Helpful Score: 12
An extraordinarily well-written novel about a ninety year-old Irish woman. The narrative traces her ninety years of life while at the same time allowing the reader to know about the life of her psychiatrist, Dr. Grene. The sophisticated mystery of her life is narrated through her writing about her past as she is unable to verbalize it to Dr. Grene. Youth, old age, lost, found, great beauty, great torment, and a late and bittersweet denouement. Part tragedy, part mystery, and ultimately the full history of a beautiful woman who survives. A page turner.
Helpful Score: 3
The two distinct voices of the narrators are clearly heard. The writing is absolutely beautiful and you get pulled along in the story. I couldn't wait to pick up the book again each night. I must admit that I did not suspect the ending and was quite pleasantly surprised that I had not figured out the ending well in advance. The descriptions of the Ireland landscape make you feel as though you are right in the midst of things. Two thumbs up.
Helpful Score: 2
Beautifully written double diary of two unforgettable characters. That said, the book could easily frustrate one who does not enjoy the elegant use of the language and the free flowing style. Like another reviewer, I was shocked I had not anticipated the ending. Instead I found myself reeling from final revelations. Definitely worth a delightfully slow read -- there's no rushing through this one!
I was not a fan of the syntax. It was a very good storyline even though it dragged in places. It was very interesting in others.
Ooh this was a tough book to read. The those writing is good, it would have helped if I had known more about Irish history. Again the priests rule with a very heavy hand and control literally everything. A look at asylums of the era and the mores further deepened the abuse and sorrow. Just too depresing!
n "Keeping the Faith", Billy Joel advises us that "... the good ol' days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems ..." In "The Secret Scripture", Sebastian Barry tells the story of Roseanne McNulty, an Irish girl born ahead of her time, waiting for society's impressions of a woman's place to catch up. Her reward was life in a mental institution an institution preparing to shut down and the staff wondering what to do with their 98 year old long-term resident. Meanwhile, the psychiatrist in charge of the facility finds himself distracted by the death of his wife.
"The Secret Scripture" was not my usual read. There were no crimes to solve, no car crashes, no demons ... well, not unless they wore human form. Certainly nothing remotely resembling "mindless entertainment" - it was required to THINK while reading this book. I can do that on occasion and still enjoy a book. But, since I have to think for a living, I prefer my reading to be, um, less "deep". Can't fault the author for that, however my issue, not his!!
RATING: 4 stars.
"The Secret Scripture" was not my usual read. There were no crimes to solve, no car crashes, no demons ... well, not unless they wore human form. Certainly nothing remotely resembling "mindless entertainment" - it was required to THINK while reading this book. I can do that on occasion and still enjoy a book. But, since I have to think for a living, I prefer my reading to be, um, less "deep". Can't fault the author for that, however my issue, not his!!
RATING: 4 stars.
I give every book the first 40 pages to hook me and this one didn't do it. I found this account of a 99 year old woman in an Irish mental hospital to be extremely wordy, jumping from place to place in the story and just plain boring.
Much at work in Roseanne's life is a priest, Father Gaunt, a man invested in his own arrogance and misogyny, who visits his hatred and mistrust of women on the innocent Roseanne. It is through Gaunt's efforts that Roseanne's marriage to Tom is ruined, no one of consequence to protect the girl, left staggering at the blows fate has dealt. Having been institutionalized for over half her life at the time she writes her memoirs, the remarkable thing about this character, as so beautifully rendered by Barry, is her inherent generosity of spirit and disinclination to harsh judgment of those who have wronged her. And while Roseanne is writing of her father and her marriage, Dr. Grene is charged with determining the future placement of his patient, Roscommon soon to be vacated and completely demolished. Unwilling to interrogate a woman whose face still carries the remnants of her exceptional beauty, Grene becomes fascinated by the small details he uncovers, hints that the truth may differ from Roseanne's recollection of her past.
This is a fantastic read if you get the chance. I highly recommend it.
This is a fantastic read if you get the chance. I highly recommend it.
Told in two different voices. Wasn't sure how they would connect, but they do. Haunting.
Much at work in Roseanne's life is a priest, Father Gaunt, a man invested in his own arrogance and misogyny, who visits his hatred and mistrust of women on the innocent Roseanne. It is through Gaunt's efforts that Roseanne's marriage to Tom is ruined, no one of consequence to protect the girl, left staggering at the blows fate has dealt.
Having been institutionalized for over half her life at the time she writes her memoirs, the remarkable thing about this character, as so beautifully rendered by Barry, is her inherent generosity of spirit and disinclination to harsh judgment of those who have wronged her. And while Roseanne is writing of her father and her marriage, Dr. Grene is charged with determining the future placement of his patient, Roscommon soon to be vacated and completely demolished.
Unwilling to interrogate a woman whose face still carries the remnants of her exceptional beauty, Grene becomes fascinated by the small details he uncovers, hints that the truth may differ from Roseanne's recollection of her past.
A fantastic read. I highly recommend it.
Having been institutionalized for over half her life at the time she writes her memoirs, the remarkable thing about this character, as so beautifully rendered by Barry, is her inherent generosity of spirit and disinclination to harsh judgment of those who have wronged her. And while Roseanne is writing of her father and her marriage, Dr. Grene is charged with determining the future placement of his patient, Roscommon soon to be vacated and completely demolished.
Unwilling to interrogate a woman whose face still carries the remnants of her exceptional beauty, Grene becomes fascinated by the small details he uncovers, hints that the truth may differ from Roseanne's recollection of her past.
A fantastic read. I highly recommend it.
Beautifully written & captivating.
