Alanna Thornton’s Reviews > Dubliners > Status Update

“Like the tender fires of stars moments of their life together, that no one knew of or would ever know of, broke upon and illumined his memory. He longed to recall to her those moments, to make her forget the years of their dull existence together and remember only their moments of ecstasy.”

Beautiful

The Lass of Aughrim

“There was grace and mystery in her attitude as if she were a symbol of something. He asked himself what is a woman standing on the stairs in the shadow, listening to distant music, a symbol of. If he were a painter he would paint her in that attitude.”

“the tradition of genuine warm-hearted courteous Irish hospitality, which our forefathers have handed down to us and which we in turn must hand down to our descendants, is still alive among us.”

—why do you go to France and Belgium, said Miss Ivors, instead of visiting your own land?
—Well, said Gabriel, it's partly to keep in touch with the languages and partly for a change.
—And haven't you your own language to keep in touch with - Irish? asked Miss Ivors.

“The books he received for review were almost more welcome than the paltry cheque. He loved to feel the covers and turn over the pages of newly printed books.”

“He would only make himself ridiculous by quoting poetry to them which they could not understand. They would think that he was airing his superior education. He would fail with them just as he had failed with the girl in the pantry. He had taken up a wrong tone. His whole speech was a mistake from first to last, an utter failure.”

“The light music of whisky falling into glasses made an agreeable interlude.”

There used always be crowds of Protestants in the chapel when Father Tom was preaching.
— We both believe in - He hesitated for a moment-
... in the Redeemer. Only they don't believe in the Pope and in the mother of God.
— But, of course, said Mr Cunningham quietly and effectively, our religion is the religion, the old, original faith.