The Good People My Rating: 4.6
Three women, drawn together to rescue a child from a superstitious community.
Nóra has lost her daughter and her husband in the same year, find herself alone and is now burdened with the care of her four-year-old grandson, Micheál. The boy cannot walk, or speak, and Nora, mistrustful of the tongues of gossips, has kept the child hidden from those who might see in his deformity evidence of otherworldly interference.
A handmaid, Mary, arrives to help Nora just as rumors begin to spread that Micheal is a changeling child who is bringing bad luck to the valley.
Determined to banish evil, Nora and Mary enlist the help of Nance, an elderly wanderer who understands the magic of the old ways.
This was based on true events in nineteenth century Ireland. This is a slow build and worth every minute. It is hard to believe that this is only Kent's second novel. The writing is rich and leads you into the world of superstition. I want to read her first novel which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and the Guardian First Book Award. It won the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year, the Indie Awards Debut Fiction Book of the Year and the Victorian Premier's People's Choice Award, and was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Definitely recommend the audio version.
Immediate add to library list. I didn’t realize she has a new book. I loved Burial Rites. Sounds like this is similar in vibe, slow build, heavy atmospheric writing. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI have Burial Rites on my hold list after I read this one. You nailed it in your description. So good! ♥
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