Patrick: Son of Ireland, Stephen R. Lawhead

Patrick:  Son of Ireland by Stephen R. Lawhead is the story of St. Patrick as historical fiction.  I like the way that Lawhead writes and have enjoyed other books he has written including the Pendragon Cycle and Taliesin.  His attention to historical detail is refreshing and unobtrusive in the novel.  I do feel that some of the things he highlights in this way can be shocking or off-putting, but I use that as an indicator that I should take a few minutes and find out a bit more about the period in question or the practices of the people being discussed.  It turns out these jarring moments have been a couple of good opportunities to learn more about the people or to learn more about the times.

Started:  June 26, 2010
Completed: July 3, 2010
Recommendation: A fun read with a little bit of action, recommended for those who enjoy a little fantasy and are OK with the Catholic Church taking a hit on the chin.
Recommended By:  Nobody, I bought this as Vertigo book store was closing.  A novel I had wanted to read and always knew I could go to Vertigo to get.  Then it closed.  Ugh.
Words I Looked Up:
micturation -- Urinate
dewlap -- A fold of loose skin hanging from the neck of an animal or person (such as the wattle of a chicken)
Review:  OK, so this was about St. Patrick, but it covers the time about which there is little or no data.  His time before the deeds of St. Patrick are written and well known.  In fact, the book ends just before the St. Patrick you know about really does anything.  Some of the Roman life is a little contrived, but it isn't bad and the handling of the Church and its issues was fairly well done in my opinion.  Patrick is not a swashbuckling hero, but he is by turns brave and a baldfaced liar.  The character and his times are approached as complex and that is both refreshing and a bit sobering.  For such a large book, it does feel like it was heavily edited down as some of the transitions didn't feel smooth and his time in Rome was remarkably short.  All in all, however, I enjoyed it as a quick read.