The Book of the Gaels

by James Yorkston

Rural West Cork, Ireland. Two Kids, Joseph and Paul, and their struggling, poet father, Fraser, are battling grief and poverty. When a letter arrives with a summons to Dublin and the promise of publication, it offers a chink of light—the hope of rescue. But Dublin is a long, wet and hungry way from West Cork in the mid-'70s, especially when they have no money—just the clothes they stand up in and an old, battered suitcase.

So begins an almost anti-roadtrip of flipsides and contradictions—dreams and nightmares, promises and disappointments, generosity and meanness, unconditional love and shocking neglect. In simple, beautiful, lyrical prose, James Yorkston's new novel takes us on that trip, as seen through the eyes of a brave and resourceful but poor and frightened child.

It tells of the emptying, paralysing pain of grief and loss, tempered only by the hope of rescue and the redemption of parental love. It also tells of Fraser's love for his children's dead mother, as hidden within the battered suitcase is Fraser's heart-breaking collection of poems—The Book of the Gaels.

Genres: Fiction, Scotland, Ireland, Irish Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2022

About the author

James Yorkston is a Scottish folk singer.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking novel about poverty, grief and setbacks, yet also filled with lots of love and hope, and written in such a way that you get totally drawn into the story. For readers of Shuggie Bain.
Thank you Oldcastle Books and Netgalley UK for the ARC.

[Sara Mokken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leuk om weer te lezen vanuit een kinder perspectief. Er gebeurt heel veel in het boek maar het is over het algemeen niet goed. Dus niet een heel blij boek. Ik vond het moeilijk dat hij in plaats van aanhalingstekens voor gesproken tekst het schuingedrukt deed omdat ik dat heel anders lees. Als iets dat iemand denkt of iemand een zware opmerking maakt daardoor moest ik echt heel lang bij inkomen.

[Frabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scrive pure, l’apprezzato cantautore,
ma direi… senza convincere il lettore.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

A fast and often thrilling read. Yorkston is a fine songwriter and just as goo a writer of fiction. This is a gem.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that has a beautiful cover and an unusual title could do nothing less than make me curious to see what this story was all about. It is such a poignant story that I defy anyone not to become emotional and involved with this family. Not just moving it is also funny and tragic at times.

Set in the 1970s, in Ireland we follow a penniless poet and his young sons as they journey from West Cork to Dublin. The boys father, Patrick has his family embarking on the journey due to the promise of the publication of his grief filled poems. With nothing but their old suitcase and the clothes they have on their backs, the family set of not knowing what the future holds good or bad.

A beautifully told story that holds nothing back. Throughout their journey they suffer setback after setback and I couldn't help but feel every bit of their pain and desperation. I felt like I had their backs all the way and was willing them on to find the place they could settle and live healthy and normal lives. It does have light moments too. These do stop this book from becoming too sad and made me feel how well the author had written the book. Whether you have good or bad times there are always times where you have a chink of light or something that cracks you up. Even if it's only for ten minutes. I feel this myself in my life.

The Book Of Gaels is a story that I was left thinking about for days after I read the last chapter. It's anybodys story, take out the poet and his sons and place any family down on their luck in. It struck me right in my heart, being a family where nothing ever goes right and every little thing is a battle. I loved this book.
Thanks to Oldcastle Books for my copy of the book to bring you my honest, unbiased review.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Ireland in the 1970’s, initially West Cork then Dublin. Unusually this is written in the form of lyrical prose largely told by a young, grieving child. The author has poignantly told of Frasers love for his dead wife and the grief suffered by the family without resorting to unnecessary sentiment. This is not a style that I find easy to read but I can see the attraction of it.

Briefly, Joseph and Paul , aged 10 and 6, are living in extreme proverty with their father Fraser, who writes poetry, after the tragic death of their mother. When Fraser gets an offer to publish his poetry he leaves for Dublin with the boys. What follows is a long and arduous journey only to be met with shocking news when the arrive in Dublin.

A difficult book to read for the deprivation and treatment particularly of the children but the writer portrays the devotion and fighting spirit of the two boys brilliantly. A book that was designed to create hope despite all that the world throws at it. An emotional read.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure reading this book was! I started it yesterday and I just could not put it down. Not that the story is a happy one, of course. I found it heartbreaking.
I loved the writing. A fine example of how beautiful and powerful simplicity can be.
It conveyed vividly all the grief, pain, grinding poverty, ever present pangs of hunger, despair, glimmers of hope, all the deep love father and sons felt for each other and all their longing for the dead mother.
The voices of the children spoke of the innocence, playfulness, resourcefulness and sheer drive to survive dire circumstances that young children can have. There was humour, bravery and a very satisfying ending when the baddie gets his comeuppance and a normal, happy life for father and sons seems around the corner. A triumph of youth, endurance and love!
And some of the poems were very moving too.

Although I found out about the Gaels, I am not sure I quite understand the title. Are the three characters the Gaels?

[Chantelle Hazelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel that takes us on quite a poignant journey.

James' writing style is really what makes this story so special.

His use of lyrical prose makes what the protagonists go through somehow so much more - can you tell I'm finding it hard to put into words.

Written mainly from the point of view of a grieving child, I was blown away by how beautiful the author made this tale.

Despite the sadness that had to be faced, there was so much to be taken away from this tale.

Great care has been taken with this unassuming adventure and I really enjoyed the use of the father's (Fraser) collection of poems to cement certain meanings and emotions.

What I felt throughout was a sense of unconditional love and hopefulness. The feeling that there can be more to life after suffering loss.

Touching.

A moving look at a child's view of the world when faced with a need to survive

[Ivan Monckton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blimey! This is one hell of a powerful tale. The second novel by Scottish musician James Yorkston and if anything, even better than his first which also got 5 stars from me. The complete understanding of the realities of 1970s Irish poverty, and the grief a family suffers after a tragedy, as well as the struggle of an unpublished poet to be heard, all suggest the author has had his own difficulties earlier in life. This is a novel that will draw you in, at times dreading to start the next chapter, but always rooting for the family. I especially appreciated the slightly ambiguous last chapter..a fairy tale ending just would not have been fitting.
This man can write as well as he sings and plays his music. 100% recommended!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, love this picaresque novel, was moved by the harsh life of the children, and smiled because there's hope.
The author is a talented storyteller and somehow I thought about Roddy Doyle and "Paddy Clarke".
This isn't a nostalgic book about "Oh look, Ireland used to be so lovely" because there's no sugar coating and the author did an excellent job in showing what it was.
I strongly recommend it and will surely read other books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Holly McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to rate this a 3.5 but I cant so I had to give it a little extra.
This book made me sad. like Really Sad. I wanted to take in the 2 boys so bad and the relationship with their dad just makes me want to cry. I just spent the whole time waiting for them to be in a nice bed with food that's all I wanted for them.
Anyway I wasn't expecting this to be written in such a poetic way and I wasn't sure of it was for me at first but I got used to it and liked it. Although it did make me feel a bit disconnected from the dialogue, not sure if that was on purpose of course.

[Sarah Dromgoole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. A gripping and deeply moving story, very beautifully told. By the middle I simply could not put it down and read into the night. If you’re looking for something exciting and with a degree of true grit, just give the book a bit of time to develop and you shouldn’t be disappointed. If you are looking for something that is deeply moving emotionally, you should find what you’re looking for too. I read lots of good novels but this is certainly a stand-out that I’ll remember for a long time.

[Glenda Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a beautifully simplistic yet poetic way, this novel was at times funny but, more often, heart wrenchingly sad. I found myself becoming frustrated by the father's selfish mission to fulfill his dream to be a poet, whilst putting his children emotional and physical well-being at risk time and again. Their love for their father and faith that he wouldn't let them down was the greatest triumph.

[Mark Steell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of James Yorkston as a musician and have seen him live many times of the years. This is not his first book but it's his best following a family man/writer down on his luck on a journey with his family looking for a deal and redemption. The story is told in the perspective of a child as they travel the Irish countryside and gathers momentum as a thriller towards the end of the book as they enter the city. Very lyrical and readable.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkness and humour, once it grabbed me I read most of it in one day, I had to find out how it ended. I cared about the characters and the horrid situations they found themselves in. Not quite good enough for 5 stars but I can't believe how few goodreaders have read this, how little known it is................now to give his music a go.

[Conor Tannam · Rating 1 out of 5]

So much misery in such a short book. The author's knowledge of Ireland was impressive but it was almost 230 pages of suffering- hungry children and their desperate father. I was relieved to have finished it which is never a great sign. It's just over 250 pages long so having to read so many awful things doesn't make for a great read.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just lovely, despite the rather unpleasant circumstances the protagonists found themselves in. You really feel the familial bond between the father and his sons. Beautifully written, poignant and funny. An absolute gem from one of Britain's great songwriters

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poetry publishing pilgrimage one, lead by a widowed poet dad who clings onto any breadcrumb of hope, as told through one of his son's eyes. Beautiful softness and humour in the child's eye narrative without being condescending or forced. I cried. By an east neuk native

[Andy76er · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book as lyrical as his music, James Yorkstons’s previous two book and this should be on everybody’s bookshelf

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written from the point of view of a child being taken along in his grieving father's wake across Ireland in the 1970s, it is well observed and creates a believable world.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching, funny and sad, this book is as lyrical as Mr Yorkston music. Great read

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, lyrical, moving, funny, exciting and beautifully written. If you're a fan of James's songs then you should give the stories a go.

[Amy Bookseller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, it had echoes of Shuggie Bain, and The Road, and I loved the addition of the poems at the end of each chapter.

[Jane Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic I was gripped reading this story of a would be poet and his children. The story is told by the little boy but the skillful writing gives the reader vivid picture of the plot.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-

[Blue berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Melissa McElroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so beautifully lyrical and poetic and took me by complete surprise. the story of a man and his two sons' grief, poverty and loss in 1970s west cork + dublin broke my heart in pieces, but the moments of touching joy and humour sowed it back up again. would highly recommend.

[Alessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro dal sapore dolce amaro, struggente e scritto davvero bene. Personaggi studiati a fondo e, cosa strana, protagonista un bambino che non dà fastidio (di solito li detesto i punti di vista infantili)
Che dire, da leggere e rileggere perché ci si trova di fronte a un Dickens dei nostri giorni!
P.s. consiglio di leggere il libro ascoltando le canzoni dell’autore (lui è anche un famoso cantastorie)