Reading 1001 discussion

That They May Face The Rising Sun
by John McGahern
★★★★.5

A beautiful book with extraordinary writing that reminds me a lot of John Hassler. Like Hassler, McGahern writes of ordinary people living quiet lives of extraordinary dignity and integrity. McGahern conveys the beauty of the Irish countryside through the changing seasons of the year and the charm of life in rural Ireland, not avoiding the conflicts and strangeness that sometime blossom, but treating them, in general, with an understanding eye. McGahern uses his story to touch, lightly, but tellingly, on the major issues in Ireland today, the conflict in the north, systems of abuse and oppression not far from slavery and overlaying all the shadow of a Church that has too often forgotten its role is to be servant, not master, but even in an increasingly secular society still influences the ebb and flow of life.

Happiness is never to be dwelt upon, lest in the dwelling one tempts the fates, and friendship is found in the living and the doing, and never expressed openly. For one's closest friends, that depth of feeling might be expressed on departing with an ironic bow and the comment "I never liked yous anyhow."

That They May Face the Rising Sun. John McGahern
★★★★
What a wonderful writer is John McGahern. He launches the reader right into the lives of Irish villagers with his careful descriptions of social intercourse: "'Patrick. You're shining', Jamesie held out his great hand .'The two of yous are a sight for sore eyes" he said with perfect poise in the middle of the jostling and pushing in the crush around the ring. 'If you didn't leave your manners behind today you'd be walked all over'".
"'Lots of money. Because I'm a topper,' he argued.'That's what Tom Casey told everybody after he married Ellen, who was a bicycle and ease and comfort to the whole country. 'Was I as good as the rest of them?' he asked her after he had performed on their wedding night. 'You were a topper', she told him. 'You were the very best.'"
"'You're a pure imposter, Jamesie', Bill Evans said. 'That's right, Mary encouraged. 'Give it to him, Bill. Give it to him good-o.' 'Good man, Bill. You're dressed to kill. You'll land a woman for yourself today'. Jamesie said."
The lilt and cadence of the Irish is there with all the colourful language and the blarney. With the way two men, who have worked one for the other for many years without ever speaking directly to each other, are described in all the awkwardness of one wanting to sell his business to the other, or the way Jamesie is studiously nonchalant about whether he receives help with his haymaking from his neighbours although it was of utmost importance to him, McGahern reveals his astute reading of human nature and his love for his countrymen despite their foibles.
The place is evocatively described with equal felicity. "When rain wasn't dripping from leaves or eaves, the air was so heavy it was like breathing rain. The hives were quiet. Only the midges swarmed." or "Nothing was sharp. The lanes of watery light that pierced the low cloud from time to time seemed to illuminate nothing but mist and cloud and water." and "Between the storms they had precious days of frost when the light was dry and clear and sounds carried. Thin ice glittered along the shore and clinked and chimed when there was any movement on the water."
I seem to remember a review that stated that there was not much plot. I disagree. One character flogs a pony nearly to death returning from the church on his marriage and then rapes his wife in sight of the wedding guests! One character has been badly abused all his life as an orphan from England who is made to work on a farm in slave-like conditions. Then there is the incursion across the border from the Northern soldiers which massacres a Republican guerilla group. In retaliation an innocent farmer is murdered because he is Protestant. With all these horrors swirling around the hospitable nature of the Irish, always with a bottle of whisky on hand to ease the pain, or a few cigarettes for the abused farm-hand, is constantly emphasised.
Altogether this is a wonderful book, describing haymaking with the worry about rain, and the sale of stock with the angst about the price one will get and the sorrow of parting with animals lovingly reared, and the easy camaraderie of the Irish pub where nobody is a stranger for more than a minute. And the title? All is explained at the end.

By the Lake by John McGahern (That They May Face the Rising Sun)
3/5 stars

This month I am the odd one out, I was not as enamored by this story as most. Set in a rural village by the lake the story follows a host of characters in day to day life. By all accounts I should like this book as it deals with family, history and relationships all subjects I enjoy but for some reason this story or writing did not grab me. What I did like best about the book was the simplicity of time. We are all caught up in gadgets these days and in this story when you wanted to talk to someone you went to their house, lovely.

I'll be another discording voice...

That They May Face the Rising Sun (John McGahern) *

A year in the life of two Irish ex-pats returning from London to settle in rural Ireland, with a cast of colorful and strange neighbours, with lots of whiskey and animal dealings. I don't know what's the problem with me and contemporary Irish writers, but I'd rather watch paint dry...

5 stars


That They May Face the Rising Sun. This was a most delightful read. Not a story with a plot but a story of life, seasons passing, the years cycle frames their lives. The book is set in rural part of Ireland and is a portrait of a life in a rural lakeside community. It's the author's own place, sparsely populated corner of County Leitrim. Nothing much really happens yet it is full; haymaking, lambing, Monaghan Day, a wake. The story has repeating episodes of food, drink, the grey heron, swans, black cat and dogs. The Lake is one of the book's greatest character. This is a comfortable read and has less violence that Amongst Women but it is still there on the edge with John and the IRA man. A beautiful story set sometime after the war and modernization just starting to show up in the rural community with the telephone poles.
The title of this book also has great significance and poignancy.

There are so many great passages in this book and I am only adding this one to my review but really, there is so many more..."completely alone though a part of the crowd, Mary stood mutely gazing on her son and his wife as if in wonderment how so much time had disappeared and emerged again in such strange and substantial forms that were and were not her own. Across her face there seemed to pass many feelings and reflections; it was as if she ached to touch and gather in and make whole these scattered years of change. But how can time gathered in and kissed?"

While it is a bit like watching paint dry, that was part of the beauty of the story. It was a very pleasing paint!

That They May Face the Rising Sun by John McGahern
4 stars

This is my second read so here is my original review and the small addendum:

A lovely book that basically reflects country life in Ireland in the 1980's. There is very little plot but the characters are interesting. The story just gently rolls from season to season and from happening to happening. The general feeling toward the end of the book is that progress is coming and this simple life is in danger of disappearing. There is a lot going on within these pages: marriages, deaths of neighbors and of livestock, divorce, friends and neighbors but it is all entwined with some wonderful descriptions of the Irish countryside. I really enjoyed the details provided that talked about taking the sheep and cattle to the slaughterhouse--not that I like thinking about that but the process was interesting. Reading about preparing a body for a wake--when there are no morticians--was also something I found fascinating--and explained the title of the book.

ADDENDUM: I will stand by my original review but I enjoyed this read much more this time around.

3 stars from me

I found this book totally dull, the only good thing was I have not slept as well in a long time thank you Jamesie

That They May Face the Rising Sun by John McGahern
4 stars

Where other books are like a movie in your head, this one is like a picture where details are added to paint a vivid image of life in rural Ireland. What sounds rather dull had me turning the pages, fully invested in the minutiae of everyday living.

Rating: 4 Stars


Surprised to see how many people have already read this one. I am definitely late to the party. I read the Kindle edition titled, By the Lake. I agree with others that this is a beautifully written book where very little takes place. I am a sucker for books with Irish settings, and I felt McGahern 's descriptions were lovely. I probably would not have enjoyed it as much if it was set in the U.S.

Diane wrote: "Rating: 5 Stars


Surprised to see how many people have already read this one. I am definitely late to the party. I read the Kindle edition titled, By the Lake. I agree with others th..."

Diane this book was part of a challenge which is why so many of us read it. I am glad you enjoyed the book.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this novel about a middle-aged couple, Joe and Kate Ruttledge, and their small Irish community. Nicely written and with very realistic interesting characters. I will make a point to read McGahern's "Amongst Women" some day.

Really enjoyed the somewhat plotless slice of life (even if that slice of life sometimes includes the IRA lol), the characterization, the charming dialect and dialogue, and the ambiance of growing with this village as time goes by. 4 stars.

A slow-moving story that follows an Irishman who has settled with his English wife close to his hometown in rural Ireland after some time away, and their neighbours, small farming families or men who come and go on different jobs. It reflects McGahern's own experience in that he returned from London to work a small farm in his home county of Leitrim with his second wife.

I found it hard to follow at first, but the characters gradually became individuals who grew on me, and by the end I was very sorry to leave them. 4 stars +