The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan

just about 20 pages from the end of this one and it was a bit underwhelming for me. Similar to the Bee Sting, the story is told from the perspective of multiple characters, but I don't think the writer manages to evoke empathy for any of the characters except maybe Lucy, the child at the center of the story. I don't expect to see this on the shortlist

I tend to agree.

I think it’s hard to write a book about ordinary failings when you centre them on an extraordinary incident (the disappearance of a child) and that contradiction seemed to unbalance the novel for me.

What is impressive though is that the book is very different from her first novel - which had a very strong following. I am always impressed with authors that have the courage to try different things especially when their first book was so successful.

I'm only 20% in and even without fully understanding the story arc, the actual language is lyrical. What is going on in Ireland?!?

I’ve just finished this. I read it in one sitting- due more to a day of convalescing than it demanding to be read. It had a strong beginning that drew me in. It flagged a little for me during the period in the hotel but rallied again with John’s interview.
Some sections were stronger than others & it did at times feel a little imbalanced. The least convincing character for me was the journalist, Tom. Maybe, too much of a stereotype.
Overall the strong parts had enough merit for me to find it a worthwhile read.

This was decent in audiobook. I read it in a 2-day period on long walks. The odd thing was that I could never remember what it was about. It would take a couple of minutes of listening for memory to return. So my conclusion is it was underwhelming.

I really appreciated this book. While I agree that the central event was far from ordinary, I appreciated that what came before, and what followed, did feel like remarkably ordinary human failings. John wasn't a creepy child molester, he was a damaged old man. Richie had no major trauma that turned him into an alcoholic, he just failed to engage with the world in a very ordinary way. What happened to Carmel happens to thousands of girls, and it broke her. And what allowed her to repair her life and her daughter's life was just taking the ordinary actions you take every day, just to keep swimming.

Mostly, lives are ordinary. It's the fact that one persists, and keeps showing up, day after day, year after year, that makes things work.

I don't know, I found this quiet reflection on the ordinariness of both pain and recovery . . . comforting, somehow.

Thanks Rose - really insightful comments that make me reflect on the novel.

Quite an impressive list of nominations this has picked up

Nero Book Awards Novel shortlist
Gordon Burn Prize shortlist
Women’s Prize longlist

Now Orwell Prize Finalist (winner TBA)

And now RSL Encore Award Shortlist