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The Groundsmen
The Groundsmen delves into the fractured lives of a family blemished by a darkly disturbing past. The secrets kept hidden over multiple generations taint them all and as events spiral out of control in a cycle of violence, none of them will escape. The narrative is told from the perspective of five individual family members:
Louis is trapped under the dark shadow of his past with Toby.
Cally retreats to a world of myth and seeks a salvation that eludes her.
Andi is caught in a degenerate relationship of dependency and control.
Cassie is turning into a dog and burying the wreckage of all their lives in the garden.
Over them all looms the dark presence of the Groundsman’s hut.
Louis is trapped under the dark shadow of his past with Toby.
Cally retreats to a world of myth and seeks a salvation that eludes her.
Andi is caught in a degenerate relationship of dependency and control.
Cassie is turning into a dog and burying the wreckage of all their lives in the garden.
Over them all looms the dark presence of the Groundsman’s hut.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2018
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67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 25, 2022
Over the last few weeks, I have been slowly completing my reading of all the books listed on époque press’s website. There are 10 of them and I have now read 8 with two more on order (although one of those is not yet published). Époque press has become my new favourite small publisher.
One of the other books I read from époque was Lynn Buckle’s latest novel “What Willow Says” which is a book I really loved and immediately bought a copy for a friend. And my order for the remaining books includes an order for a further copy of this (and a couple of others) because I have Kindle versions of those and I decided I wanted paper copies of everything!
The Groundsmen is a much harder book to review than What Willow Says. The writing is really excellent but the subject matter is, to put it mildly, very sordid. In fact, I have to admit that after about 40-50 pages I gave serious thought to putting the book down and moving on. It’s the kind of book where you feel like you need to wash your hands after every session reading it.
So, this really is not a book to enjoy. But it is a book to admire. It’s the story of the most dysfunctional family you have ever come across. There is a lot of inappropriate sex, misogyny and psychological abuse on display. The novel cycles around 5 different narrators. Louis and Cally are the parents of two daughters, Andi and Cassie (their names are abbreviations of names from Greek tragedies and the book as a whole makes many references to these and is, in fact, full of the kind of family dysfunction that fills a lot of Greek tragedies. Cally takes refuge in these stories from her husband.). Also in the mix is Toby, Louis’ brother. As the novel opens, Toby is made redundant from the firm where both he and Louis work because of “inappropriate material” found on his computer. Louis suspects he will not be far behind. Louis is the kind of man who has violent sexual fantasies about the woman from HR who comes to ask for his electronic devices to be returned and tell him about his upcoming redundancy. This is why Cally takes refuge in Greek myths and why Cassie, heartbreakingly, takes refuge in an alter ego as a dog who buries things in the garden. Andi’s plan of escape from the family is far more dangerous.
Lurking behind all of the darkness in the family (and there is a LOT of darkness) is Uncle Brown, the groundsman, a man with a lot to answer for when it comes to the damage done to Louis and Toby as young boys. Both Louis and Toby are continuing the cycle of abuse initiated by Uncle Brown.
In many ways, it is a bit of a relief to put the book down at the end. A final wash of the hands and a chance to move on to something a bit more wholesome. But, at the same time, I find myself admiring writing that can make me feel so uncomfortable and yet keep me reading (it’s not unknown for me to put a book down unfinished because I can’t cope with the darkness). I’m slightly surprised at myself for keeping going to the end, if truth be told, but the writing is very strong here.
I have no idea how to rate the book, really. It’s 4/5 star writing but 1 star content/enjoyability. I’ll go straight down the middle for now and maybe come back at some point to decide which side of the fence I should land on. For now, I find myself conflicted and somewhat in agreement with the reviewer at indielitfic.wordpress.com who ended a review with these words:
”I think The Groundsmen is the work of a very good writer, and I think it has potential to be seen as an important book. I’m aware that the review above may sound somehow prudish, and I don’t want to put off people who want a reading experience that is intensely powerful and discomforting. For all of that, though, I couldn’t help hoping that for her next book Buckle writes something with a few more glimmers of light in it – even if just a few.”
Fortunately, I have already read “What Willow Says”, so I know what happens in her next book.
One of the other books I read from époque was Lynn Buckle’s latest novel “What Willow Says” which is a book I really loved and immediately bought a copy for a friend. And my order for the remaining books includes an order for a further copy of this (and a couple of others) because I have Kindle versions of those and I decided I wanted paper copies of everything!
The Groundsmen is a much harder book to review than What Willow Says. The writing is really excellent but the subject matter is, to put it mildly, very sordid. In fact, I have to admit that after about 40-50 pages I gave serious thought to putting the book down and moving on. It’s the kind of book where you feel like you need to wash your hands after every session reading it.
So, this really is not a book to enjoy. But it is a book to admire. It’s the story of the most dysfunctional family you have ever come across. There is a lot of inappropriate sex, misogyny and psychological abuse on display. The novel cycles around 5 different narrators. Louis and Cally are the parents of two daughters, Andi and Cassie (their names are abbreviations of names from Greek tragedies and the book as a whole makes many references to these and is, in fact, full of the kind of family dysfunction that fills a lot of Greek tragedies. Cally takes refuge in these stories from her husband.). Also in the mix is Toby, Louis’ brother. As the novel opens, Toby is made redundant from the firm where both he and Louis work because of “inappropriate material” found on his computer. Louis suspects he will not be far behind. Louis is the kind of man who has violent sexual fantasies about the woman from HR who comes to ask for his electronic devices to be returned and tell him about his upcoming redundancy. This is why Cally takes refuge in Greek myths and why Cassie, heartbreakingly, takes refuge in an alter ego as a dog who buries things in the garden. Andi’s plan of escape from the family is far more dangerous.
Lurking behind all of the darkness in the family (and there is a LOT of darkness) is Uncle Brown, the groundsman, a man with a lot to answer for when it comes to the damage done to Louis and Toby as young boys. Both Louis and Toby are continuing the cycle of abuse initiated by Uncle Brown.
In many ways, it is a bit of a relief to put the book down at the end. A final wash of the hands and a chance to move on to something a bit more wholesome. But, at the same time, I find myself admiring writing that can make me feel so uncomfortable and yet keep me reading (it’s not unknown for me to put a book down unfinished because I can’t cope with the darkness). I’m slightly surprised at myself for keeping going to the end, if truth be told, but the writing is very strong here.
I have no idea how to rate the book, really. It’s 4/5 star writing but 1 star content/enjoyability. I’ll go straight down the middle for now and maybe come back at some point to decide which side of the fence I should land on. For now, I find myself conflicted and somewhat in agreement with the reviewer at indielitfic.wordpress.com who ended a review with these words:
”I think The Groundsmen is the work of a very good writer, and I think it has potential to be seen as an important book. I’m aware that the review above may sound somehow prudish, and I don’t want to put off people who want a reading experience that is intensely powerful and discomforting. For all of that, though, I couldn’t help hoping that for her next book Buckle writes something with a few more glimmers of light in it – even if just a few.”
Fortunately, I have already read “What Willow Says”, so I know what happens in her next book.
April 14, 2019
This is an uncompromising depiction of a family broken by the effects and aftershocks of abuse. Told with great psychological insight and literary skill, it takes the reader inside these experiences, switching voices and perspectives to create an hermetic world. The book is full of allusions to classical Greek drama and uses those motifs to take the book on an exploration of human nature at its extreme depths. A hugely ambitious book, it handles its complex subject matter deftly.
September 19, 2018
The Groundsmen, by Lynn Buckle, is a brutal and disturbing story about an Irish family caught up in a generational cycle of abuse. It is told from five points of view. The protagonists are all victims of a community unwilling to confront the actions of those living within their midst. Dark secrets fester but are kept.
Louis is a successful IT manager who moved his wife, Cally, and their daughters, Andi and Cassie, to the newly built suburbs of Dublin before the Celtic Tiger economy collapsed. Now Cally spends much of her day in bed. Teenaged Andi resents that she is left to look out for her little sister. Five year old Cassie copes with the familial disharmony by pretending to be a dog, burying objects that represent hurtful behaviours in the garden. Louis’s brother, Toby, is a regular visitor. Louis and Toby have always been close but the truth of their relationship is toxic.
The story opens on a typical weekend. Louis and Toby are getting drunk watching football on TV, internally fantasising about what they would do to women they know. The violent degradation inherent in their thoughts is sickening to consider.
Cassie is in the garden burying the remote control. Andi is checking the personal treasures she hides in her wardrobe.
Cally has escaped upstairs and is thinking with disgust of what her husband has become – the rank smell and diseased skin that he regularly forces on her.
When Cassie becomes too lively inside the house she is punished. She copes with the pain by going elsewhere in her mind, thinking of all the items on her childish want list. Her family cannot understand that much of her behaviour is a cry for love, regarding her as weird and a nuisance.
Andi seeks love on line, posting photographs of herself at the behest of a boy. Toby has noticed how his niece’s body is developing.
The following Monday Louis oversleeps making him late into work. On arrival he discovers that Toby has been sacked. Inappropriate images were observed on his computer. There is to be an investigation. Louis struggles to make sense of what he is being told. As the story progresses the reader comes to understand that these adults operate in a state of denial about consequences. Damaging behaviours have led to a spiral of sordid desires which they refuse to acknowledge.
Louis regards women as objects available for his pleasure, resenting any agency they acquire. Cally recognises that she should act to protect her children but, inured to a life of submission, is overwhelmed. Louis will do whatever it takes to hold onto what he believes is his by right. Toby has his own agenda.
The subject matter and detail made this a challenging story to read. The author remains resolute in portraying the extent of the degeneracy and wider culpability. This is savage social realism, the twitching net curtain torn asunder. It is searing in its plausibility.
Louis is a successful IT manager who moved his wife, Cally, and their daughters, Andi and Cassie, to the newly built suburbs of Dublin before the Celtic Tiger economy collapsed. Now Cally spends much of her day in bed. Teenaged Andi resents that she is left to look out for her little sister. Five year old Cassie copes with the familial disharmony by pretending to be a dog, burying objects that represent hurtful behaviours in the garden. Louis’s brother, Toby, is a regular visitor. Louis and Toby have always been close but the truth of their relationship is toxic.
The story opens on a typical weekend. Louis and Toby are getting drunk watching football on TV, internally fantasising about what they would do to women they know. The violent degradation inherent in their thoughts is sickening to consider.
Cassie is in the garden burying the remote control. Andi is checking the personal treasures she hides in her wardrobe.
Cally has escaped upstairs and is thinking with disgust of what her husband has become – the rank smell and diseased skin that he regularly forces on her.
When Cassie becomes too lively inside the house she is punished. She copes with the pain by going elsewhere in her mind, thinking of all the items on her childish want list. Her family cannot understand that much of her behaviour is a cry for love, regarding her as weird and a nuisance.
Andi seeks love on line, posting photographs of herself at the behest of a boy. Toby has noticed how his niece’s body is developing.
The following Monday Louis oversleeps making him late into work. On arrival he discovers that Toby has been sacked. Inappropriate images were observed on his computer. There is to be an investigation. Louis struggles to make sense of what he is being told. As the story progresses the reader comes to understand that these adults operate in a state of denial about consequences. Damaging behaviours have led to a spiral of sordid desires which they refuse to acknowledge.
Louis regards women as objects available for his pleasure, resenting any agency they acquire. Cally recognises that she should act to protect her children but, inured to a life of submission, is overwhelmed. Louis will do whatever it takes to hold onto what he believes is his by right. Toby has his own agenda.
The subject matter and detail made this a challenging story to read. The author remains resolute in portraying the extent of the degeneracy and wider culpability. This is savage social realism, the twitching net curtain torn asunder. It is searing in its plausibility.
September 17, 2018
Buckle writes an intensely raw story that forces the reader to wade through the muddy sordid waters of a family’s affairs. An uncomfortable read that strips away the facade that many of us portray from day-to-day. The reality and brutal honesty of unfortunate people who are living in a dark world of despair and pain. For a lot of people The Groundsmen is regrettably their daily life. They suffer with family sexual abuse, finances, depression and violence, to name but a few. Buckle shows the reader firsthand how this influences peoples’ lives, how they cope to survive and struggle on. You want to turn away at points and pretend that you don’t know anything. That you are ignorant to it all. But it’s too late. You know everything. This is their life, their family unit and you suddenly become aware of how dangerous a place the world truly is.
‘You’re all the fucking same, groundsmen grinding away in your dirty huts! You broke my little girl,’
We are all guilty of going about our lives pretending that bad things don’t happen. That we live in a shiny happy bubble where nothing can taint its radiant glow. This is the genius of The Groundsmen. It’s deeply tainted and forces the reader to follow Toby, Louise, Cally, Andi and Cassie on their self-destructive path. It’s real, which is what makes it even more terrifying. Bad things happen everyday and some are right under our noses, we can be completely oblivious to it. I felt shivers more than once prickle up my arm as I undiscovered skeletons in the closet in The Groundsmen. Truly gripping stuff that made me want to read on and discover the truth.
‘We’re all secretly living fucked-up lives, I hope.
I thoroughly enjoyed how each chapter was told from a different character’s perspective. I felt a lot more personally involved. Ironically it was like having my own secret as I knew how each character actually viewed each other. Buckle adds that balance by narrating not only from the adults’ view point but also a child’s, young Cassie. An innocent who is still unaware of the dangers surrounding her family. I adored her innocence and she really helped get me through the book. I felt as through she was leading me through each page, holding my hand tight so we could play in the garden when it was all over. Her imagination was beautiful to witness and reminded me how we were once all children. Untainted by the world’s cruelty and naive to it’s hidden agenda. For me she was the heart and soul of the book, giving me a thread of hope for children in a similar situation. My heart bled for her and I so desperately wanted to dash in, scoop her up and tell her everything would be alright. A sign of a brilliant writer when a story makes you feel so attached to a character. I applaud you Buckle for getting that spot on and I strongly feel there is a Cassie hidden deep inside all of us.
The imagery weaved throughout this book is astounding. My mind was fully satisfied with the creativity. I enjoyed how the images were raw and honest, it flowed with the theme of the story and made a shocking impact to the reality of the world the characters live in.
‘His vile palms which I flinch from, black scales flaking onto sheets, squeezing pustules until they’ve scabbed and he picks at them again until they bleed. Does the same to his feet. Turning into a lizard.’
Buckle has a natural talent for describing characters. You are instantly presented with this striking image and it sticks so clearly in your mind. It’s wonderfully done and makes the whole reading experience more enjoyable.
‘A walrus of a man whose blubber oozes sweat, a paean of success. Maybe I should eat more so I at least look like I want his job. Ex GAA, his once strapping body has loosened with age and the flattering beers bought by reverential fans with long memories.’
A lot of themes are explored throughout The Groundsmen. One in particular is the hints of Greek mythology. Often tragic tales ending in woe and suffering. In ways I saw The Groundsmen as a modern twist on Greek mythology. The scandals and untold secrets that surround a family slowly becoming its undoing. The innocent being led astray by the wicked. Excellently executed.
I give The Groundsmen by Lynn Buckle a four out of five paw rating.
This book is not for the faint-hearted. It’s raw, emotional and brutal. A read that I strongly believe we all must digest. You will come away with not only tears in your eyes but a heavy heart for you now carry the family secrets around your neck like an anchor. Wanting to desperately jump ship but also stage a mutiny and take back the innocence that was mercilessly slaughtered before your eyes. It’s powerful stuff that makes you think. And that dear reader, is always sheer brilliance in my book.
‘You’re all the fucking same, groundsmen grinding away in your dirty huts! You broke my little girl,’
We are all guilty of going about our lives pretending that bad things don’t happen. That we live in a shiny happy bubble where nothing can taint its radiant glow. This is the genius of The Groundsmen. It’s deeply tainted and forces the reader to follow Toby, Louise, Cally, Andi and Cassie on their self-destructive path. It’s real, which is what makes it even more terrifying. Bad things happen everyday and some are right under our noses, we can be completely oblivious to it. I felt shivers more than once prickle up my arm as I undiscovered skeletons in the closet in The Groundsmen. Truly gripping stuff that made me want to read on and discover the truth.
‘We’re all secretly living fucked-up lives, I hope.
I thoroughly enjoyed how each chapter was told from a different character’s perspective. I felt a lot more personally involved. Ironically it was like having my own secret as I knew how each character actually viewed each other. Buckle adds that balance by narrating not only from the adults’ view point but also a child’s, young Cassie. An innocent who is still unaware of the dangers surrounding her family. I adored her innocence and she really helped get me through the book. I felt as through she was leading me through each page, holding my hand tight so we could play in the garden when it was all over. Her imagination was beautiful to witness and reminded me how we were once all children. Untainted by the world’s cruelty and naive to it’s hidden agenda. For me she was the heart and soul of the book, giving me a thread of hope for children in a similar situation. My heart bled for her and I so desperately wanted to dash in, scoop her up and tell her everything would be alright. A sign of a brilliant writer when a story makes you feel so attached to a character. I applaud you Buckle for getting that spot on and I strongly feel there is a Cassie hidden deep inside all of us.
The imagery weaved throughout this book is astounding. My mind was fully satisfied with the creativity. I enjoyed how the images were raw and honest, it flowed with the theme of the story and made a shocking impact to the reality of the world the characters live in.
‘His vile palms which I flinch from, black scales flaking onto sheets, squeezing pustules until they’ve scabbed and he picks at them again until they bleed. Does the same to his feet. Turning into a lizard.’
Buckle has a natural talent for describing characters. You are instantly presented with this striking image and it sticks so clearly in your mind. It’s wonderfully done and makes the whole reading experience more enjoyable.
‘A walrus of a man whose blubber oozes sweat, a paean of success. Maybe I should eat more so I at least look like I want his job. Ex GAA, his once strapping body has loosened with age and the flattering beers bought by reverential fans with long memories.’
A lot of themes are explored throughout The Groundsmen. One in particular is the hints of Greek mythology. Often tragic tales ending in woe and suffering. In ways I saw The Groundsmen as a modern twist on Greek mythology. The scandals and untold secrets that surround a family slowly becoming its undoing. The innocent being led astray by the wicked. Excellently executed.
I give The Groundsmen by Lynn Buckle a four out of five paw rating.
This book is not for the faint-hearted. It’s raw, emotional and brutal. A read that I strongly believe we all must digest. You will come away with not only tears in your eyes but a heavy heart for you now carry the family secrets around your neck like an anchor. Wanting to desperately jump ship but also stage a mutiny and take back the innocence that was mercilessly slaughtered before your eyes. It’s powerful stuff that makes you think. And that dear reader, is always sheer brilliance in my book.
December 6, 2018
Although I was given a digital copy by the publishers in return for a fair and honest review, I've just bought the paperback edition with my own money. I've never done that before but then I've never read a book like The Groundsmen before. It's a challenge and, at times an uncomfortable one, because the story is told by the five main characters in the first person. The result is that at times you're inside the head of pretty unpleasant men but then that is the power of novels - they can take us places we could never visit on our own. The author has a gift for dialogue or rather the way we talk to ourselves inside our head. She also has an instinct for the worries and justifications of the bully...and the vulnerable. So, not an easy read and don't even think about taking it along on a beach holiday, but I can't stress too strongly that it is a rewarding read which is why I wanted my own 'real' copy. It's a book to be taken seriously. And read again. I've put my money where my mouth is: I recommend you do the same.
March 14, 2022
Very out of my comfort zone - dark but well crafted.
March 23, 2020
This was a tough read at times, harrowing story of the cycle of abuse within a family. Excellently written, vivid and dark and deranged and so tragic. Overall, very affecting.
December 27, 2018
Not my cuppa. I tried to get into this several times and will give it several more goes but alas I need more than 2 syllable words to stimulate my brain. Not sure where all the raves are coming from. It was tedious to read and if this is the direction where all new literature is headed, I’ll take a hard pass.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews