A real corker

 

 5 stars

My reading has featured quite a lot from Ireland lately and I am finding it a refreshing change. The Boy from the Sea has proven to be the cherry on top in its cosy, relaxed, quintessentially Irish way. In this charmer we follow Ambrose and Christine Bonnar as they adopt a baby that has been found on the beach at Donegal, circa 1973. A good Christian thing to do, to be sure, but not all agree. Declan, their young son, is not keen to share his parents, home or even bedroom with this new interloper and is free and easy with his disgruntled opposition.

Brendan, the boy from the sea, causes no end of fascination for the locals and this wonderful tale is narrated by an omnipotent, unnamed villager who is the voice box for the community wisdom. I'm not Irish but I have been and love the country and its people. There's a sensible pragmatism that belies Irish logic, understated yet forceful at the same time. This novel is oozing with it, making it the delight I so enjoyed.

The characters are sublime. The interactions, especially when things get a bit fractious, are realistic and the narrative analysis of events is simply spot on. I was charmed from page one and enjoyed my time with the Bonnar family, most particularly Phyllis, Christine's sister. She didn't fly the nest of the childhood home, like Christine did, and instead stayed home to care from their elderly father. Her personality and way of thinking is skewed by her choices and her possible jealousy of Christine and her perceived freedoms. Like Declan, she also believes there's no room for Brendan in the family equation but will that belief ever shift?

This is simply a joyous family drama. Full of good and bad times, difficulties, love – spoken and unspoken. A gem of a novel that touched my heart. Rich in the beauty of Ireland, this novel will transport the reader to a lovely, hard working fishing village in a bygone time as this family adapts to the curveball life throws their way. Simply marvellous.