Old God's Time
Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023
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4.1 • 37 Ratings
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- £8.49
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- £8.49
Publisher Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2024
LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER
TWICE WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR
A FINANCIAL TIMES, TIMES, AND IRISH TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
'A masterpiece' Sunday Times
'Stunning' LIZ NUGENT
'Extraordinary' Irish Times
Tom Kettle, a retired policeman, and widower, is settling into the quiet of his new home in Dalkey, overlooking the sea.
His solitude is interrupted when two former colleagues turn up at his door to ask about a traumatic, decades-old case. A case that Tom never quite came to terms with. And his peace is further disturbed when his new neighbour, a mysterious young mother, asks for his help.
A beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite as it seems, Old God's Time is an unforgettable exploration of family, loss and love.
'A wonderful, brutal, utterly compelling book . . . Barry is the most miraculous writer.' Russell T Davies
'To borrow a word that recurs in its pages, it is stupendous, in the sense that it shocks and astonishes.' Irish Times
Rare indeed are those novels worth cherishing and keeping close. Old God's Time is one of them.' DailyTelegraph
'So captivating . . . it will live long in the minds of its readers.' Independent
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
***** 'A beautiful family love story. It will haunt you and break your heart.'
***** 'Deeply felt and so moving. I will be reading this again.'
***** 'A tragic tale beautifully told. Sebastian Barry is one of the great contemporary writers.'
***** 'Absolute perfection in novel form.'
***** 'Deeply tragic. Deeply humorous. Utterly beautiful. I'm in awe.'
***** 'A writer in possession of something divine . just exceptional.'
***** 'Magically transporting . the balance of extreme grief and joy are perfectly expressed.'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In the knotty latest from Barry (A Thousand Moons), a retired police officer's solitude is disrupted by a decades-old case involving sexually abusive priests. Tom Kettle, 66, has been off work for nine months and is living on the property of a Victorian castle overlooking the Irish Sea when two detectives arrive asking about the priests. Kettle spurns their questions, but after they leave, his mind is frazzled. He thinks his daughter has visited, then remembers both of his children are dead, along with his wife, June, whose memory he "cradled... as if she were still a living being." Distraught, he attempts suicide but is interrupted when the police chief arrives to request his help with the case. It turns out one of the priests died long ago, and the police are interested in what Tom knows. As he begins cooperating, he remembers that June told him she was raped as a young orphan by a priest. Tom's struggle with his failing memory makes the gradual reveals about June and their children all the more unsettling, and the mystery of his connection to the case involving the priests all the more intriguing. The gorgeous writing and unreliable narration make it hard to put down this rewarding take on love and grief.
Customer Reviews
Not my favourite
Despite the many rave reviews and accolades, I found this book a tedious read. A don’t doubt the complexity and courage of the writing, but unfortunately the book left me in a bad mood!
Really hard to follow.
Couldn’t find a plot line. More like loosely disconnected jottings than a narrative.