I loved this book from start to finish.  The pace of the writing, the descriptions of the characters, were very thought provoking - in my opinion.

The journey Veronica was going through in her personal life - trying to reconcile herself to what happened to Liam when he was younger - and subsequently what may have happened to her - entranced me.

Trying to fathom how her relationships with her immediate family and husband worked - or in some cases, didn't work - were a joy to read.

There was also some very witty lines that made me giggle to myself and I did alot of head-nodding and sighing.

This was my first by this author and I would definately recommend.

10/10 - My book of the month for May

Were we reading the same book?

Read half of it, but  she kept jumping back all the time to how her grandparents 'might' have felt/thought when they met, constant analysis of relationships...you think something's going to happen and then she's back to 'daddy was born in Kerry'....blah blah!
Skim read the second half, occasionally flicking over 2-3 sides and found i'd still not missed anything..LOL
There were some revelations at the end, explanations of why her brother went off the rails..but by then i just didn't care..sorry!

And it won the Booker???

 

I think I agree with both of you....

On the one hand, I enjoyed the self analysis of her current life and what happened to Liam, but on the other hand I did get a bit bored of the constant referring back to what her grandparents might have been like in their younger days.  I had planned to read it one night, but I found that I needed to keep taking short breaks from it.  By the second half I was left with the feeling that I must be missing the inner meaning of it all.  I think it would probably bear rereading, but I know that in reality I wouldn't read it again, so I have swapped it on!

I agree with Brummiebird's review - I really enjoy Anne Enright's style and find her very humourous in unexpected places.  She's a bit sex obsessed though, and I wouldn't lend any of her books to my granny

She appeared at the Manchester Literature Festival and came across as a warm, witty lady.  I think I enjoyed this book more as I could hear her voice as the voice of the main character.

For all parents and parents to be I'd highly recommend her collected writings 'Making Babies' - especially as an antidote to the 'how to bring up your child' manuals that seem to spring up everywhere.

Maybe she's a bit like Ian McEwan, or marmite???

Helen

I have another of her books here Pleasure of Eliza Lynch, i think it is, will still give that one a go and then decide.
But The Gathering was just not for me!

I finished this last night.  Because of all the negative publicity it's had I was expecting it to be much harder to read.  'Enjoyed' would not be the right word but I did find it interesting, particularly the way she captured the family dynamics and the way each member had a certain role to play.   Definitely a bleak book though, and was glad it was only 260 pages!

seanat:

I have another of her books here Pleasure of Eliza Lynch, i think it is, will still give that one a go and then decide.
But The Gathering was just not for me!

I enjoyed this one too - it reminded me a bit of Gabriel Garcia Marquez - but that's probably cos it's based in central/south America - bit more of a 'romp' than The Gathering!!

Galvanised by Paula's book group poll, I started this a short while ago, and suspect that I'll have it finished before the day is out. 

While only 60 pages into it, I have to say, I think it's beautifully written. She captures time, place and speech very well. I like the underlying Celtic/Irish humour too-not terrbly far removed from the Scottish humour to which I'm more accustomed.

Have already noted Liz's recommendation for "Eliza Lynch". Now, if that is even a particle as good as Garcia Marquez-one of my all time heros-then I shall be a vey happy bunny indeed!

 

dingsy:

While only 60 pages into it, I have to say, I think it's beautifully written. She captures time, place and speech very well. I like the underlying Celtic/Irish humour too-not terrbly far removed from the Scottish humour to which I'm more accustomed.

Have already noted Liz's recommendation for "Eliza Lynch". Now, if that is even a particle as good as Garcia Marquez-one of my all time heros-then I shall be a vey happy bunny indeed!

Whilst i have a copy, i've not read Eliza Lynch yet...it is hhunter who's read it and recommended it.
Glad you're enjoying The Gathering more than i did!!

Thanks Liz-I'll let you know how I get on wth both of the Enrights. Certainly "The Gathering" makes a stark contrast to the other book I'm reading at the moment -your "Recipes for Cherubs"!! Having said that, there are certain similarities....

Elaine I think it is her lovely lyrical style that pulls me in more than the subject matter.  I heard her read from 'The Gathering' at the Manchester Literature Festival a couple of days before she won the Booker.  All through the book as I read it myself could hear her Irish accent which brought it totally to life.

Helen

Agree completely Helen-it's hugely stylish, and I too can "hear" her voice

I may be enjoying it too, because I admit that often plot can be secondary for me.I rarely (ever?), read thrillers, as I'm more than happy watching characters develop, getting some insight as to why they behave in the way they do.

(But-can anyone tell me what a "jarvey" is?)

 

Jar´vey

n.	1.	The driver of a hackney coach.
	2.	A hackney coach.

 

Also see http://www.vacationkillarney.com/Jarvey.htm

I'm coming late to this discussion as I've only just read it, but wanted to know what the general view of it was - and it does seem to be a marmite book, I've read the reviews on Facebook and Amazon too, it certainly does divide people. Interesting to read your thoughts

As for me? Well, won't go so far as to say I hated it but it certainly wasn't for me....I thought the subject matter was interesting but would have preferred it dealt with in a straightforward narrative. I couldn't warm to any of the characters. Also I thought the frequent use if f*ck and c*nt jarred and were unnecessary. Disappointing after all the hype

But I do fancy a jarvey ride....

Agree that there was a huge amount of unnecessary unpleasant language usage. But I felt that it was counterbalanced by some truly beautiful passages, which demonstrated so clearly how talented Enright is.I also rather enjoyed the "disjointed"/flashback narrative, as I felt it would reflect accurately the gamut of emotions experienced by families at traumatic times.

Felt that some of the humour was amongst it's strongest points, and althoiugh I didn't particaularly warm to many of the characters (at least as adults-some were more appealing/interesting as children), I found overall that it was a great read.

Now, when are we off for our jarvey ride....