Irish Readers discussion

This is the comment thread for the joint QIR winner Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor. There will be two other discussion threads fro this book in order to prevent spoilers. Enjoy your reading.

What a fantastic book. I think O'Connor's use of the second person narrative voice is really unusual. It brings us right into the mind of Molly, as if we are part of her, as if she is talking to herself and us at the same time.

MyBookAffair wrote: "What a fantastic book. It brings us right into the mind of Molly, as if we are part of her, as if she is talking to herself and us at the same time. "

+1
I'm only on page 15 but it's really beautiful to read I'm finding. Just flows down the page. Wasn't looking forward to reading this but I'm really happy I picked it up. My first Joseph O' Connor too; there shall be more no doubt...:p

I really enjoyed this book immensely. Molly is an excellent main character, and since school I've been interested in the Celtic literary revival. Even though it's fiction I enjoyed the voyeuristic look into the goings-on in the Abbey.

@Paul. If you enjoy this, I strongly recommend The Star of The Sea. This quarter's other Irish read.

Yeah, thanks Declan. I ordered Star Of The Sea off tinternet. Really looking forward to it now, was very pleasantly surprised with my first taste of O'Connor.

Paul wrote: "Yeah, thanks Declan. I ordered Star Of The Sea off tinternet. Really looking forward to it now, was very pleasantly surprised with my first taste of O'Connor."

I rate SOTS as one of the best books I've ever read.

I have to agree with you all. Molly is a fascinating character, and I love being in Molly's mind. As my first Irish authored book since I moved to Ireland, it was a great start.

Had put off reading this book and I am really enjoying it.

Mae wrote: "I have to agree with you all. Molly is a fascinating character, and I love being in Molly's mind. As my first Irish authored book since I moved to Ireland, it was a great start."

Dem wrote: "Had put off reading this book and I am really enjoying it."

Totally agree guys...I'm loving it so far.

Is anyone out there doing anything for Blooms day??? I am not done reading "the book"... I am reading slowly... while I read other books. But I promise I will be a Joyce expert when i am done. Is anyone up to getting together in Dublin for Blooms day?

Mae wrote: "Is anyone out there doing anything for Blooms day??? I am not done reading "the book"... I am reading slowly... while I read other books. But I promise I will be a Joyce expert when i am done. I..."

I'm sure our president-to-be David Norris is going to be doing a lot for it.

I'm only just got going and for the first few pages the whole 'You' thing was grand but now it's getting a bit irksome. :(

You've all put a lot of hype on this book so i'm hoping there'll be stuff for me to like when i get into it. D;

olitlebear... its not an action packed, fantastic, super clever read. It is one of those books, you want to curl up to read. Slow, warm and endearing, like a black and white movie.

I don't mind if it's a slow read, but like. Does it continue in the narrative it's taken with 'You do this, You do that' the entire way through ? ...

I guess... but it is worth it.

Mae wrote: "olitlebear... its not an action packed, fantastic, super clever read. It is one of those books, you want to curl up to read. Slow, warm and endearing, like a black and white movie."

Yep ! Mae has put into words the way I felt about that book. Nice one Mae.

I agree with littlebear. I just started the book so I'm only a few dozen pages through (the language is REALLY thick) and this whole talking to yourself POV is rather irritating. The language is beautiful so I'm sure I'll trudge through, but it's still that little itch you can't scratch. I'm going to start Star of the Sea soon; is it written in that weird POV too?