A Long, Long Way
by Sebastian Barry.
There was another mixed bag of reactions to this book which sparked some lively discussion.
Certainly the book is almost unrelentingly harrowing though this is relieved by its humanity and occasional grim humour.
Some of us adored the book and although the events are almost indescribably awful the writing does not descend to the mawkish or miserable but remains wonderfully poetic with a delightful Irish lilt.
Others were not so impressed preferring factual accounts of the horrors of the trenches.
For them the book failed to impact being merely an exercise in raising emotion.
Most of us had some knowledge of the historical context but found the book very revealing in highlighting the profound dilemmas faced by Irish combatants at home.
NS
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