The Book of Beasts

by Bernice Friesen

An epic novel of a boy's coming of age through the religious, political and family conflict that his half-Irish, half-English heritage - and the complex characters of his relatives - create.In 1965, James, a half-English, half-Irish boy, is taken by his mother on a visit home to her Irish village after years of alienation from her family. She is physically and emotionally scarred from a car accident in which James' little sister was killed. Once home, she decides to leave her husband and stay there. At first traumatized, James finally resigns himself to living there, eventually becoming close to his uncle and his grandmother. His grandmother decides that James should become a priest, and he enters private school and then university to do so, only to lose his faith as he enters adulthood.Through it all, James is deeply embittered at his father's apparent abandonment. Then, as a young man, he visits his father and discovers that the man has been writing and sending gifts all along and has even paid for James' education. All of which his mother kept from him. Now furious at both parents, he must try and make sense of his life on his own terms.

387 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2008

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to write an actual review for this book, as part of the William Saroyan Book Prize, but I will say right now that it was a very unique coming of age story that dealt with the burdens of sin, guilt, and the Catholic faith on the main character. I enjoyed reading it - look for a more detailed review coming soon...

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written novel with intriguing characters and a plot with many complex issues ranging from family to religion. I did not like the last 80 pages and felt that it should not have been included in this novel. It felt out of place with his character. But I understand his situation and the time period in which this occured.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful prose. A very nice coming-of age story with a nice twist towards the end. I was a bit irritated at the final phase with the issues related to his mental health - James seemed just a bit too moody for my taste. Having said that, the book is very well written and I would recommend it.