Mommy Brain

I finished Ireland: A Novel by Frank Delaney this evening. You must read this book. I don’t know what to say to express how much this book moved me. Maybe it’s because I’m Irish. My maiden name is Shannon. Since I was a girl, it has been a dream to visit the River Shannon, named for my great-great-greats. Now I am even more determined to make it happen.

In each chapter, there was at least one phrase, or image, or sentence, or paragraph that resonated so deeply that I thought, “I have to share this with someone!” There is just too much in this book! I keep looking through the passages I marked to share and it’s just overwhelming. I’ll leave it to you to read for yourself.

The story begins with a Seanchai — a traveling storyteller — arriving at a house one night. The boy who lives in the house becomes enthralled with the man’s stories and that night starts him on a life-long quest to find and learn from the storyteller. Interspersed through the main storyline of this boy’s life are stories of Irish history and folklore. The Storyteller’s “voice” is so convincing that you believe yourself sitting beside a hearth, smelling his pipe smoke, and listening to his words.

This is Mr. Delaney’s first novel. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

Tonight, I start The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Also waiting in my library bag, which serves as my to-read stack, is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

It’s off to bed for me now.