I'm glad I stumbled onto this author; she writes beautifully and thoughtfully, like a moodier Jane Urquhart. The tangle of stories she tells in this novel resonated with me in a deep place. In many ways this is a perfect example of the right book at the right time for me.
Carey tells the tale of time - growing up, discovering ourselves, moving through this medium along with our families. And sometimes, when it's cut short, you wonder what it would have been like. This book answers that question. Aisling, the ghost child, arrives on Oisin's doorstep to live the life she couldn't. She isn't the ghost Oisin was hoping would show up but she does hold the key to finding that one.
Through Aisling's growth and the flashbacks of Oisin as a young boy, I began to understand how darn confusing females are to men. I felt Oisin's frustration with both his twin sister, Nieve, and present-day Aisling. We are complete enigmas. Poor guys. The most telling observation from this was when Oisin mentioned that women like talking about men more than to them. Yes.
Something else that hit me hard - way hard - was watching Aisling grow, comparing her to her younger self, the self that would talk and not hide things. I realized that my girls will one day not want to share anything with me - ever. So when my youngest excitedly told me about the "world record" she broke by jumping off the table and sliding onto the floor mat across the room, I listened attentively; one day she won't want to describe the weather outside to me. And it's going to happen fast. Not as fast as Aisling but really fast, nonetheless.
I admit that I teared up at the end from the mixed emotions of sorrow and happiness. The final scene with Oisin and Nieve hurt my chest to read, I choked up so much. But the novel couldn't have ended anyway else. This world is truly the country of the young, for the young.
Carey tells the tale of time - growing up, discovering ourselves, moving through this medium along with our families. And sometimes, when it's cut short, you wonder what it would have been like. This book answers that question. Aisling, the ghost child, arrives on Oisin's doorstep to live the life she couldn't. She isn't the ghost Oisin was hoping would show up but she does hold the key to finding that one.
Through Aisling's growth and the flashbacks of Oisin as a young boy, I began to understand how darn confusing females are to men. I felt Oisin's frustration with both his twin sister, Nieve, and present-day Aisling. We are complete enigmas. Poor guys. The most telling observation from this was when Oisin mentioned that women like talking about men more than to them. Yes.
Something else that hit me hard - way hard - was watching Aisling grow, comparing her to her younger self, the self that would talk and not hide things. I realized that my girls will one day not want to share anything with me - ever. So when my youngest excitedly told me about the "world record" she broke by jumping off the table and sliding onto the floor mat across the room, I listened attentively; one day she won't want to describe the weather outside to me. And it's going to happen fast. Not as fast as Aisling but really fast, nonetheless.
I admit that I teared up at the end from the mixed emotions of sorrow and happiness. The final scene with Oisin and Nieve hurt my chest to read, I choked up so much. But the novel couldn't have ended anyway else. This world is truly the country of the young, for the young.
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