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The Boy from the Sea
Set on Ireland’s west coast in the 1970s and 80s, a captivating debut novel about a baby boy who is discovered on the beach beside a small fishing town, as told by the locals who fall under the boy’s transfixing spell.
Ireland 1973, a baby boy is found on the beach of a close-knit fishing village. Fisherman Ambrose Bonnar offers to bring the child into his own his son, Declan, wife, Christine, and up the lane, Christine's sister and aging father. The townspeople remain fascinated by the baby, now named Brendan, as he grows into a strange yet charismatic young man.
The Boy from the Sea tells the story of a family and community, all thrown into turmoil by Brendan’s arrival. The family's fortunes rise and fall over the years—as do the town's, because nothing happens to one family here that doesn't happen to them all—as the forces of a voracious global economy and modernized commercial fishing wreak havoc on their way of life. In the village, Brendan and Declan are wildly different and often wildly at odds; out on the sea, Ambrose worries about his children, but cannot afford to tear his attention from the brutal work that keeps his family afloat. As the world around them keeps changing, the mystery of one boy’s origins pulls them all toward a surprising, stormy fate.
Both outrageously funny and incredibly moving, The Boy from the Sea is a dazzling novel from a major new voice in Irish literature.
Ireland 1973, a baby boy is found on the beach of a close-knit fishing village. Fisherman Ambrose Bonnar offers to bring the child into his own his son, Declan, wife, Christine, and up the lane, Christine's sister and aging father. The townspeople remain fascinated by the baby, now named Brendan, as he grows into a strange yet charismatic young man.
The Boy from the Sea tells the story of a family and community, all thrown into turmoil by Brendan’s arrival. The family's fortunes rise and fall over the years—as do the town's, because nothing happens to one family here that doesn't happen to them all—as the forces of a voracious global economy and modernized commercial fishing wreak havoc on their way of life. In the village, Brendan and Declan are wildly different and often wildly at odds; out on the sea, Ambrose worries about his children, but cannot afford to tear his attention from the brutal work that keeps his family afloat. As the world around them keeps changing, the mystery of one boy’s origins pulls them all toward a surprising, stormy fate.
Both outrageously funny and incredibly moving, The Boy from the Sea is a dazzling novel from a major new voice in Irish literature.
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First published February 6, 2025
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About the author
Garrett Carr
10 books96 followersTHE BOY FROM THE SEA
"A novel of heart-bumping power and sparkling vividness, this book evokes the seethe and surge of an island nation's sea fables while being suspicious of sentiment, often wittily so. A story about a very specific place that somehow comes to seem an everywhere and a people who feel familiar as faces in mirrors. A breathtaking achievement." Joseph O'Connor, author of Star of the Sea and My Father's House.
“Compulsive reading . . . Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment.” Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses
"The Boy from the Sea is a single-generation family saga as dazzlingly compact as it is comprehensively insightful, a love story in which the tenderness and forbearance are all the more moving for the eloquence with which the hardships and reticence are rendered." Jim Shepard, author of The Book of Aron
"The Boy from the Sea has that rare quality I often find myself searching for in a novel – narrative intimacy among the vastness of life. Garrett Carr is meticulous and precise in his writing – the skilled invisibility of a true craftsman. This book is fully alive, and enlivens the reader." Rónán Hession, author of Ghost Mountain
"I was captivated by the trials and triumphs of the Bonnars. A bittersweet ballad of a novel, I'll be thinking about for a very long time."Jan Carson, author of The Fire Starters
THE RULE OF THE LAND: WALKING IRELAND'S BORDER
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
“Great writing about landscape and history” Colm Tóibín (Bad Blood, Brooklyn)
“Garrett Carr engages a mapmaker’s eye and a writer’s sensibility to create a great book” The Irish Times
“It is Carr's contention that Ireland is more divided than any of us suspected — not in two but in three: north, south and borderland. The third state is opened up in this marvellous book” The Daily Telegraph
“Timely, informative and often very funny” Tom Holland (Rubicon, Persian Fire)
“Packed with interest – varied and fun to read” Times Literary Supplement
“Powerfully captures the often desolate beauty of the border landscape in language that is both robust, yet lyrical” David Park (Light in Amsterdam, The Truth Commissioner)
“Wonderfully written [and] like good art should, it constantly surprises and offers new perspectives; you see things differently afterwards” Irish Independent
“From ancient defensive monuments to newly-built peace bridges, Carr gently uncoils themes of land, home, and power” Irish Examiner
“A poignant, funny, memorable read, layered with ideas” Nicholas Crane (BBC)
“A sensitive portrait of the people of these borderlands, and his maps of the route are full of unexpected, lively detail” Radio Times
“Reminiscent of Tim Robinson's response to landscape and what dwells within” Sunday Times
“An exceptional read” Sunday Independent
“The place is rich indeed in life and stone, and I have seldom encountered line drawings as clear and beautiful and photographs as fine as those that appear in this brilliant guide to the border” Literary Review
In the wake of the EU referendum, Ireland's border has gained greater significance: it will be the UK's frontier with the European Union. Over the past year, Garrett Carr has travelled this border, on foot and by canoe, to uncover a landscape with a troubled past and an uncertain future. Across this thinly populated line, travelling down hidden pathways and among ancient monuments, Carr encounters a variety of characters who have made this liminal space their home. He reveals the turbulent history of this landscape and changes the way we look at nationhood, land and power.
The book incorporates Carr's own maps and photographs.
Author of THE BADNESS OF BALLYDOG
“A born storyteller … ”
The Times
“One of the most imaginative debut children's novels I've read in a long time … Carr's writing is a joy - confident, muscular and fearless.”
The Irish Independent
"... one of those books that makes me wish there were no ca
"A novel of heart-bumping power and sparkling vividness, this book evokes the seethe and surge of an island nation's sea fables while being suspicious of sentiment, often wittily so. A story about a very specific place that somehow comes to seem an everywhere and a people who feel familiar as faces in mirrors. A breathtaking achievement." Joseph O'Connor, author of Star of the Sea and My Father's House.
“Compulsive reading . . . Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment.” Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses
"The Boy from the Sea is a single-generation family saga as dazzlingly compact as it is comprehensively insightful, a love story in which the tenderness and forbearance are all the more moving for the eloquence with which the hardships and reticence are rendered." Jim Shepard, author of The Book of Aron
"The Boy from the Sea has that rare quality I often find myself searching for in a novel – narrative intimacy among the vastness of life. Garrett Carr is meticulous and precise in his writing – the skilled invisibility of a true craftsman. This book is fully alive, and enlivens the reader." Rónán Hession, author of Ghost Mountain
"I was captivated by the trials and triumphs of the Bonnars. A bittersweet ballad of a novel, I'll be thinking about for a very long time."Jan Carson, author of The Fire Starters
THE RULE OF THE LAND: WALKING IRELAND'S BORDER
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
“Great writing about landscape and history” Colm Tóibín (Bad Blood, Brooklyn)
“Garrett Carr engages a mapmaker’s eye and a writer’s sensibility to create a great book” The Irish Times
“It is Carr's contention that Ireland is more divided than any of us suspected — not in two but in three: north, south and borderland. The third state is opened up in this marvellous book” The Daily Telegraph
“Timely, informative and often very funny” Tom Holland (Rubicon, Persian Fire)
“Packed with interest – varied and fun to read” Times Literary Supplement
“Powerfully captures the often desolate beauty of the border landscape in language that is both robust, yet lyrical” David Park (Light in Amsterdam, The Truth Commissioner)
“Wonderfully written [and] like good art should, it constantly surprises and offers new perspectives; you see things differently afterwards” Irish Independent
“From ancient defensive monuments to newly-built peace bridges, Carr gently uncoils themes of land, home, and power” Irish Examiner
“A poignant, funny, memorable read, layered with ideas” Nicholas Crane (BBC)
“A sensitive portrait of the people of these borderlands, and his maps of the route are full of unexpected, lively detail” Radio Times
“Reminiscent of Tim Robinson's response to landscape and what dwells within” Sunday Times
“An exceptional read” Sunday Independent
“The place is rich indeed in life and stone, and I have seldom encountered line drawings as clear and beautiful and photographs as fine as those that appear in this brilliant guide to the border” Literary Review
In the wake of the EU referendum, Ireland's border has gained greater significance: it will be the UK's frontier with the European Union. Over the past year, Garrett Carr has travelled this border, on foot and by canoe, to uncover a landscape with a troubled past and an uncertain future. Across this thinly populated line, travelling down hidden pathways and among ancient monuments, Carr encounters a variety of characters who have made this liminal space their home. He reveals the turbulent history of this landscape and changes the way we look at nationhood, land and power.
The book incorporates Carr's own maps and photographs.
Author of THE BADNESS OF BALLYDOG
“A born storyteller … ”
The Times
“One of the most imaginative debut children's novels I've read in a long time … Carr's writing is a joy - confident, muscular and fearless.”
The Irish Independent
"... one of those books that makes me wish there were no ca
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 654 reviews
May 16, 2025
This is a quiet novel, collectively narrated by the people of a small fishing village in Donegal, Ireland . The focus is on a young family who adopt a baby boy found by the sea and how this decision impacts them over the years. It’s about this family trying to make a living, about their many times troubled relationships - between father and sons, between spouses, between brothers, and in the extended family between sisters , between father and daughters. It’s about their everyday lives with the good and the heartbreaking aspects of it.
There are characters outside of this family including the collective narrators, the villagers who became for me anonymous characters. In snippets throughout the novel they provide almost like a newspaper column, the weather, events, and details about some of the villagers as well as telling the story of this family. I loved the format. I loved the way we get to know this family . It’s also one of those stories, where the sense of place, this village by the sea is so integral to the story, you might even say it’s a character. A well written novel that takes us on a journey of this family from heartbreak to hope.
I received a copy of this book from Knopf through NetGalley
There are characters outside of this family including the collective narrators, the villagers who became for me anonymous characters. In snippets throughout the novel they provide almost like a newspaper column, the weather, events, and details about some of the villagers as well as telling the story of this family. I loved the format. I loved the way we get to know this family . It’s also one of those stories, where the sense of place, this village by the sea is so integral to the story, you might even say it’s a character. A well written novel that takes us on a journey of this family from heartbreak to hope.
I received a copy of this book from Knopf through NetGalley
April 14, 2025
A story set in the fishing village of Killybegs, Donegal in the 1970’s and 80’s.
A baby boy washes up inside a half barrel, just days old and the local’s fall under his spell.
A fisherman and his wife who have a two year old son adopt this baby.
Beautifully written.. a story of family, sibling rivalry, and life in a close-knit fishing community.
The story is told by the local’s.
I really didn’t want this story to end!
It’s the Irish stories and authors that are my favorite!
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC given for an honest review!
A baby boy washes up inside a half barrel, just days old and the local’s fall under his spell.
A fisherman and his wife who have a two year old son adopt this baby.
Beautifully written.. a story of family, sibling rivalry, and life in a close-knit fishing community.
The story is told by the local’s.
I really didn’t want this story to end!
It’s the Irish stories and authors that are my favorite!
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC given for an honest review!
April 19, 2025
I’m not sure why, but this book took me a very long time to read. It was very “wordy”, and it read super slow. The story itself was decent enough, but it just wasn’t grabbing or keeping my attention the way I thought or hoped it would.
This story takes place in Ireland, 1973. A baby boy is found abandoned on the beach. The whole town is fascinated by this baby, and it is the fisherman Ambrose, who is able to take him home for the night and then proceeds to adopt him.
Ambrose and his wife, Christine, already have a son when they bring this baby home and adopt him. Their son, Declan, is not very happy with his new brother. The town is still fascinated by this boy who was found by the sea, and Declan is very jealous of him. They named the boy from the sea, Brendan- and Declan swears because they are not blood related, Brendan will never be his brother.
Through this story we learn about the lives of Ambrose, Christine, Declan, and Brendan (the Bonnar’s). We also learn a bit about Christine’s father, and her sister, Phyllis- who was absolutely dreadful. Phyllis was a very unlikable character for me. We learn a bit about the townspeople, and also their thoughts about Brendan, who is “the boy from the sea”.
I did enjoy reading about Brendan throughout this story, and could often resonate and empathize with him as he felt like he never belonged or fit in anywhere. Ambrose, his father, was a very kind man who I kept rooting for as well in this book. However, there were some sad moments in this book and I can’t say that this was a light read at all.
I see there are many reviews that are much higher than mine for this book, so I say give this book a shot as I just may not have read this at the right time.
I would like to thank the publisher (Penguin Random House/Knopf), for sending me a physical copy of this book (uncorrected proof), in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: May 13, 2025
This story takes place in Ireland, 1973. A baby boy is found abandoned on the beach. The whole town is fascinated by this baby, and it is the fisherman Ambrose, who is able to take him home for the night and then proceeds to adopt him.
Ambrose and his wife, Christine, already have a son when they bring this baby home and adopt him. Their son, Declan, is not very happy with his new brother. The town is still fascinated by this boy who was found by the sea, and Declan is very jealous of him. They named the boy from the sea, Brendan- and Declan swears because they are not blood related, Brendan will never be his brother.
Through this story we learn about the lives of Ambrose, Christine, Declan, and Brendan (the Bonnar’s). We also learn a bit about Christine’s father, and her sister, Phyllis- who was absolutely dreadful. Phyllis was a very unlikable character for me. We learn a bit about the townspeople, and also their thoughts about Brendan, who is “the boy from the sea”.
I did enjoy reading about Brendan throughout this story, and could often resonate and empathize with him as he felt like he never belonged or fit in anywhere. Ambrose, his father, was a very kind man who I kept rooting for as well in this book. However, there were some sad moments in this book and I can’t say that this was a light read at all.
I see there are many reviews that are much higher than mine for this book, so I say give this book a shot as I just may not have read this at the right time.
I would like to thank the publisher (Penguin Random House/Knopf), for sending me a physical copy of this book (uncorrected proof), in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: May 13, 2025
June 10, 2025
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
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor– and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheBoyfromtheSea #NetGalley
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
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor– and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheBoyfromtheSea #NetGalley
February 22, 2025
The Boy from the Sea is a beautifully crafted story, narrated through the perspectives of the residents of an Irish village. It feels as though an observer from above is watching over Brendan and the people whose lives he touches, often zooming in on intimate scenes and dialogues. As a reader, you experience the emotions of all the main characters—almost except Brendan’s. This narrative choice gives Brendan, the boy found by the sea as a newborn, an otherworldly quality. His quietness only deepens the story’s mystique.
The novel flows like the gentle waves of the sea, spanning two decades without ever speeding up. It maintains a deliberately slow pace, requiring readers to surrender to its lyrical prose and unique narrative style. Although I found the pacing a bit too slow at times, I was captivated by Brendan’s newfound family: Ambrose, with his soft spot for the boy from the sea; Declan, who was jealous of the boy he didn’t want to call his brother; and Christine, who tried to hold everything together. The Irish setting added another layer of depth to the story.
Actual rating 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because of the beautiful writing and the enchanting atmosphere.
Thank you, Knopf and NetGalley, for this wonderful novel.
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The novel flows like the gentle waves of the sea, spanning two decades without ever speeding up. It maintains a deliberately slow pace, requiring readers to surrender to its lyrical prose and unique narrative style. Although I found the pacing a bit too slow at times, I was captivated by Brendan’s newfound family: Ambrose, with his soft spot for the boy from the sea; Declan, who was jealous of the boy he didn’t want to call his brother; and Christine, who tried to hold everything together. The Irish setting added another layer of depth to the story.
Actual rating 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because of the beautiful writing and the enchanting atmosphere.
Thank you, Knopf and NetGalley, for this wonderful novel.
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August 15, 2025
The Boy From The Sea is a story about identity and family within a tight-knit Irish community.
This is a tale that is pervaded with a sense of magical realism for much of the book... A young baby is discovered within a box believed to have been pushed in by the tide. The child takes on a sense of mysticism and folklore as the locals continually question who he is.
The boy ( to be named Brendan) is taken under the wings of the Bonnar family led by a fisherman named Ambrose- he and his wife Christine already have a young child named Declan.
Much of the story focuses on the hardships of the fishing community in the the 1970s and the 1980s and how the family struggle to survive despite dreams and aspirations; the neighbouring influence of Christine's father and sister who do not approve of the 'cuckoo in the nest' and the fragile and fragmented relationship between Declan and Brendan- jealousy and difference.
As Brendan grows older he starts to lead a solitary existence wandering around the local area but is soon regarded as having some ethereal quality as locals believe he can help the infirm ..
This is a story with a sense of underlying melancholy but there is a definite feel that Brendan is different - but how ...and is all that it seems or can people desperate for hope create illusions ?
Garrett Carr has written a gentle yet moving story- the narrative often told from the perspective of the village observing the Bonnar family. The friction between the two brothers is what makes this great reading - acceptance, denial, betrayal and hidden love as well as the sense of 'claustrophobia' in a small seaside community that needs hope.
A beautiful and moving story
This is a tale that is pervaded with a sense of magical realism for much of the book... A young baby is discovered within a box believed to have been pushed in by the tide. The child takes on a sense of mysticism and folklore as the locals continually question who he is.
The boy ( to be named Brendan) is taken under the wings of the Bonnar family led by a fisherman named Ambrose- he and his wife Christine already have a young child named Declan.
Much of the story focuses on the hardships of the fishing community in the the 1970s and the 1980s and how the family struggle to survive despite dreams and aspirations; the neighbouring influence of Christine's father and sister who do not approve of the 'cuckoo in the nest' and the fragile and fragmented relationship between Declan and Brendan- jealousy and difference.
As Brendan grows older he starts to lead a solitary existence wandering around the local area but is soon regarded as having some ethereal quality as locals believe he can help the infirm ..
This is a story with a sense of underlying melancholy but there is a definite feel that Brendan is different - but how ...and is all that it seems or can people desperate for hope create illusions ?
Garrett Carr has written a gentle yet moving story- the narrative often told from the perspective of the village observing the Bonnar family. The friction between the two brothers is what makes this great reading - acceptance, denial, betrayal and hidden love as well as the sense of 'claustrophobia' in a small seaside community that needs hope.
A beautiful and moving story
July 5, 2025
I got this book from the library, which I do with newer contemporary novels, because if they don't engage my interest within a few chapters I can always just return them without guilt. I wasn't sure about this one at first but I was still reading after an hour, so decided to plunge on. Brendan was found in a blue plastic bin bobbing just along the Donegal shore when he was just a few days old. He was taken in by Ambrose and Christine who already had a two year old son, Declan, who keeps asking why. It's clearly a set up for a Cain and Abel scenario.
Which it is, because the jealously and resentment of Declan drives this plot. But there's no violence or suspense here, other than in small everyday ways. The unnamed townspeople narrate this story in a gentle flow of time passing, people getting sick and dying, money being made and lost, everyday life punctuated by its ebb and flow and ways of going good or bad.
"So this was having a family: you might mean well but hurt them anyway, they had reactions and felt disappointments you couldn't predict."
Don't we all find that out eventually? That's why I kept reading.
I like this new to me Irish author. Not sure how I feel about the ending yet, but it wasn't a disappointment or surprise. Just a gentle reminder that life goes on in ways we can't foresee.
Which it is, because the jealously and resentment of Declan drives this plot. But there's no violence or suspense here, other than in small everyday ways. The unnamed townspeople narrate this story in a gentle flow of time passing, people getting sick and dying, money being made and lost, everyday life punctuated by its ebb and flow and ways of going good or bad.
"So this was having a family: you might mean well but hurt them anyway, they had reactions and felt disappointments you couldn't predict."
Don't we all find that out eventually? That's why I kept reading.
I like this new to me Irish author. Not sure how I feel about the ending yet, but it wasn't a disappointment or surprise. Just a gentle reminder that life goes on in ways we can't foresee.
November 15, 2024
The Boy from the Sea, Picador's lead fiction title for 2025, is an enchanting tale set in Donegal that gets under your skin in the best possible way. Full of gentle wit and wisdom, and using the narrative "we" voice of the fishing community it's set in, it brings the village and its inhabitants, as well as the mighty Atlantic Ocean to life.
Opening in 1973 and unfolding over two decades, it tells the story of a boy who is washed up in a fishing barrel on the beach. Named Brendan, he is adopted by fisherman Ambrose Bonnar, himself an outsider in the town, and his wife Christine. Brendan is an endless source of fascination for the town, much to the disgust of his older brother Declan, who sees Brendan as an interloper.
I loved that the book did not lean into old Catholic Ireland. Refreshingly, the sea was the real god of the town ("Our town's dominant religion required us to believe in miracles, but we didn't") with its community being a pragmatic, if occasionally superstitious, people.
I loved the relationship between Christine and her sister Phyllis, and the complexities and loneliness of caring for an elderly parent, as well as the insights into the tough lives of fisherman at sea as they navigated the challenges of EU fishing quotas and rapidly advancing modernity in shipping, with one foot in the past and one in the future.
Every time I picked up The Boy from the Sea it felt like I was stepping off life's treadmill and immersing myself in another world. If you enjoyed The Coast Road, Trespasses or The Colony, this is one to look out for. 5/5 stars
*Many thanks to Picador for the advance proof copy. The Boy from the Sea will be published in February 2025. One to bookmark!
Opening in 1973 and unfolding over two decades, it tells the story of a boy who is washed up in a fishing barrel on the beach. Named Brendan, he is adopted by fisherman Ambrose Bonnar, himself an outsider in the town, and his wife Christine. Brendan is an endless source of fascination for the town, much to the disgust of his older brother Declan, who sees Brendan as an interloper.
I loved that the book did not lean into old Catholic Ireland. Refreshingly, the sea was the real god of the town ("Our town's dominant religion required us to believe in miracles, but we didn't") with its community being a pragmatic, if occasionally superstitious, people.
I loved the relationship between Christine and her sister Phyllis, and the complexities and loneliness of caring for an elderly parent, as well as the insights into the tough lives of fisherman at sea as they navigated the challenges of EU fishing quotas and rapidly advancing modernity in shipping, with one foot in the past and one in the future.
Every time I picked up The Boy from the Sea it felt like I was stepping off life's treadmill and immersing myself in another world. If you enjoyed The Coast Road, Trespasses or The Colony, this is one to look out for. 5/5 stars
*Many thanks to Picador for the advance proof copy. The Boy from the Sea will be published in February 2025. One to bookmark!
January 25, 2025
4.5
I didn't really read the synopsis so I think I was expecting something a little more strange. However what I got was a beautiful story about family and rivalry.
In Donegal a child is washed up in a barrel. The village immediately rallies around to care for the little boy until Ambrose and Christine Bonnar decide that their family should adopt the boy who has been named Brendan. Unfortunately their son, Declan, feels pushed out and takes various measures to make his "brother" feel as unwelcome as possible.
The book is narrated by an unnamed villager who charts the problems faced by the whole Bonnar family who are fishermen in a time when the industry is under increasing pressure. Brendan's behaviour becomes increasingly strange and no matter how hard they try, neither Christine nor Ambrose can get Declan to accept the boy.
The writing is beautiful and the whole story feels typically Irish - not just because of the setting, certainly the language is full of Irish idioms. I thought this would be a story mainly about the boy from the sea but it encompasses the whole family and the villagers.
I really enjoyed the story and the writing style. Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance review copy.
I didn't really read the synopsis so I think I was expecting something a little more strange. However what I got was a beautiful story about family and rivalry.
In Donegal a child is washed up in a barrel. The village immediately rallies around to care for the little boy until Ambrose and Christine Bonnar decide that their family should adopt the boy who has been named Brendan. Unfortunately their son, Declan, feels pushed out and takes various measures to make his "brother" feel as unwelcome as possible.
The book is narrated by an unnamed villager who charts the problems faced by the whole Bonnar family who are fishermen in a time when the industry is under increasing pressure. Brendan's behaviour becomes increasingly strange and no matter how hard they try, neither Christine nor Ambrose can get Declan to accept the boy.
The writing is beautiful and the whole story feels typically Irish - not just because of the setting, certainly the language is full of Irish idioms. I thought this would be a story mainly about the boy from the sea but it encompasses the whole family and the villagers.
I really enjoyed the story and the writing style. Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance review copy.
April 27, 2025
It's 1973, and the Irish town of Killybegs is stunned when a newborn baby appears in a barrel on its shores. Nobody has a clue where the little boy came from. He's passed from house to house before being adopted by fisherman Ambrose Bonnar and his wife Christine. They name the lad Brendan and immediately treat him as one of their own. But their toddler Declan takes a dislike to his new brother and a decades long rivalry is born. The family are not without other struggles. Ambrose has ambitious plans to scale his fishing business, but he is hampered by a lack of funds and fierce competition in the industry. Meanwhile Christine has to contend with her sister Phyllis, who is angry about the lack of time she spends caring for Eunan, their cantankerous elderly father. As the years pass, Brendan develops into an unusual child, spending his days on solitary walks and giving his 'blessings' to people around town. And like any family, the Bonnars will have their share of unexpected heartache to deal with.
This immersive story works on two levels. First of all, it excels as a domestic drama. Each family member has problems of their own to deal with, but the internal relationships are what make the story so interesting. Ambrose has a soft spot for Brendan, which makes Declan insanely jealous. Meanwhile all Brendan has ever wanted is the approval of his big brother, who wants nothing to do with him. Christine worries about all of them and feels guilty about neglecting her sister and father. It made me think of the line from Anna Karenina, how 'each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Secondly, the story paints a vivid picture of the dangers and difficulties associated with a career in fishing. Ambrose is proud when Declan decides to follow in his footsteps, but he knows in his heart that the boy is unsuited to the work, and that it's an extremely tough way to make a living. The one criticism I have of the book is that it's a bit on the long side and I felt the story sagged in the middle. However, it's a colourful and captivating tale about the impact one little boy has on a family and a community. And though some scenes are tragic, it's written with a lighter touch, one that really captures the Irish way of dealing with adversity through humour.
Favourite Quotes:
"Eunan was against anything without set purpose and complete predictability and a human tended to fail on these requirements. He was against surprises, he hadn’t allowed a telephone in the house for many years as you never knew when it might ring on you. He mocked anything frivolous: placemats, dessert, having a lie-in, suffering from your nerves. ‘Get away out of that!’ he’d shout at cream cakes and people with hay fever."
"...we were a discreet people but Tommy was a particularly fine diplomat. If there was a trophy for not mentioning things Tommy would’ve won it, then kept it at the back of his wardrobe and never mentioned it."
"He still felt guilty about his comportment with Christine later, as he sat in his car outside the fisheries office. He’d never actually apologize but he’d be extra jovial in their next few encounters; this was how we indicated we were sorry for something we’d said or done: by acting oddly the next time we met you."
"A note on our use of the word ‘grand’ is here required. It might sound like a relative of good or great but in our usage it was something different. ‘Grand’ was how we acknowledged that something wasn’t good or great while also saying nothing could be done and there was no point going on about it."
This immersive story works on two levels. First of all, it excels as a domestic drama. Each family member has problems of their own to deal with, but the internal relationships are what make the story so interesting. Ambrose has a soft spot for Brendan, which makes Declan insanely jealous. Meanwhile all Brendan has ever wanted is the approval of his big brother, who wants nothing to do with him. Christine worries about all of them and feels guilty about neglecting her sister and father. It made me think of the line from Anna Karenina, how 'each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Secondly, the story paints a vivid picture of the dangers and difficulties associated with a career in fishing. Ambrose is proud when Declan decides to follow in his footsteps, but he knows in his heart that the boy is unsuited to the work, and that it's an extremely tough way to make a living. The one criticism I have of the book is that it's a bit on the long side and I felt the story sagged in the middle. However, it's a colourful and captivating tale about the impact one little boy has on a family and a community. And though some scenes are tragic, it's written with a lighter touch, one that really captures the Irish way of dealing with adversity through humour.
Favourite Quotes:
"Eunan was against anything without set purpose and complete predictability and a human tended to fail on these requirements. He was against surprises, he hadn’t allowed a telephone in the house for many years as you never knew when it might ring on you. He mocked anything frivolous: placemats, dessert, having a lie-in, suffering from your nerves. ‘Get away out of that!’ he’d shout at cream cakes and people with hay fever."
"...we were a discreet people but Tommy was a particularly fine diplomat. If there was a trophy for not mentioning things Tommy would’ve won it, then kept it at the back of his wardrobe and never mentioned it."
"He still felt guilty about his comportment with Christine later, as he sat in his car outside the fisheries office. He’d never actually apologize but he’d be extra jovial in their next few encounters; this was how we indicated we were sorry for something we’d said or done: by acting oddly the next time we met you."
"A note on our use of the word ‘grand’ is here required. It might sound like a relative of good or great but in our usage it was something different. ‘Grand’ was how we acknowledged that something wasn’t good or great while also saying nothing could be done and there was no point going on about it."
May 19, 2025
A plastic barrel, split lengthwise, bouncing in the waves off shore. In it, an infant, days old. Word travels fast in this small Irish fishing village and all are quickly taken with this tiny gift from the sea. Fishing skipper Ambrose is the first to offer to take the child in. It was thought the families would take turns caring for him until more information could be found. But lightning fast, Ambrose cannot imagine life without this child; he feels blessed to have another child in his life, though his wife is not so sure. Soon, the adoption application goes in and the Adoption Board needs just 10 minutes to stamp it Approved. (It seems things were much simpler in the 80s!) The family calls him Brendan and welcomes him into the Bonnar family—Mom Christine, Dad Ambrose, 2-year-old Declan, and nearby is Christine’s father and sister, Eunan and Phyllis Lyons.
It's obvious from the start that Declan resents this child. For days, he'd utter nothing but loud grunts and “WHY?”, Why? and then, Why? with tears streaming from his eyes.😢 The years go by but the uncomfortable presence never leaves. Ask Declan, and he’ll deny he has a brother, but Brendan follows him everywhere. He's small for his age and knows he's different; he never feels quite settled. He's a lonely boy with nothing much to do, so he takes to wandering the streets. He finds the only ones willing to accept him are the old folks. So he walks the streets and lanes and they welcome him in for a chat and a cup of tea. They tell him about their troubles and Brendan seems interested! He doesn’t say much but for a few kind words as he leaves… “Well, hopefully all will work out for you soon.”🙂
Now, this is a small, close-knit village, which is another way of saying they all know each other’s business. It's not always a bad thing, though. No doubt, they talk about people, but if they learn a family is in trouble, they’ll take up a collection to make sure they’ll make it through the winter. And sometimes—if there is no news—well, they might make something up. And they certainly were curious about Brendan’s odd visits with the elderly folks! Soon, word on the streets is that he's “giving out blessings”!😲
That’s when the book becomes really interesting.😏 This is a book that’s chock full of emotion. There are nail-biting moments, too, and some mystery to keep the sleuthing readers entertained. I believe this book has it all, and I highly encourage you to give it a read. Fellow Irish author, Joseph O’Connor, called this fine piece of writing “A breathtaking achievement". It’s Garrett Carr’s first novel and I hope there'll be more coming out soon. I read this enthralling story in four days, but all the while I was wishing it would never end.🩵 It's gorgeous.
5 “Ask–me–no–questions–I'll–tell–you–no–lies” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's obvious from the start that Declan resents this child. For days, he'd utter nothing but loud grunts and “WHY?”, Why? and then, Why? with tears streaming from his eyes.😢 The years go by but the uncomfortable presence never leaves. Ask Declan, and he’ll deny he has a brother, but Brendan follows him everywhere. He's small for his age and knows he's different; he never feels quite settled. He's a lonely boy with nothing much to do, so he takes to wandering the streets. He finds the only ones willing to accept him are the old folks. So he walks the streets and lanes and they welcome him in for a chat and a cup of tea. They tell him about their troubles and Brendan seems interested! He doesn’t say much but for a few kind words as he leaves… “Well, hopefully all will work out for you soon.”🙂
Now, this is a small, close-knit village, which is another way of saying they all know each other’s business. It's not always a bad thing, though. No doubt, they talk about people, but if they learn a family is in trouble, they’ll take up a collection to make sure they’ll make it through the winter. And sometimes—if there is no news—well, they might make something up. And they certainly were curious about Brendan’s odd visits with the elderly folks! Soon, word on the streets is that he's “giving out blessings”!😲
That’s when the book becomes really interesting.😏 This is a book that’s chock full of emotion. There are nail-biting moments, too, and some mystery to keep the sleuthing readers entertained. I believe this book has it all, and I highly encourage you to give it a read. Fellow Irish author, Joseph O’Connor, called this fine piece of writing “A breathtaking achievement". It’s Garrett Carr’s first novel and I hope there'll be more coming out soon. I read this enthralling story in four days, but all the while I was wishing it would never end.🩵 It's gorgeous.
5 “Ask–me–no–questions–I'll–tell–you–no–lies” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 19, 2025
“Parents knew you can never tell how a child will turn out, naturally yours or not. They had learned, fundamentally, every child comes in from the sea, washes up against the ankles of their parents, arms outstretched, ready to be shaped by them but with some disposition already in place, deep-set and never quite knowable.”
At first, I suspected The Boy from the Sea would be a sort of fable. A baby boy is found floating in a barrel near the shoreline of a small fishing village – Donegal, Ireland -- in 1973. The discovery sets the town abuzz with excitement and mystical theories about the nature of his appearance spread like wildfire.
But Garrett Carr quickly dispels the reader from going down that road. It appears that an itinerant woman was seen in a shanty part of town, and she likely birthed and left the baby where he would be easily discovered. Before too long, a local fisherman, Ambrose, and his wife, Christine – parents of a two-year-old boy named Declan – file for adoption and name him Brendan.
Declan is never enamoured of the interloper (his first word when the baby is brought home is, “Why?”) Declan is of the shore, and Brendan is of the sea, and Declan comes to resent how Brendan leverages his mysterious origin story to listen to and bless people of the town. He is determined to not acknowledge this strange child as a family member.
The book, which is narrated in the “we” tense, underscores the insularity of Donegal and leverages some of the themes that make contemporary Irish literature (to my mind) the best there is. Two recent books that leap to mind are The Coast and The Colony, which also leverage the themes of home and identity, love and relationships, regrets and reconciliations, and the ephemeral nature of fate and fortune.
The Boy from the Sea beautifully captures sibling relationships (not only Declan and Brendan, but also their mother Christine with her older sister who stays behind to care for their aging and recalcitrant father). The uncertain and changing life of the fishermen, who place themselves at risk as they deal with fishing quotas, new upgrades, and financial matters, is explored with knowledge and skill.
Any reader who loves charming Irish stories, relayed with a touch of humor, and drilling deep into the intricacies of a small town that means well and doesn’t always succeed, will love this book. My thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for enabling me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
I'm afraid I found this rather tedious and stodgy. It was less about the 'boy from the sea' (baby abandoned on a beach, then taken in by husband and wife, Ambrose and Christine, and son Declan) and more about the hardships of the fishing industry: something I'm perfectly aware of but didn't particularly want to read about.
The characters are rather wooden and one-dimensional. I felt nothing for any of them. There are long, long, rambling passages without a paragraph break or dialogue, all the harder to read because of a distinct lack of correct punctuation. The 'narrator' was unusually, 'we', i.e., the residents of the community, where the story is set.
The ending was inconclusive and left me with questions. I always finish a book, no matter what, but this was very hard-going.
The characters are rather wooden and one-dimensional. I felt nothing for any of them. There are long, long, rambling passages without a paragraph break or dialogue, all the harder to read because of a distinct lack of correct punctuation. The 'narrator' was unusually, 'we', i.e., the residents of the community, where the story is set.
The ending was inconclusive and left me with questions. I always finish a book, no matter what, but this was very hard-going.
July 16, 2025
The infant Brendan was abandoned in a barrel and eventually adopted by a young family. Ambrose is a fisherman, married to Christine. They have a two year old son Declan, who never adjusts to being usurped as the baby of the family. The title of the book, and the blurb, make It appear that Brendan is more central to the story than he is. The story is told by an unnamed townsman, there are no first person accounts, and everyone in the family is given equal weight.
This is a gentle, mostly uneventful, family drama. It deals with the hardships of a fisherman’s life, sibling rivalry, coming of age, financial difficulties, and aging parents. Brendan does have some unusual habits for a child that make him stand out in the town. The book paints a portrait of the family, the entire town and a way of life. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator had an Irish accent that was completely comprehensible. My thanks to whoever chose him.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a gentle, mostly uneventful, family drama. It deals with the hardships of a fisherman’s life, sibling rivalry, coming of age, financial difficulties, and aging parents. Brendan does have some unusual habits for a child that make him stand out in the town. The book paints a portrait of the family, the entire town and a way of life. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator had an Irish accent that was completely comprehensible. My thanks to whoever chose him.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
September 21, 2025
"The Boy from the Sea" takes place in coastal Donegal in Ireland. The novel begins in 1973 and tells the story of the Bonnar family over twenty years. When the story begins, Ambrose Bonnar decides that he and his wife (Christine) should adopt an infant boy (Brendan) who was found in a small barrel on the shore by the sea. Christine agrees, as she would like to have another child in addition to their two year old son (Declan). The family's saga is narrated in part by the townspeople, using a collective voice.
Here is an example:
We were a hardy people, raised facing the Atlantic. A few thousand men, women and children clinging to the coast and trying to stay dry. Our town wasn't just a town. It was a logic and a fate."
The father in the family owns a small commercial fishing boat named for his wife, "Christine Dawn." He and his crew work hard and can be on the sea for three days straight, trawling for fish. It can be dangerous work, but Ambrose seems to revel in it. The author writes vividly, describing what the work and sea are like for Ambrose and other fisherman.
I enjoyed getting to know both Ambrose and his wife Christine. Ambrose is upbeat, a family man, loquacious but shy about his own feelings. Christine is a realist, practical and generous. The picture of their marriage is a real one.
However, I could not relate to the author's portrayal of their two sons. Declan is a toddler when Brandan comes into their household as an infant. Declan takes an instant dislike to Brandan and thinks of him as an interloper who does not belong with them. This dislike hardens into hatred as the years go by.
Brandan, on the other hand, becomes an outsider not only to his brother, but to the people of the town as well. He is viewed as a spiritual comforter to others. Brandan will lay his hand on their shoulders and say comforting, vague words. He is imbued with a mystique due to how he arrived in town as an infant. Brandan spends hours wandering through the town alone.
While reading, it bothered me that neither parent tried to work with their sons. The boys were left to their own devices and were expected to grow out of it.
My reactions are split regarding the novel. While I thought the writing itself was good, I disliked the story-line involving the brothers.
3.5 stars
Here is an example:
We were a hardy people, raised facing the Atlantic. A few thousand men, women and children clinging to the coast and trying to stay dry. Our town wasn't just a town. It was a logic and a fate."
The father in the family owns a small commercial fishing boat named for his wife, "Christine Dawn." He and his crew work hard and can be on the sea for three days straight, trawling for fish. It can be dangerous work, but Ambrose seems to revel in it. The author writes vividly, describing what the work and sea are like for Ambrose and other fisherman.
I enjoyed getting to know both Ambrose and his wife Christine. Ambrose is upbeat, a family man, loquacious but shy about his own feelings. Christine is a realist, practical and generous. The picture of their marriage is a real one.
However, I could not relate to the author's portrayal of their two sons. Declan is a toddler when Brandan comes into their household as an infant. Declan takes an instant dislike to Brandan and thinks of him as an interloper who does not belong with them. This dislike hardens into hatred as the years go by.
Brandan, on the other hand, becomes an outsider not only to his brother, but to the people of the town as well. He is viewed as a spiritual comforter to others. Brandan will lay his hand on their shoulders and say comforting, vague words. He is imbued with a mystique due to how he arrived in town as an infant. Brandan spends hours wandering through the town alone.
While reading, it bothered me that neither parent tried to work with their sons. The boys were left to their own devices and were expected to grow out of it.
My reactions are split regarding the novel. While I thought the writing itself was good, I disliked the story-line involving the brothers.
3.5 stars
August 1, 2025
Setting: Donegal, Ireland; 1973-1980's.
When a baby boy is found abandoned, floating in a barrel in Donegal Bay, he ends being adopted by fisherman Ambrose Bonnar and his wife Christine. The boy is named Brendan but his arrival in the Bonnar household causes immediate resentment on the part of Declan, the couple's two-year-old son - a resentment that ceases to go away as the years pass and the boys grow into teenagers....
Unusually, the book is narrated by a voice identified as 'the community' in which the family reside and it is their version or interpretation of the events that impact on the family. Much of the tale is about the fishing industry, from glut to famine, to EC quotas and larger and larger vessels holding sway over the smaller boats like that operated by Ambrose. But it is also about life in a typical Irish community and what is not unusual is the poetic and lyrical prose which so attracts me to Irish literature.
A great read with wonderful characters and I can only hope there may be more to the story! - 9/10.
When a baby boy is found abandoned, floating in a barrel in Donegal Bay, he ends being adopted by fisherman Ambrose Bonnar and his wife Christine. The boy is named Brendan but his arrival in the Bonnar household causes immediate resentment on the part of Declan, the couple's two-year-old son - a resentment that ceases to go away as the years pass and the boys grow into teenagers....
Unusually, the book is narrated by a voice identified as 'the community' in which the family reside and it is their version or interpretation of the events that impact on the family. Much of the tale is about the fishing industry, from glut to famine, to EC quotas and larger and larger vessels holding sway over the smaller boats like that operated by Ambrose. But it is also about life in a typical Irish community and what is not unusual is the poetic and lyrical prose which so attracts me to Irish literature.
A great read with wonderful characters and I can only hope there may be more to the story! - 9/10.
June 25, 2025
4.5 stars
Thank you Knopf for sending me a free copy!
THE BOY FROM THE SEA hooked and reeled me in from the start. On the west coast of Ireland in 1973, a baby is found abandoned on the beach. A fisherman and his family end up adopting the child. As the years go by, the town sees the impact this boy has on both the family and community.
The story had this mesmerizing effect. The town serves as the narrator and the action rotates among the various family members. The sea is such an integral part that it feels like a character itself. As the reader you feel as invested in this boy just like the rest of the community. Resentment is a theme that plays out again and again among multiple relationships. The lack of opportunities in the area adds some bleakness to the story.
A gem of a read and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys stories about families and/or Irish literature.
Thank you Knopf for sending me a free copy!
THE BOY FROM THE SEA hooked and reeled me in from the start. On the west coast of Ireland in 1973, a baby is found abandoned on the beach. A fisherman and his family end up adopting the child. As the years go by, the town sees the impact this boy has on both the family and community.
The story had this mesmerizing effect. The town serves as the narrator and the action rotates among the various family members. The sea is such an integral part that it feels like a character itself. As the reader you feel as invested in this boy just like the rest of the community. Resentment is a theme that plays out again and again among multiple relationships. The lack of opportunities in the area adds some bleakness to the story.
A gem of a read and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys stories about families and/or Irish literature.
April 26, 2025
The Boy from the Sea is a beautifully written novel set in the small fishing community of Killybegs, Donegal, Ireland in the 1970s-1990s. When an abandoned baby is found on the beach, Ambrose Bonnar brings the baby (later named Brendan) home to his wife Christine and two-year-old son Declan. The family takes him in, and their lives are profoundly altered. The story examines the complexities of family dynamics and the social changes taking place around them.
It is told in an unusual manner – by the collective townsfolk, which adds depth and perspective. The characters are well crafted and believable. Ambrose is a fisherman with a single boat, struggling to compete against the new larger commercial vessels. Christine worries about making ends meet and helping her sons get along. Declan is immediately jealous of Brendan and the brothers compete for their parents’ (especially their father’s) love. Christine’s sister Phyllis and elderly father Eunan live up the road and are not overly thrilled with the Bonnar family’s decision to adopt Brendan.
Carr nicely captures the nuances of personal interactions. I love how he conveys the differences in the ways the characters see the world. The prose is lyrical and atmospheric in its descriptions of the town and the surrounding land and sea. This story is intentionally slower paced and focused on relationships among the characters and townsfolk (it is not for anyone looking for lots of action). I found it a well-crafted memorable story that kept my interest from beginning to end. I think the ending is particularly poignant, showing how families can evolve over the years. Recommended to fans of family dramas and character-driven stories.
4.5
I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
It is told in an unusual manner – by the collective townsfolk, which adds depth and perspective. The characters are well crafted and believable. Ambrose is a fisherman with a single boat, struggling to compete against the new larger commercial vessels. Christine worries about making ends meet and helping her sons get along. Declan is immediately jealous of Brendan and the brothers compete for their parents’ (especially their father’s) love. Christine’s sister Phyllis and elderly father Eunan live up the road and are not overly thrilled with the Bonnar family’s decision to adopt Brendan.
Carr nicely captures the nuances of personal interactions. I love how he conveys the differences in the ways the characters see the world. The prose is lyrical and atmospheric in its descriptions of the town and the surrounding land and sea. This story is intentionally slower paced and focused on relationships among the characters and townsfolk (it is not for anyone looking for lots of action). I found it a well-crafted memorable story that kept my interest from beginning to end. I think the ending is particularly poignant, showing how families can evolve over the years. Recommended to fans of family dramas and character-driven stories.
4.5
I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
November 20, 2025
2.5 Stars
The Boy from the sea has a beautiful setting and an intriguing premise but the execution didn't work for me.
The story started out strong and for the first 40 pages I thought I'd found my book of the year for 2025. I loved the humour and the throwback to life in the 80s in a small town in Donegal but about 1/3 into the story the author lost me. I found the story slower and more meandering than expected. The narrative often lingers on small details that instead of deepening the plot or the characters made the pacing feel uneven.
I needed a clearer sense of closure or direction, but the novel finished in a way that felt more ambiguous than satisfying.
Still credit to the author, he certainly knows how to describe a small Irish fishing town and at this stage I feel I know it's residents better than my own neighbours.
The Boy from the sea has a beautiful setting and an intriguing premise but the execution didn't work for me.
The story started out strong and for the first 40 pages I thought I'd found my book of the year for 2025. I loved the humour and the throwback to life in the 80s in a small town in Donegal but about 1/3 into the story the author lost me. I found the story slower and more meandering than expected. The narrative often lingers on small details that instead of deepening the plot or the characters made the pacing feel uneven.
I needed a clearer sense of closure or direction, but the novel finished in a way that felt more ambiguous than satisfying.
Still credit to the author, he certainly knows how to describe a small Irish fishing town and at this stage I feel I know it's residents better than my own neighbours.
May 17, 2025
I'm recommending this beautiful book to you today: A simple yet stunning story about a baby boy abandoned on a beach on Ireland's west coast and the family who adopt him.
We see the boy grow up through the eyes of the close-knit community, whose collective voice narrates the story. It's a perspective I loved. Not only is it unique, but it also helps us to fall even more in love with the wonderful characters who grace the pages.
And it's not just Brendan, the young boy, who stands out here. It's the entire Bonnar family, and even some of their friends and neighbours. The characters are wonderfully evoked and really help to emphasise the confines and crevices of Irish rural life, the complexities of family and relationships, and the ruggedness of Ireland's landscape.
This is a story told with honesty, wit, and heart. The writing is sharp and vivid, but there's also a softness to it; one usually reserved for old tales shared around a fireplace.
I loved this novel, and I'm really excited to read more of Garrett Carr's writing.
The book cover is stunning, but I also have to recommend the audiobook, which is beautifully narrated.
We see the boy grow up through the eyes of the close-knit community, whose collective voice narrates the story. It's a perspective I loved. Not only is it unique, but it also helps us to fall even more in love with the wonderful characters who grace the pages.
And it's not just Brendan, the young boy, who stands out here. It's the entire Bonnar family, and even some of their friends and neighbours. The characters are wonderfully evoked and really help to emphasise the confines and crevices of Irish rural life, the complexities of family and relationships, and the ruggedness of Ireland's landscape.
This is a story told with honesty, wit, and heart. The writing is sharp and vivid, but there's also a softness to it; one usually reserved for old tales shared around a fireplace.
I loved this novel, and I'm really excited to read more of Garrett Carr's writing.
The book cover is stunning, but I also have to recommend the audiobook, which is beautifully narrated.
June 15, 2025
"Our town wasn't just a town. It was a logic and a fate."
A baby boy found washed ashore in a barrel is adopted by a local fisherman and his wife.
Is his arrival a blessing or a curse?
This excellent family drama set in Ireland would make great book club fodder.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the read.
A baby boy found washed ashore in a barrel is adopted by a local fisherman and his wife.
Is his arrival a blessing or a curse?
This excellent family drama set in Ireland would make great book club fodder.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the read.
April 14, 2025
I LOVED this book! I knew within the first few pages when I actually laughed out loud, that this novel would be on my Top Ten List for 2025! Adding another Irish author to my list of favorites (John Boyne, Maggie O’Farrell, Nail Williams, to name just three!)
“The Boy from the Sea” is Garrett Carr’s first novel and it’s got EVERYTHING! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I learned stuff! What more could you ask of a novel?
Prepare to be “swept away” by “The Boy from the Sea” – a story told by the collective “we” in the northwestern port city of Killybegs, Ireland, about the Bonnar family who take in an infant boy mysteriously washed up on their shore.
We follow the Bonnars, and the denizens of the town through the changes over the decades, from traditional fishing to modern industrial fishing, as well as the changes in the society (Hippies, the Primal Scream), and the effects on the Bonnar family over time.
Sign me up for more Garrett Carr! I hated for this book to end.
“The Boy from the Sea” is Garrett Carr’s first novel and it’s got EVERYTHING! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I learned stuff! What more could you ask of a novel?
Prepare to be “swept away” by “The Boy from the Sea” – a story told by the collective “we” in the northwestern port city of Killybegs, Ireland, about the Bonnar family who take in an infant boy mysteriously washed up on their shore.
We follow the Bonnars, and the denizens of the town through the changes over the decades, from traditional fishing to modern industrial fishing, as well as the changes in the society (Hippies, the Primal Scream), and the effects on the Bonnar family over time.
Sign me up for more Garrett Carr! I hated for this book to end.
April 17, 2025
Kurzmeinung: Ein großer Erzähler ist hier am Werk und schlägt mit einem umwerfenden Debütroman auf! Ich bin wahr- und wahrhaftig begeistert.
Titel: Eine warmherzige Geschichte über raues Fischerleben.
Die Bonnars leben auf einer Insel schroffer Schönheit und rauer Lebensbedingungen. Wie viele auf der Insel ist Ambrose Bonnar Fischer. Mit Geduld und Entbehrung und unermüdlicher Arbeitskraft bringt es Ambrose zum eigenen Fischkutter, der Christine Dawn. Er hat den Kutter nach seiner Frau benannt. Schon diese Geste zeigt, wie ungewöhnlich Ambrose ist. Denn so was tut man nicht auf der Insel, so was bringt Unglück. Aber im Gegenteil: Ambrose tut sich eine Zeitlang mit seinem besten Freund Tommy O’Gara zum gemeinsamen Schleppnetzfischen zusammen und es kehrt ein gewisser Wohlstand ein ins Haus. Freilich, ein Fischerleben ist voller Überraschungen und vor allem voller Widrigkeiten.
Was die Bonnars auszeichnet, ist die Tatsache, dass Ambrose und Christine ein Baby adoptieren, das vom Meer angeschwemmt wird. Sie haben aber schon einen kleinen Sohn. In der Folge konkurrieren die beiden Jungen, Brendan und Duncan um die Liebe des Vaters. Jeder fühlt sich auf eine eigene Weise benachteiligt.
Der Kommentar und das Leseerlebnis:
Erzählt wird von einer kollektiven „Wir“-Stimme aus, was dem Roman einen ganz besonders charmanten und gleichzeitig atmosphärischen Zungenschlag verleiht. Denn das Kollektiv-Wir bezieht die gesamte Community der kleinen Stadt mit ein. Das Kollektiv-Wir leiht sich deren Augen und Ohren, ebenso erreicht der ganze Dorftratsch den Leser, er ist stets auf dem neuesten Stand: „Johnny, the Matchbox, erkrankte an Krebs und kam ins Hospiz“ oder das Kollektiv-Wir gibt treffende Charakterisierungen des Menschenschlags wider: „Die Männer aus Donegal hatten beeindruckende Schlüsselbunde, wir neigten dazu, vieles in unserem Leben unter Verschluss zu halten.“ So etwas liebe ich!
Natürlich steht die Familie Bonnar im Mittelpunkt der Erzählung und deren Anhang, da ist zum Beispiel die knöterige Phyllis, die Schwester von Christine und deren gemeinsamer Vater Eunan. Er war ein pflichtbewusster, aber liebloser Mann und wird nun ein Pflegefall und damit zum Familienproblem. Der Autor widmet sich jedoch auch ganz allgemein dem schwierigen Geschäft des Fischfangs. Kann man davon leben? Rentiert es sich noch, Fischer zu sein, was gibt es für Alternativen auf so einer kleinen Insel? Die Technisierung des Geschäfts bringt eine Hebung des Lebenstandards, aber letztlich viele Probleme. Fangquote. Geldkonzentration. Denn Gesellschaftskritik geht so: „Das Geld sammelte sich bei immer weniger Leuten“. Ist das nicht charmant?
Zwei weitere Kostproben aus Carrs Erzählkunst: „Der Wind vom Atlantik hatte uns solange die Worte von den Lippen gerissen, bis wir lernten, ohne sie auszukommen.“ „Windböen fuhren in die Schonung, dass die Fichten knarrten.“
Ein wahrer erzählerischer Höhepunkt ist die Beschreibung einer Fangfahrt, als die Christine Dawn manövrierunfähig wird und das Meer allmählich zu wüten beginnt . Todesangst begleitet den echten Fischer quasi jeden Tag.
Fazit: Eine wunderbare Geschichte, die alles hat, was einen tollen Roman auszeichnet: Erzählkunst, Familientragödie, Melancholie, das Meer, die Insel, das Wetter, das Leben, der Mensch. Und das alles ohne jegliche Larmoyanz. Keine einzige Seite hat mich enttäuscht. „Der Junge aus dem Meer“ ist mein erstes Lesehighlight 2025.
Ich spreche eine Leseempfehlung für alle diejenigen aus, die wie ich „Nach den Fähren“ von Thea Mengeler liebten.
Kategorie: Sehr gute Literatur
Verlag: Rowohlt, 2025
Lesehighlight
Titel: Eine warmherzige Geschichte über raues Fischerleben.
Die Bonnars leben auf einer Insel schroffer Schönheit und rauer Lebensbedingungen. Wie viele auf der Insel ist Ambrose Bonnar Fischer. Mit Geduld und Entbehrung und unermüdlicher Arbeitskraft bringt es Ambrose zum eigenen Fischkutter, der Christine Dawn. Er hat den Kutter nach seiner Frau benannt. Schon diese Geste zeigt, wie ungewöhnlich Ambrose ist. Denn so was tut man nicht auf der Insel, so was bringt Unglück. Aber im Gegenteil: Ambrose tut sich eine Zeitlang mit seinem besten Freund Tommy O’Gara zum gemeinsamen Schleppnetzfischen zusammen und es kehrt ein gewisser Wohlstand ein ins Haus. Freilich, ein Fischerleben ist voller Überraschungen und vor allem voller Widrigkeiten.
Was die Bonnars auszeichnet, ist die Tatsache, dass Ambrose und Christine ein Baby adoptieren, das vom Meer angeschwemmt wird. Sie haben aber schon einen kleinen Sohn. In der Folge konkurrieren die beiden Jungen, Brendan und Duncan um die Liebe des Vaters. Jeder fühlt sich auf eine eigene Weise benachteiligt.
Der Kommentar und das Leseerlebnis:
Erzählt wird von einer kollektiven „Wir“-Stimme aus, was dem Roman einen ganz besonders charmanten und gleichzeitig atmosphärischen Zungenschlag verleiht. Denn das Kollektiv-Wir bezieht die gesamte Community der kleinen Stadt mit ein. Das Kollektiv-Wir leiht sich deren Augen und Ohren, ebenso erreicht der ganze Dorftratsch den Leser, er ist stets auf dem neuesten Stand: „Johnny, the Matchbox, erkrankte an Krebs und kam ins Hospiz“ oder das Kollektiv-Wir gibt treffende Charakterisierungen des Menschenschlags wider: „Die Männer aus Donegal hatten beeindruckende Schlüsselbunde, wir neigten dazu, vieles in unserem Leben unter Verschluss zu halten.“ So etwas liebe ich!
Natürlich steht die Familie Bonnar im Mittelpunkt der Erzählung und deren Anhang, da ist zum Beispiel die knöterige Phyllis, die Schwester von Christine und deren gemeinsamer Vater Eunan. Er war ein pflichtbewusster, aber liebloser Mann und wird nun ein Pflegefall und damit zum Familienproblem. Der Autor widmet sich jedoch auch ganz allgemein dem schwierigen Geschäft des Fischfangs. Kann man davon leben? Rentiert es sich noch, Fischer zu sein, was gibt es für Alternativen auf so einer kleinen Insel? Die Technisierung des Geschäfts bringt eine Hebung des Lebenstandards, aber letztlich viele Probleme. Fangquote. Geldkonzentration. Denn Gesellschaftskritik geht so: „Das Geld sammelte sich bei immer weniger Leuten“. Ist das nicht charmant?
Zwei weitere Kostproben aus Carrs Erzählkunst: „Der Wind vom Atlantik hatte uns solange die Worte von den Lippen gerissen, bis wir lernten, ohne sie auszukommen.“ „Windböen fuhren in die Schonung, dass die Fichten knarrten.“
Ein wahrer erzählerischer Höhepunkt ist die Beschreibung einer Fangfahrt, als die Christine Dawn manövrierunfähig wird und das Meer allmählich zu wüten beginnt . Todesangst begleitet den echten Fischer quasi jeden Tag.
Fazit: Eine wunderbare Geschichte, die alles hat, was einen tollen Roman auszeichnet: Erzählkunst, Familientragödie, Melancholie, das Meer, die Insel, das Wetter, das Leben, der Mensch. Und das alles ohne jegliche Larmoyanz. Keine einzige Seite hat mich enttäuscht. „Der Junge aus dem Meer“ ist mein erstes Lesehighlight 2025.
Ich spreche eine Leseempfehlung für alle diejenigen aus, die wie ich „Nach den Fähren“ von Thea Mengeler liebten.
Kategorie: Sehr gute Literatur
Verlag: Rowohlt, 2025
Lesehighlight
March 20, 2025
I absolutely loved this audiobook. 10/10 for the narrator Stanley Townsend, you really need to listen to this book with his fabulous Irish accent, unless of course you have your own Irish accent but even then, Townsend perfectly nails the intonation and humour. It’s the opposite of fast paced and action packed, there’s no jumping around of characters or time periods, it’s just a story about a baby found washed up on the shore in Killybegs, Donegal who is raised by a local fishing family. Brendan becomes the adopted brother of Declan and much of the story centres around the fractious relationship of the two as they grow into men.
The story is told from the point of view of the people of the town, a collective narrator if you like. I thought this was an interesting way to tell a story and allowed for excellent insights as well as highlighting how the townspeople thought and acted as one. I was completely drawn into the characters and the setting and am now dreaming of a trip to Donegal.
The story is told from the point of view of the people of the town, a collective narrator if you like. I thought this was an interesting way to tell a story and allowed for excellent insights as well as highlighting how the townspeople thought and acted as one. I was completely drawn into the characters and the setting and am now dreaming of a trip to Donegal.
March 11, 2025
In Donegal, Ireland, 1973, a baby boy is found on the beach of a close-knit fishing village. A fisherman, Ambrose Bonnar, burly and bighearted, offers to adopt the child into his own family, his son, Declan, wife, Christine, and elderly father. The community remains fascinated by the baby, now named Brendan, who, even as an infant, casts something of a spell over them.
This novel has gained some good reviews, but I struggled to see it as anything more than a simple tale of a family in 1970s coastal Donegal - it needed something more, I don’t think the writing is strong enough to sustain it otherwise.
Further, the reader doesn’t get to know the characters well enough to care about, or dislike, any of them.
This novel has gained some good reviews, but I struggled to see it as anything more than a simple tale of a family in 1970s coastal Donegal - it needed something more, I don’t think the writing is strong enough to sustain it otherwise.
Further, the reader doesn’t get to know the characters well enough to care about, or dislike, any of them.
August 11, 2025
3.5 stars
Beautifully written in an Irish, mournful but often quite funny style. The story itself was largely an episodic tale of a family in a small fishing village, at the mercy of the changes of the 20th century with its fishing quotas and EU membership, its new-build houses and debt crises.
I would have preferred a slightly stronger storyline, maybe, but the characterization was good and the writing top-notch.
Beautifully written in an Irish, mournful but often quite funny style. The story itself was largely an episodic tale of a family in a small fishing village, at the mercy of the changes of the 20th century with its fishing quotas and EU membership, its new-build houses and debt crises.
I would have preferred a slightly stronger storyline, maybe, but the characterization was good and the writing top-notch.
August 15, 2024
A complete joy of a novel. Witty and full of charm, the main characters, as well as the community of Killybegs (the tabs kept on each other, the gossip, the solidarity!) jump off the page. The depth of each character and their relationships expertly drawn, the plot was totally engrossing and the writing is excellent. I won’t forget the Bonnar family for a long time yet.
August 20, 2025
I knew very little about this novel when I started it, and I find that sometimes, the less you know about a novel, the more you’ll enjoy it, which was the case with this book. It is a well-written and moving story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Recommended.
March 5, 2025
Lovely writing,good,sometimes great,story,but it doesn't quite take flight. The reasons for the antagonism between the boys are not quite clear,several other issues are..incomplete.7/10
July 11, 2025
The Boy From the Sea is the very definition of literary fiction. It's quiet, introspective and meandering. I'm caught between loving the writing and feeling underwhelmed by the story.
I was immersed in the Donegal setting from the start:
We were a hardy people, raised facing the Atlantic. A few thousand men, women and children clinging to the coast and trying to stay dry.
I loved the fishing, the trawlers, and the relationship with the sea.
The characters often shapeshifted in ways that contradicted my feelings for them. I never fully connected to most of them because of this. Or maybe because the story is narrated by the collective voice of the villagers. We're included, but always outside the minds of the main characters. I have thoughts on the narrative POV, which are more fit for discussion than review.
I grew a little bit weary of the lack of plot. Many times, I thought it was heading towards something, only to meander on. But I never skimmed, because the details were brilliant - with the exception of a few scattered lines that created imagery I'd rather unsee. (The Irish, in my reading experience, are comfortable with TMI.) More often, I was stopped in my tracks by the truth of a sentence.
A parent remains the parent until they die and, sadly, a child remains the child even beyond that point.
Declan still held an entire infrastructure for conflict that he couldn't simply dismantle, his personality was built on it.
Brendan's tendency to withdraw was in fact a kind of self-possession, it took a lot of courage to be so different.
'People have private lives and they're entitled to them. We don't claim to have someone fully worked out, like they're transparent to us, that would be arrogant. We don't claim to know another person.'
3.5 stars. I could hear the Irish dialect in the words on the page. The writing was immersive in both time and place. There are beautiful passages. But I can't round up, because the story and characters left me feeling neutral.
I was immersed in the Donegal setting from the start:
We were a hardy people, raised facing the Atlantic. A few thousand men, women and children clinging to the coast and trying to stay dry.
I loved the fishing, the trawlers, and the relationship with the sea.
The characters often shapeshifted in ways that contradicted my feelings for them. I never fully connected to most of them because of this. Or maybe because the story is narrated by the collective voice of the villagers. We're included, but always outside the minds of the main characters. I have thoughts on the narrative POV, which are more fit for discussion than review.
I grew a little bit weary of the lack of plot. Many times, I thought it was heading towards something, only to meander on. But I never skimmed, because the details were brilliant - with the exception of a few scattered lines that created imagery I'd rather unsee. (The Irish, in my reading experience, are comfortable with TMI.) More often, I was stopped in my tracks by the truth of a sentence.
A parent remains the parent until they die and, sadly, a child remains the child even beyond that point.
Declan still held an entire infrastructure for conflict that he couldn't simply dismantle, his personality was built on it.
Brendan's tendency to withdraw was in fact a kind of self-possession, it took a lot of courage to be so different.
'People have private lives and they're entitled to them. We don't claim to have someone fully worked out, like they're transparent to us, that would be arrogant. We don't claim to know another person.'
3.5 stars. I could hear the Irish dialect in the words on the page. The writing was immersive in both time and place. There are beautiful passages. But I can't round up, because the story and characters left me feeling neutral.
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