The Journey Home

by Dermot Bolger

'The Journey Home' is the story of a young boy's struggle towards maturity, set against a shocking portrait of Ireland: a tough urban landscape, not a rural Eden.

Genres: Fiction, Ireland, Irish Literature, Literary Fiction, Novels, Family, Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Dermot Bolger is an Irish novelist, playwright and poet born in Finglas, a suburb of Dublin.

His work is often concerned with the articulation of the experiences of working-class characters who, for various reasons, feel alienated from society. Bolger questions the relevance of traditional nationalist concepts of Irishness, arguing for a more plural and inclusive society.

In the late 1970s Bolger set up Raven Arts Press, which he ran until 1992 when he co-founded New Island Press.

Reviews

[LW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lust for life

Hano e Cait
in fuga
braccati dalla polizia.
Corrono a perdifiato, randagi si nascondono
Da cosa? Perché?
E Shay? (Com'è che è andata?)
Un po' Trainspotting un po' Ragazzi di vita sono ragazzi con la disperazione di chi non ha più nulla da perdere, intrappolati in una vuota oscurità

Mi aggirerò tra i ricordi
fino a quando non ci sarà
più nulla da dimenticare.
Dove si trova questo posto?
Un riquadro di luce fioca lassù ,
vecchie schegge di vetro e sassi,
foglie secche portate dal vento.
Immagini di volti che non conosco,
mi perdonano il cranio.
Dio ,terminerà mai questa pellicola?
Quando la bobina girerà a vuoto,
sarò libero di fuggire?

Una storia dura, sofferta, violenta, con una scrittura che sa combinare brutale realismo e momenti poetici, onirici , allucinati.
Coinvolgente (anche se parte piano - ma poi ti agguanta)
☆☆☆☆

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This does deserve five stars. I'd never heard of Dermot Bolger, bought this because of the cover (and being in a blue book mode) plus I've learnt that the Irish way of writing is rarely to be refused.

Not a quick and easy read; sentences don't always stick the first time, but that is because they are not facile, and to be read with care. So it takes a habitually fast reader like me to make an effort to slow down and absorb. And the tale itself heavy and damp with doom and sorrow and man's awfulness to man, told from the point of view of an ordinary, conflicted by circumstances man but in a way which becomes increasingly compulsive.

I imagine the impact of this to have been colossal when it first appeared, in 1990; it's still impactful now. And I'll seek out more by this writer.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Home was not the place where you were born but the place you created for yourself, where you did not need to explain, where you finally became what you were."

An poignant discourse on the idea of "home," especially in a situation--so intense in Ireland, but resonant everywhere--that one might dub "traumatic," if we take traumatic to gesture at the paralysis that comes from a culture dangerously steeped in its past, too enamored with things that are lost. Foundations crumble and fragmentation ensues, and this is made painfully apparent in Bolger's characters and, impressively, embodied in his narrative structure.

*The Journey Home* is fabulous piece of contemporary Irish fiction. Bolger's predictions for Dublin's future are astoundingly accurate, yet, almost for the opposite reason than he intended, I think. By this I mean that Bolger seemed to dispel the myths of the rolling green hills by portending Ireland's descent into ruin and poverty, which couldn't be farther from the Celtic Tiger we know today. Yet, so many of those caught up in this "new" Ireland seem to have found themselves as marginalized and "homeless" as Bolger feared.

In many ways, Bolger's Dublin is closer to the Dublin I knew than any other literary portrait of the city I've encountered. While my experience was certainly not at all as extreme as Hano's, Katie's, and Shay's--or as melodramatic, which this book can be at times--the gritty, dreary feel of Hibernian urbanity, and the solitude that the cobbled city and deep history of Ireland can spark, is devastatingly affecting in *The Journey Home"--a real testament to Bolger's craft.

[Seamus Motley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent novel about two youths on the run in and around Dublin from events that overtake them in ways only foreshadowed through much of the book but finally revealed in the end. No spoilers here, but you end up rooting for Hano (Francis) and Cait (Katie) even though you know in some sense they are doomed. "Home was not the place where you were born but the place you created for yourself, where you did not need to explain, where you finally became what you were." So says the narrator toward the end, when it becomes apparent that the space left by modern Irish society for such creativity is very spare and cramped indeed. What binds Katie and Hano is their mutual love for the charismatic and mysteriously deceased Shay (Seamus), and there is love in this novel, along with corruption, sordidness, squalor, drug running, influence peddling, despair, and the Irish penchant for wise cracks in the face of anything. Highly recommended reading.

[Emma Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having picked this up in my local coffee shop book shelf I had absolutely zero expectations. It was tatty, covered from page to page in illegible student scribblings, but that the author is Irish and the quote on the back “it’s the best novel about Dublin since Joyce” intrigued me. I had to take it.

It took me longer to read than planned because it really needed time and attention to fully absorb. Corruption, sleaze, morality and degradation really hit me like a punch to the face. Visceral from start to finish. I really enjoyed this book and I shall certainly be seeking out others by this author.

[Rylo Hoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting. This book affected me in a way a novel hasn’t in some time. The prose is remarkable, the plot is gripping (and bleak), and the characters were heartbreaking. I can’t speak on Dublin in the 80’s, but everything I’ve read about the era suggests that this novel really captures the time and feel.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first taste of a Dermot Bolger book and despite the 5 star reviews I could not get into this. I could not identify with the characters, the language, the structure or the story and half way through I gave up as it was clearly not going to get any better. Probably some good writing but not enough to hold my interest as an older reader.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story unwinds in sections: a narrative of the present, a first person recollection of the past events leading up to the present narrative, and a haunting voice from the grave. The notion of home and finding a place for oneself are the central themes and the struggle comes at a time of transition when the obsession with the personal and national historical past is being edged out, perhaps even obliterated, by a new obsession with the seemingly glittering, prosperous, international future. The need to know what it means to be - and to be - Irish competes with a emerging sense of being European. A sense of loss, isolation, fear, and attraction prevades. Yes, it's melancholy, and violent, but in the end a strong voice of hope emerges.

[Godzilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The structure of this novel grated on me: it flips back and forth in time, and right from the start it's clear that it's not going to be a journey of laughter and fun.

As a story of finding yourself, building friendships and escaping from a controlling patriarchal environment it works quite well.

However the politics and social commentary are handled with an iron fist, and there is no deft touch with it!

I found all of the characters unsympathetic and hard to warm to.

That all said, there are some passages of beautiful prose, but not enough to make it a good read.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice writing but I couldn't get through the tedium and misery. I also didn't care much for the character the sometimes narrator worshiped. I felt the same way about Into Thin Air. There intrigue is supposed to be driven by someone I found mildly interesting.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit hard to get into, but it picks up a bit after the dragging beginning. Good in the Irish lit "I need to go drink myself to death in a bar now" type of way (also the reason I need to stop reading Irish lit...)

[Molly]

amazing NYT review 4/20/08

[Ashley Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am having trouble finishing this book!

[Shannon]

just started. stay tuned

[Miriam]

To be frank, this book is tough going. It's quite bleak and denies its reader a traditional narrative. I'm pressing on, though, since I'm intrigued if not immersed.

[Chirodoody]

so-so. bit niaeve really

[mark]

heteronormative patronizing toward the working classes. empty political sermonizing shit

[Katherine]

http://kimbofo.typepad.com/readingmat...

[Jennifer]

Ireland in the 80s sucked.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt a bit lost at times owing to time shifts and switches in narrative perspective, but gritty and edgy presentation of Dublin life and politics. Some truly disturbing moments.

[Katie J Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The switching perspectives/time periods was a bit confusing, but generally I liked it.