Goodreads Ireland discussion

Just finished this one. I only started it Monday afternoon, on kindle, found it quite compelling read. Great choice Emma!!

It took me a while to adjust to the 2nd person narrative. I still haven't decided if it brings the reader closer to the action, or distances them. In some ways it gives the impression of watching from the sidelines, as life passes by. This sense that life if beyond your control is what I'd imagine the author was going for, and IMO she acheived it very well.

There was a feeling of impending doom, and that the river was going to be central to it all, so the drowning wasn't really a surprise, more inevitable.

Very enjoyable book and I'm detinatly going to be keeping and eye on this author.

None of the adults had a lot to recommend them as responsible gardians did they?

The mother already had mental problems before the baby died, so it's not really any surprise that events tipped her over the edge. Grief combined with guild that she had been off with that yoke of a boyfriend instead of with her children (that is not my take on it, I'm trying to put myself in her possition). Her boyfriend was a nasty piece of work and I have to wonder why he habitually went woman with children from a previous relationship. That combined with him exposing himself to the girl would set the mind racing!

The father was so caught up in his new family that he didn't have much time for old time. I know that the child that died wasn't his, but he very little concern that his own children had witnessed the loss of a sibling.

The other adults that featured largely in the story were Cora and her husband. It's such a shame that they didn't (couldn't?) have children. They would have made great parents! Except for the smoking - but it was the 80's!!

They all had one thing in common though which was that they allowed too much responsibility to fall on a 10 year girl.

A really sad tale of a split families struggle with everyday life. Told through the eyes of a ten year old, it introduces a group of likeable characters living in Dublin. As the mother struggles to be both a single mom and juggle numerous questionable relationships, the daughter is left to deal with her two brothers.
An enjoyable enough read, I just didn't like the story being told in the second person. One other thing that bugged me throughout was that the 'baby' never had an actual name. A small gripe only, however I never felt there was anything amazing about the story, it's plot or the writing.

The second person narrative took me a while to get into, but I ended up really liking it. I think it puts the reader a step further back from the story. Sort of wathing from the side lines instead of getting involved. I felt it mirrored the lack of control the girl had on the events.

I thought she might be using 'you' to make it more personal for the reader, to try and make the reader empathise with the narrator. It didn't work for me but obviously it was an important element for the author basing the title on it.

Oh, I didn't look at it that way! It would be interesting to find out find out what her thinking was. It was certainly different.

I really enjoyed this. It was very simply observed but the strange narrative made it very touching and personal, as if the author were turning the feelings of the main character back onto the reader. I think that's what made it so affecting and touching. Some nice comic moments too. I'll investigate Nuala's other work for sure. Thanks for recommending.