A review by kba76
Old God's Time, by Sebastian Barry

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Tom Kettle is a retired policeman. He lives in an unusual little cottage in the grounds of an old castle near the sea. He knows the names of his neighbours but tends to live a solitary life. Then one morning he receives a visit from two former colleagues. This sets in motion a chain of events that seems unnecessarily cruel.
We learn the truth of Tom’s life and his family as the book progresses. It’s bleak. The fact that he keeps going is testimony to the human spirit, but what this man has had to endure is too much.
At its core the story focuses on the much-publicised scandal of the Catholic Church and its complicity in the widespread abuse of children by priests. The details given here focus on two characters integral to the story, and yet the knowledge that these behaviours were replicated in so many places and over so many years - and were known about but not stopped - is damning.
While the subject matter is truly shocking, at its core this was a profoundly moving tale of love. It showed how people can support one another and find ways to do right. There were passages of description that were incredibly moving, and the vulnerability of Tom at the centre of these stories kept me hooked throughout. I needed some time to compose myself once I’d closed the pages, and there was a sense that the characters left behind would continue their stories.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.