Louise Kennedy's novel Trespasses is set at the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland
The Tyneside Book Club started the year immersed in 1970s Northern Ireland as members tackled Louise Kennedy's prizewinning debut novel Trespasses.
It was a packed meeting held jointly with its sister club, leading to a strong attendance and plenty of opinions.
Members of both groups had a largely positive reaction to a book that the majority found readable, and engaging. Most agreed this was an impressive first novel that built well.
Members acknowledged the premise was not that original as other authors had explored The Troubles and relationships across the religious divide before. Most though thought Louise Kennedy approached the subject with subtlety and skill, and created a character in Cushla that you cared about, and who felt real.
Members felt she conjured up her characters with skill and an economy of writing that lifted them off the page. Cushla's mother Gina was in particular rendered in three dimensions,.
Some had more sympathy with love interest Michael than others. Quite a few members did not warm to him and felt he was clearly using Cushla. Others felt his emotions might have been genuine, even if he was a deeply flawed man. Some enjoyed the ambiguity of his character. Some members felt the presence of Cushla's friend Gerry was important in offering her support, and some light in the darkness.
The time period was rendered well, and those with some experience of Northern Ireland felt the account of the 1970s there rang true. Members appreciated the insight into a society where the stakes were high, and where your neighbours could become a threat to your life. As well as the religious divides, Trespasses also found time to explored class distinctions.
For some, the book took a little while to find its stride, but having struggled to engage with it initially, they found it developed well and won them over, avoiding some traps of predictability and melodrama.
The book was conventionally told, with no stylistic experimentation, but members felt that largely served the story well, and that the quality of the narrative sustained the approach.
For quite a few members, this was a book they loved, for others, although it did not pack the same punch, it still proved readable and rewarding.
It was a packed meeting held jointly with its sister club, leading to a strong attendance and plenty of opinions.
Members of both groups had a largely positive reaction to a book that the majority found readable, and engaging. Most agreed this was an impressive first novel that built well.
Members acknowledged the premise was not that original as other authors had explored The Troubles and relationships across the religious divide before. Most though thought Louise Kennedy approached the subject with subtlety and skill, and created a character in Cushla that you cared about, and who felt real.
Members felt she conjured up her characters with skill and an economy of writing that lifted them off the page. Cushla's mother Gina was in particular rendered in three dimensions,.
Some had more sympathy with love interest Michael than others. Quite a few members did not warm to him and felt he was clearly using Cushla. Others felt his emotions might have been genuine, even if he was a deeply flawed man. Some enjoyed the ambiguity of his character. Some members felt the presence of Cushla's friend Gerry was important in offering her support, and some light in the darkness.
The time period was rendered well, and those with some experience of Northern Ireland felt the account of the 1970s there rang true. Members appreciated the insight into a society where the stakes were high, and where your neighbours could become a threat to your life. As well as the religious divides, Trespasses also found time to explored class distinctions.
For some, the book took a little while to find its stride, but having struggled to engage with it initially, they found it developed well and won them over, avoiding some traps of predictability and melodrama.
The book was conventionally told, with no stylistic experimentation, but members felt that largely served the story well, and that the quality of the narrative sustained the approach.
For quite a few members, this was a book they loved, for others, although it did not pack the same punch, it still proved readable and rewarding.
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