Monday, October 13, 2025

The Spinning Heart, Donal Ryan

 

The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan

Started: October 7, 2025
Completed: October 13, 2025
Recommendation: Highly recommended
Recommended By: I picked up the sequel without realizing that this book came first, so I had to read it.

Words for which I sought help:

craic -- fun, good times, an enjoyable atmosphere

creche -- a day nursery or full-day care center

culchie -- someone from rural Ireland

demesne -- the land attached to a country house or manor that is kept for the owner's own use, distinct from lands leased to tenants

dipsomaniac -- an alcoholic, especially one who experiences intermittent bouts of craving for alcohol

flaker -- an unreliable, eccentric, or unconventional person

mither -- fuss over or moan about something

quare -- strange, peculiar, or odd

solipsist -- a person who is very self-centered or selfish

tash -- a moustache

Review:

Oh, this was a delightfully odd book.  Each character is a chapter.  What develops is the community as a whole, not a single character (although there is one, Frank, who changes over the course of the book).  I just enjoyed it.  This is not a happy book and it is not an adventure.  It is, however, a real look at a community for good or bad from the people who live in the community.

No comments:

Post a Comment