Temptation

by Dermot Bolger

A marriage and a family reach breaking point on an annual holiday in the loveliest hotel in Ireland. Dermot Bolger is one of the leading figures on the Irish literary scene. Very influential, amazingly energetic and prolific, popular and extremely well respected. Dermot writes fast-paced, incredibly readable novels, usually with a thriller element, always about Ireland, more often than not about its Troubles. 'Temptation, is quite different. It is about family life. It describes five days in the lives of Alison, her husband Peadar and their three children, who are taking their annual holiday on the southeastern coast of Ireland. Each member of the family has his or her own hopes for the holiday and preoccupations about the lives they are briefly leaving behind. The holiday serves as a turning point in their lives, as Alison and Peadar,s marriage is put to the test and the vulnerabilities of their children are brought to the fore. Previous novels have always featured a female central character, and Dermot seems to love writing from a female perspective - and very good he is at it too. This new novel takes this strength and makes the most of it. Paciness and great readability are packed in there too.

Genres: Novels

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

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

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple Alison and Peadar Gill go on holiday with their 3 young children when Peadar has to leave part way through because of work problems. He is is school principle and there are some new building projects that are not going to schedule as planned. Alison has longed for a holiday at The Fitzgerald‘s Hotel in Wexford. She is not happy with Peaders insistence that he needs to head back to Dublin to sort out the issues with the deputy principle. This plays further into her insecurities. She feels abandoned and she begins to question her life.

An old flame of Alisons appears at the hotel. Chris Conway whom she had last 20 years earlier, is on his own and they unexpectedly meet. Alison is approaching middle age and is insecure with herself, her relationship with her husband has changed. She wants more. She is lost. She has been there for her family and put herself last.
This is a tale of relationships. Will Alison and Chris rekindle the passion? It is a fast paced novel that has you wondering will they or won’t they begin an adulterous adventure together. Five days of holiday but it spans so much more than that.

Dermot Bolger manages to get into the mind of a woman extremely well . He has this amazing understanding and his insights are brilliant. He captures it all and for a male writer that’s pretty outstanding.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely paced, the story of three people's lives intersecting again after 20 years at a resort on the Irish coast near Wexford. It is billed as an adultery tale but without giving too much away I can say that it is more than that, the real drama being around the question of how to go on living in the face of unspeakable pain and loss. What is it though about Irish writers and car crashes? I've driven pretty extensively in Ireland and I know the roads can be a little dicey but sheesh!

[the never-ending library]

Temptation is the word that succinctly sums this novel up: it’s one of those books that lures you in with a perfectly crafted love-interest, exquisitely timed coincidental meetings and the agonising ‘will-they-won’t they’ love scenes. The novel centres on the frustratingly monotonous life of Alison and her typical 2.4 family taking their annual holiday to the time-warped Fitzgerald Hotel in the sheltered setting of rural Island. All the elements are there: bored housewife, preoccupied husband, old flame, secluded environment and yes - you guessed it - the happy ending!

What makes this ebook different to your run-of-the-mill women’s popular fiction title is the fact that it is told from a woman’s perspective, by a man. Dermot Bolger does a wonderfully accurate job of describing the dissatisfaction of the protagonist – how she realises something is missing from her life but she is unsure what it is or how to fix it.

I wouldn’t dare admit to being a chick-lit convert but I’m now reluctant to dismiss novels purely on their genre.

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