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rc2's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so atmospheric and good. You could really feel the deadliness of the war. Also, the audiobook is the superior way to listen to this book, especially if the narrator is Irish themselves.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
Four stars for the writing (beautiful), three for the rest (shocking violence became a little repetitive).