Maurice Hannigan, an elderly Irish farmer, sits in a pub in a small town one evening and orders five drinks, one for each person who has been important in his life. With each glass he raises a toast and tells the story of his relationship with that person: his brother, his sister-in-law, his wife Sadie, his daughter Molly and his son. Anne Griffin gradually reveals old resentments, the farmer's sense of guilt, and a secret he has kept for years. The pub is the only setting, and the monologue gives the book its intimacy.
Readers who like warm, sad Irish fiction about family, regret and what we leave unsaid will find a tender story. It suits anyone who has wished they had spoken to someone before it was too late.
Inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2019
- Language
- EN
