Goodreads Ireland discussion

finished a few days ago, haven't reviewed yet,

it's like if Lost was set on Craggy Island...
doesn't do it justice

Hee Hee. I was thinking more Miss Marple set in an Irish Brigadoon with a man who sees Dead (funny) People.

It defies description alright and makes it hard to review and give a flavour without giving away spoilers.

I love this review https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

but it's full of spoilers.

What do people think of the cover?

the UK one

and US one

I like the UK one (it's the reason I chose the book) but I don't like the US.

The UK shows wild woods and indicates maybe a family tree? Both of which are relevant to the story.

The US cover shows lovely tame garden plant leaves and a wee shape of a shamrock with a bee at the centre. Has that any relevance to the story?

Amalia wrote: "I agree. For example, Ida was such a creepy, haunting presence, but I couldn't talk about her in my review. How could I?"

Who was your favourite charector? My favourites are:

I thought Mahony was great! knicker dropping gorgeous, sees Ghost s and keeps a straight face, a bad boy with a heart of Gold.

Mrs Cauley was a Miss Marple with attitude. " I'm Miss Marple with Balls".?


Bridget Doosey - described by Mrs. Cauley "..And what the trees don't know Bridget Doosey fills in with her slanderings. God, without her this place would be even more of a morgue. She's forensic that one. Doosey could take this village apart and tell you what killed it in the time it takes you to break a girls heart". ?


Tadhg who tells it as it is. "that fella is either a poet or a gobshite"?

Also the whole ensemble of ghosts.

The names were all very Irish Amalia - could you follow who was who easily enough?

Amalia wrote: "Maria wrote: "The names were all very Irish Amalia - could you follow who was who easily enough?"

Yes, I had no problem. The Irish classes in University finally paid up:)
However, I cannot spell T..."

I have the same problem with his name spelling? What kind of Irish classes did you have at University? Irish language?

What have you read for Irish Literature? Is there something we should be nominating as an Irish read here do you think?

As far as I remember the Playboy of the Western World (you wouldn't think I studied it for my leaving cert?!). A good looking stranger (fancied by most of the women) comes into a small Mayo town claiming to have killed his father.

So Mahoney being a good looking stranger in town with maybe a good reason to kill his own Father was likely to stir up the guilty suspects into acting suspiciously?

It's rather like the Play within the Play in Hamlet?

I also rather suspect that the book may have taken some inspiration from the play regarding it's story line?

one chapter i found hard was with the dog

think it's one of the first glimpses we get of killer's perspective

There is a lot of Dark in this book. We have four brutal murders, two children and several sexual assaults on Orla, who is after all just a child but I literally (not figuratively) had to hold the book at arms length for the Chapter with the Dog.

Her happiness and love of her Master is so beautifully written and his brutal killing of her, because she wouldn't stay and leave him to his darkness, is the only bit that made me cry in the book.

It's interesting though the book combines violence, comedy and weirdly fantastical scenes such as the holy spring spinging up in the Prests parlour. Do people think this works?

for me, in that scene in particular, it accentuated the brutality, contrasting with the magical and whimsical elements,
a nasty short shock
definitely works

5 of 5 stars

Maria wrote: "Hee Hee. I was thinking more Miss Marple set in an Irish Brigadoon with a man who sees Dead (funny) People.

It defies description alright and makes it hard to review and give a flavour without gi..."

That's a great review , sums it up nicely .

Maria wrote: "What do people think of the cover?

the UK one

and US one

I like the UK one (it's the reason I chose the book) but I don't like the US.
..."

I like the Uk cover much better,it fits the story better . That cover would have attracted me.The US cover looks like it should belong to a happier story but the Title got me I knew Himself had to be Irish .So I pick it up and read the flyleaf and I was hooked :)

I really liked this novel a lot. There was never a dull minute .I will try to sort out my thoughts and comment more later

It took me about 80 pages before I really started getting into it, then I flew through it. I loved the sly humour throughout the book. Great female characters especially Mrs Cauley.

Glad you liked it Lorraine and Colleen. So far most people seem to. But are there any parts people didn't like?

In Eason's Bookshop O'Connell Street in Dublin, it has been filed behind "crime scene do not cross" yellow tape. It's together with a lot of current psychological thrillers and crime books. I was wondering is this the best way for them categorise it? It is so many genres. A comedy, a thriller (very dark in parts), a cosy mystery (obviously not the dark parts), its magical realism, a supernatural story ... have I forgotten something? I can imagine someone thinking they are picking up the next Tana French being really disappointed? Or maybe just surprised? Also, I have recommended it to a friend who would never read a pure thriller but was sold at Magical Realism.

It fits a lot of different genres and I think that is part of its charm . I like how it mixes so much together I was drawn to at first by the title and then I had to read about the guy that saw ghosts :) I hate when Bookstores try to pigeon hole books . I think it could hurt their sales.
I never go to the mystery section because for the most part I don't like them unless its mixed with another genre.

I'm loving this one. I am 40% in and it has me howling with laughter. It is so evocative of the ireland I greaw up in, if it had been inhabited by the cast of Craggy Island. I have never heard a lot of the sayings in it but they are very funny. And it is also beautifully written.

Loved the story of the protestant sheep washers lol

Was a bit disappointed that the communion was skipped over in the mass scene. I was agog to see would receive.

How far is the Mass scene into it? (I know you are listening) I don't remember it and would like to re-read that section.

Oh boy I don't remember it either lol.

There is so much in it :) Needs a reread I think.

:) it was a roller coaster read !

aChapter 16, mass ends midway through chapter. I just thought it was an odd thing :-/

Will check it out tomorrow. I am having Friday rather than Saturday of work. Feel wicked!

You divil ;-p

I finished the book last night and love it.

I was disappointed with the ending it kind felt flat. I was hoping the Mahony would have got a better picture of his mom Orla.Jack as the killer also felt funny to me kind of felt rushed but I just been picky lol

I liked the ending, it was low key. Mahony was the only male character with any storyline. You didn't really get to know the other men so maybe the reveal didn't work because of that?

I thought the ending is quite annoying in that we still don't know who Mahony's father is (for sure). It's the kind of ending I normally write (LOL - I like being mean).

I need to check my book again but Jack could still be the father....If I remember Jack has brown eyes and Orla and Mahoney have blue .Jack still could have a blue eye child if he carried the blue eye gene. Is there something I missed about it couldn't possible be Jack ? Are we a hundred percent that Shauna's dad is also not Mahoney's ? Just because he said his affair with her was over doesn't mean it was. There is an outside chance that Thomas could be the grandfather/father and why was he hiding with only Jack aware of it ?

I just finished and I feel a bit swindled not to find out who the father is! Obviously she is planning a sequel but grrr x-( I'm pretty sure I know who it is but it is infuruating. I will do a review tommorrow.

So many interesting comments!

I was really jolted by the scene with the dog and, although wonderfully written, I would question its place in the book. To shock? To esteblish the cruelty of the killer? It certainly didn't add to the plot in any way. Did it even identify the dogs master, I'm not sure?

I also was unsatisfied with the ending and felt it was very rushed. I think there are good reasons why the book only focused on the female characters tho - might have been a bit of a give away to focus on the men! I think we needed to know mode about Orla's history but, there will obvionsly be a follow up.

I don't believe Jack was the father - my money is on the grandfather based on a comment I think I remember Orlas mother making. The other possibility is Shaunas dad as that could be a good plot devise for book 2.

I am sure I had more thoughts but I'm tired typing now :-D

Great choice Maria. Great material for discussion and a very unusual book.

Margo wrote: "So many interesting comments!

I was really jolted by the scene with the dog and, although wonderfully written, I would question its place in the book. To shock? To esteblish the cruelty of the ki..."

I cried my eyes out on the chapter with the dog, I can't bare thinking about any animal being treated in that way.

I doubt Jack is the father, I remember reading were Orla said Francis's eyes were changing brown like hers and the fathers. In the next chapter the author pointed out Jack had blue eyes. So it can't be him.

I liked how it ended, it left it at a perfect cliff hanger. can't wait for book 2!

I am really starting to dislike series, particularly those with cliff hangers! Unless they are published close together I always feel I have to go back and read the previous one and lifes too short for that. My memory is awful lol

Well if it's not a series then it's a really lousy ending lol

I have messages a few people to remind them about the questions. Jess has confirmed she is more than happy to answer so we will do it in a few days.

I see my favourite questions are already up :)

Emma wrote: "I don't think this is definitely a series. We are just speculating it might be"

Oh! well I hope Jess Kidd does make it a series. If she isn't planning on it then I'm sad, I want to know more.

I wouldn't say the ending is lousy, if it is a stand alone book it still ended fine in my opinion.

Maria I know we talked about the author's new novel and how the name was changed but the cover wasn't up yet but now it is... UK cover US cover. I like UK cover and title better

Yes the UK cover and name is soooo much better. I am really looking forward to it

Maria wrote: "Yes the UK cover and name is soooo much better. I am really looking forward to it"
I am too :)

Book Depository sent my copy on the 31st - So I am expecting it in the post tomorrow or the next day. :)

My copy was sent then too ! I'll have to wait a bit longer but I'm pretty excited about it :) I also preordered and I was notified that it shipped.

The Toymakers is suppose to be similar to The Night Circus

The Toymakers is supposed to be really good according to the people I know who read the ARCs. My copy of the Hoarder came today but I need to read this weeks section of the Lonesome Dove readalong and finish the second half of the shining first. I am really mean with myself. :)

Oh Maria that's torture lol. I don't think my copy will come for a few more days . I loved Night Circus so hopefully I won't be disappointed with the Toymaker .
But seriously I wouldn't blame you for making a detour and read Hoarder.:)

OK sold! I gonna read it but only when I am at home - the other two are paperbacks for my commute :)

Amalia, who is in this group, loved the Toymaker - I am sure it's great.

Maria , I think it will be .I saw the cover on Instagram and fell in love.I'm such a sucker for a pretty cover lol. Then on goodreads it said it was for fans of The Night Circus so of course I had to buy it :)

I saw the cover of on BookTube (YouTube for Books) and had to buy it.

LOL