It is a character driven novel, fans of fast paced thrillers might be disappointed, but I certainly was not. Nora is a lovely character, likeable and entirely believable and it is a joy to spend time in her company. I would say that Nora becomes like a friend as you read the book, but it is more than that as the portrait of her life is so intimate the reader knows more about her than she would ever confide to her friends.
Toibin writes beautifully and the details of small town life in Ireland are vividly brought to life. The cast of supporting characters are equally well drawn and animated - while you are reading you really feel that you could be living in this community, amongst these people.
Through her interactions with her four children, her aunt, her sisters and her late husband's family we share in Nora's grief and go on a liberating journey of self-discovery alongside her. After more than twenty years of marriage she finds herself alone and her loneliness and grief are at times heartbreaking but gradually Nora learns to be her own person, answer to no-one and pursue her own interests without wondering what others will think of her. There are many moments of humour in the novel, particularly when describing the other residents of Enniscorthy and its many "local characters" and we also learn about Irish social history during the late 1960s / early 1970s. The result is a novel about grief and self discovery, but also about the place of women in society, the role of the Chruch in society and what it means to be a woman, a wife and a mother.
It is an intimate, powerful and ultimately uplifting book, although it is never trite. I loved it and now that I have finished I definitely miss Nora. Read it and enjoy being totally immersed in the thoughts of another person. Fantastic.
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