Never an End for the Sea
Found adrift at sea in a barrel, a baby boy is rescued and embraced by the people of a small coastal village in Donegal. Fisherman Ambrose Bonnar immediately bonds with the infant and pushes for adoption. Christine, his wife, accepts her husband's wishes, but their son, Declan, resents his new sibling, Brendan, as an unwelcome intruder.
"The Boy from the Sea" is told by the collective voice of the villagers, in a Greek chorus style. We see the effect Brendan has on both the town and the family that has taken him in.
Brendan's distant nature, heightened by his mysterious background, sets him apart. While the locals are reticent to embrace miracles, they hold a deep reverence for the ocean's mystique. Drawn to him, people seek his guidance and blessings. He never claims special powers, instead he listens confidentially to people, never commenting, and then responding with the simplest of blessings. Most villagers adopt the mindset that "it couldn't hurt."
"There's some around town who believe the boy's special, on account of the way he first appeared... People like to tell Brendan what's troubling them... and from what I hear, he may give them a blessing of some sort..."
In addition to Brendan, the heart of the book lies in the fishing village itself. Ambrose loves both the sea and his ship, the Christine Dawn. His life and the town's prosperity hinge on fishing, a way of life naturally expected to pass to his sons. Declan, who has staunchly rejected Brendan, seeks his father's attention by working alongside him on board.
Phyllis, Christine's sister, has consistently questioned the family's decision to adopt Brendan. Her resentment stems from her role as caretaker for her father, Eunan, who suffers from advanced dementia. Additionally, she frequently asks Christine for money. This is another sibling rivalry, although not nearly as all-consuming as Declan's and Brendan's.
The pacing is leisurely as the village informs us how they are coping with the world's changes. The central focus is on Ambrose's business struggles and the brothers' deteriorating relationship as they grow. Then, as in real life, tragedy strikes, and their world turns upside down. This is where author Garrett Carr shows us the life choices our characters will make.
An exceptional debut novel, "Boy from the Sea," provides a rare portrayal of a tight-knit Irish fishing community. Last year's outstanding "Coast Road" covered a similar setting, but with a much different emphasis. Both books, however, touch upon the struggles of timeworn communities to keep pace with a changing world.
This is a place well worth visiting.
"There's never an end for the sea." ~ Samuel Beckett
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Found adrift at sea in a barrel, a baby boy is rescued and embraced by the people of a small coastal village in Donegal. Fisherman Ambrose Bonnar immediately bonds with the infant and pushes for adoption. Christine, his wife, accepts her husband's wishes, but their son, Declan, resents his new sibling, Brendan, as an unwelcome intruder.
"The Boy from the Sea" is told by the collective voice of the villagers, in a Greek chorus style. We see the effect Brendan has on both the town and the family that has taken him in.
Brendan's distant nature, heightened by his mysterious background, sets him apart. While the locals are reticent to embrace miracles, they hold a deep reverence for the ocean's mystique. Drawn to him, people seek his guidance and blessings. He never claims special powers, instead he listens confidentially to people, never commenting, and then responding with the simplest of blessings. Most villagers adopt the mindset that "it couldn't hurt."
"There's some around town who believe the boy's special, on account of the way he first appeared... People like to tell Brendan what's troubling them... and from what I hear, he may give them a blessing of some sort..."
In addition to Brendan, the heart of the book lies in the fishing village itself. Ambrose loves both the sea and his ship, the Christine Dawn. His life and the town's prosperity hinge on fishing, a way of life naturally expected to pass to his sons. Declan, who has staunchly rejected Brendan, seeks his father's attention by working alongside him on board.
Phyllis, Christine's sister, has consistently questioned the family's decision to adopt Brendan. Her resentment stems from her role as caretaker for her father, Eunan, who suffers from advanced dementia. Additionally, she frequently asks Christine for money. This is another sibling rivalry, although not nearly as all-consuming as Declan's and Brendan's.
The pacing is leisurely as the village informs us how they are coping with the world's changes. The central focus is on Ambrose's business struggles and the brothers' deteriorating relationship as they grow. Then, as in real life, tragedy strikes, and their world turns upside down. This is where author Garrett Carr shows us the life choices our characters will make.
An exceptional debut novel, "Boy from the Sea," provides a rare portrayal of a tight-knit Irish fishing community. Last year's outstanding "Coast Road" covered a similar setting, but with a much different emphasis. Both books, however, touch upon the struggles of timeworn communities to keep pace with a changing world.
This is a place well worth visiting.
"There's never an end for the sea." ~ Samuel Beckett
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
