Staff Pick
This Is Happiness
by Niall Williams
AUCK IN STOCK
WGTN IN STOCK
Pages:
400
Published:
9 Jul 2020
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN:
9781526609359
Shortlisted for Best Novel in the Irish Book AwardsLonglisted for the 2020 Walter Scott Prize for Historical FictionFrom the acclaimed author of Man Booker-longlisted History of the Rain
'Lyrical, tender and sumptuously perceptive' Sunday Times 'A love letter to the sleepy, unhurried and delightfully odd Ireland that is all but gone' Irish Independent After dropping out of the seminary, seventeen-year-old Noel Crowe finds himself back in Faha, a small Irish parish where nothing ever changes, including the ever-falling rain. But one morning the rain stops and news reaches the parish - the electricity is finally arriving. With it comes a lodger to Noel's home, Christy McMahon. Though he can't explain it, Noel knows right then: something has changed. As Noel navigates his coming-of-age by Christy's side, falling in and out of love, Christy's buried past gradually comes to light, casting a glow on a small world and making it new.
'Lyrical, tender and sumptuously perceptive' Sunday Times 'A love letter to the sleepy, unhurried and delightfully odd Ireland that is all but gone' Irish Independent After dropping out of the seminary, seventeen-year-old Noel Crowe finds himself back in Faha, a small Irish parish where nothing ever changes, including the ever-falling rain. But one morning the rain stops and news reaches the parish - the electricity is finally arriving. With it comes a lodger to Noel's home, Christy McMahon. Though he can't explain it, Noel knows right then: something has changed. As Noel navigates his coming-of-age by Christy's side, falling in and out of love, Christy's buried past gradually comes to light, casting a glow on a small world and making it new.
$25.00
Demolished this one! Williams has a knack for crafting a crazy tangible atmosphere; one which is recognisably nostalgic, yet still holds the allure of unfamialiarity. The writing is kind of smeary and wonderful, and the characters exist in this perfect space. Brave hilarious, irresistible. Your new favourite!
Anneke, Unity Books wellington
