The Hungry Grass

by Richard Power, Michael Schmidt (Editor)

At the funeral, several priests remarked how appropriate it was that Father Conroy should have returned on his last day to Rosnagree, the parish in which he was born. Father Tom Conroy – a spiky, difficult man – dies at a reunion of his seminary colleagues. As this masterly novel unfolds, we are taken through the years that formed this troublesome priest, who knew his life had been a failure. The Hungry Grass is a sharply witty and moving novel of a world on the cusp of change.

Genres: Fiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, Religion, Psychology, Novels, Literary Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1928 Richard Power was English speaking, though he was a great champion of the Irish language.
He fathered six children while working as a civil servant.
He wrote prose, poetry, and was a scriptwriter.
Power's most notable novel was The Hungry Grass (1969)

Reviews

[Michael Martin]

Father Tom Conroy enjoys a little rebellious mischief to disconcert his fellow priests, local dignitaries and the community. However he's haunted by a historic injustice committed by his family to his dead brother's wife and children. The novel captures a time when the clergy still had influence but starting to be questioned. The hungry grass of the title I've heard called the hungry sod but didn't realize the term had such a tragic origin.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm probably going to need to read this again someday. For now, it was incredibly good, and bonus points for the occasional hilarity. I picked this up on a lark in Dublin, thinking it sounded in line with my literary interests of latter years, and I was right. Something about it reminds me strongly of the Slovenian books I'd been reading, and the tiniest bit of "Sunset Song."

[Oakleigh Irish · Rating 5 out of 5]

In ways The Hungry Grass is the first post modern Irish novel. Tom Conroy is a fabulous character full of flaws, cynicism, idealism and lofty principles as he navigates the lonely life of a rural parish priest. Power’s narrative style is lyrical and perceptive with a strong sense of place and an instinctual understanding of the culture, its characters and its zeitgeist.

My only regret is that I discovered this so late, as it wasn’t in vogue in Irish literature departments in the late 1980’s. Ironically it was my old tutor Prof Kiberd who alerted me to the title in his review After Ireland.

[Tashia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to read,this book 📗 again I read too slowly,I agree that the lead character in the novel is spicy or spiky as the book's description reads,but I need to read this text again, I don't think felt the full feeling of sadness 😥 and regret,only a hint . I hope people, buy and read 📖 this book 📗 .

[Dyslexic Bookmonster]

So I was and still am confused regarding this book. I loved the prose, the characters and the setting, yet was I regularly confused by what was said or what was happening. I think what did not help in that regard is the fact that this wasn't a chronically written story.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth reading.