This was the first book that I read with the Co-Operative Housing of Ireland’s new book club set up by Anthony Burrowes back in February 2021.
Anne Griffin’s’ novel, When All is Said is published by Sceptre in 2019. A real page turner, where you wanted to read it in one sitting. Only for the fact that I have two children, a Husband and a dog I would have happily done so. There are a few different cover designs, I read the green one. That cover design was by Jo Myler, and cover illustration is by Charlie Davis at Holder and Stoughton.
This novel was a ‘Number One Irish bestseller in 2019’, and it was also chosen as the ‘Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year’ in the ‘An Post Irish Book Awards’, as well as being shortlisted for the ‘John McGahern Annual Book Prize’ and the ‘RSL Christopher Bland Prize’.
The entire book has just seven chapters, but these chapters written cover the lifespan of the main character Maurice. It is also all set over the period of one evening only. Maurice Hannigan is an 84-year-old man who is sitting in a hotel, at the bar, on a stool. As he savours his drinks he toasts the lives of five extremely important people to him. One drink per person, per toast. He draws in the reader with tales from his life, and about his relationships with these characters over the years. Maurice reflects on the cards that he was dealt in life, and looks back on everything, from birth upwards the book is set. It is told in a monologue style and is
Anne’s book is well-written and deals with several different issues and various scenarios that life throws your way. Some are happy and sweet, some not so much at all and some truly heart-breaking, at times pulling on the heart-strings. Anne’s style of writing is conversational and simple to understand, with no flowery or over pretentious vocabulary, ideal for a great book for starting out with in a book club setting.
Already an avid reader, joining my first book club, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Griffin’s words flow easily through the pages, right from her imagination with well-crafted words yet simple for newer readers, and at the same time seeps into our own minds with our own interpretation and imagery. The magic that words can have on one, when hearts are touched, simply by the transportation of reading, is wonderful.
I could see this book being adapted for the stage and also as a screen play or film. This book is a must read. I sent Anne Griffin a personal message on Instagram account, and told her how much the CHI book club, now called ‘PAGE TURNERS’, enjoyed her book, and she replied graciously thanking us for choosing her book. Looking forward to reading Listening Still.
(c) Grace O’Reilly
Order your copy online here.
