Donal Ryan's A Novel About December Trade Paperback 2014-image
Donal Ryan's A Novel About December Trade Paperback 2014-image

Donal Ryan's A Novel About December Trade Paperback 2014

$ 3.26

Dewey Edition: 23 ISBN-13: 9781586422288 Publication Year: 2014 Language: English Author: Donal Ryan Dewey Decimal: 823.92 brand: Steerforth Press Topic: Small Town & Rural, General, Literary Item Length: 8.2 in Item Weight: 7.4 Oz Reviews: "Donal Ryan's promising debut novel ( The Spinning Heart ) is surpassed by a tale ( The Thing About December ) that is destined to be pored over by judging panels for book prizes . . . Only 205 pages in length, it's the kind of meaty read that should be sold with a knife and fork. . . powerful and satisfying."  --  The (London) Sunday Times  "Even stronger and more harrowing than his debut. . . . Ryan is the natural successor to the late John McGahern. . . . Ryan holds you to the page by the sheer force of his language. . . . Ryan has an impressive ear for human conversation. . . . If you're interested in the state of Irish fiction now, pick up a copy of this book." -- Nadine O'Regan, The Sunday Business Post "Ryan is a remarkably good chronicler of contemporary Irish life, and The Thing about December fully confirms the promise of his earlier novel."- - John Boland, The Independent " The Thing About December is a perfect companion piece to The Spinning Heart . . . What's fascinating about Ryan's writing is the way it fits within a tradition of Irish literature while marking its own territory. In his descriptions of the conflicts between stunted young men and their domineering parents he recalls the great John McGahern; the unbalanced and troubling relationships between men and women offer shades of Anne Enright; Kevin Barry would feel proud of the often eccentric dialogue. But he is indisputably carving his own terrain with these short, fierce books that strike at the heart of what it has meant to be Irish in recent times . . . Ryan's work has set a benchmark to which other writers will aspire." -- John Boyne, The Irish Times, "Donal Ryan's promising debut novel ( The Spinning Heart ) is surpassed by a tale ( The Thing About December ) that is destined to be pored over by judging panels for book prizes . . . Only 205 pages in length, it's the kind of meaty read that should be sold with a knife and fork. . . powerful and satisfying." -- The (London) Sunday Times "Even stronger and more harrowing than his debut. . . . Ryan is the natural successor to the late John McGahern. . . . Ryan holds you to the page by the sheer force of his language. . . . Ryan has an impressive ear for human conversation. . . . If you're interested in the state of Irish fiction now, pick up a copy of this book." -- Nadine O'Regan, The Sunday Business Post "Ryan is a remarkably good chronicler of contemporary Irish life, and The Thing about December fully confirms the promise of his earlier novel."- - John Boland, The Independent " The Thing About December is a perfect companion piece to The Spinning Heart . . . What's fascinating about Ryan's writing is the way it fits within a tradition of Irish literature while marking its own territory. In his descriptions of the conflicts between stunted young men and their domineering parents he recalls the great John McGahern; the unbalanced and troubling relationships between men and women offer shades of Anne Enright; Kevin Barry would feel proud of the often eccentric dialogue. But he is indisputably carving his own terrain with these short, fierce books that strike at the heart of what it has meant to be Irish in recent times . . . Ryan's work has set a benchmark to which other writers will aspire." -- John Boyne, The Irish Times "Ryan proves himself capable of eliciting not just humour and sadness from this voice but also a genuine and underplayed poetry. . . . Ryan continues to establish himself as an important voice in recording contemporary Ireland." -- The Telegraph (UK), "Ryan has an impressive ear for human conversation. Every phrase echoes with the ring of hard-won truth and the lugubrious rhythms of country life, punctuated by sharp barks of gallows humor, exclamation points that usually signal interior distress rather than laughter... If you're interested in the state of Irish fiction now, pick up a copy of this book." -- Nadine O'Regan, The Sunday Business Post Book Title: Thing about December : a Novel ISBN-10: 1586422286 Publisher: Steerforth Press Format: Trade Paperback Synopsis: While the Celtic Tiger rages, and greed becomes the norm, Johnsey Cunliffe desperately tries to hold on to the familiar, even as he loses those who all his life have protected him from a harsh world. Following the deaths first of his father and then his mother, Johnsey inherits the family farm, and a healthy bank account, both of which he proves incapable of managing on his own. Village bullies and scheming land-grabbers stand in his way, no matter where he turns. Though companionship, and the promise of love, enter his life as a result of a hospital stay following a brutal beating, Johnsey remains a lonely man struggling to keep up with a world that moves faster than he does. Set over the course of one year of Johnsey Cunliffe's life, The Thing About December breathes with Johnsey's bewilderment, humor and agonizing self-doubt. Readers will fall in love with Johnsey in a bittersweet tale that serves as a poignant reminder that we are surrounded in life by simple souls who are nonetheless more insightful and wise than we realize, or can even imagine., Set during the Celtic Tiger, this "fierce" novel "[strikes] at the heart of what it has meant to be Irish in recent times"--from the critically acclaimed author of The Spinning Heart (John Boyne, author of The Heart's Invisible Furies ). "One of those beautiful, serious, fully living novels that will make you laugh out loud"--for fans of slice-of-life Irish writers like Claire Keegan and John McGahern ( Guardian ). While the Celtic Tiger rages, and greed becomes the norm, Johnsey Cunliffe desperately tries to hold on to the familiar, even as he loses those who all his life have protected him from a harsh world. Following the deaths first of his father and then his mother, Johnsey inherits the family farm, and a healthy bank account, both of which he proves incapable of managing on his own. Village bullies and scheming land-grabbers stand in his way, no matter where he turns. Though companionship, and the promise of love, enter his life as a result of a hospital stay following a brutal beating, Johnsey remains a lonely man struggling to keep up with a world that moves faster than he does. Set over the course of one year of Johnsey Cunliffe's life, The Thing About December breathes with Johnsey's bewilderment, humor and agonizing self-doubt. Readers will fall in love with Johnsey in a bittersweet tale that serves as a poignant reminder that we are surrounded in life by simple souls who are nonetheless more insightful and wise than we realize, or can even imagine. Item Width: 5.6 in Number of Pages: 208 Pages Genre: Fiction gtin13: 9781586422288 Item Height: 0.6 in Intended Audience: Trade TitleLeading: The

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  1. This novel is a beautifully written, emotional journey that captures the rawness of human connections. Donal Ryan’s storytelling is powerful and moving, making it impossible to put down. The characters feel real, and their struggles stay with you long after the last page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves deep, thought-provoking fiction. Great seller—responsive and helpful!

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