In this quiet novel, Eamon Redmond, a High Court judge in Dublin, looks back, reflecting on his life. The troubled history of Ireland is there in his reminiscences and the turmoil of the modern world and a changing country is reflected in his own family.

The structure of the novel is deceptively simple. It is in three parts, each beginning as the law term ends, with a final case being heard or judgment being carefully crafted and delivered. Then Redmond leaves the courts to summer with his wife, Carmel, in Cush, County Wexford, the area where he grew up. I say "deceptively simple" because there is, in fact, a complex interconnection between the scenes in the law courts and the judge's summers, among the three years covered by these parts, and between the judge's present and his memories of the past.

The first and third parts begin with the same two sentences: Eamon Redmond stood at the window looking down at the river which was deep brown after days of rain. He watched the color, the mixture of mud and water, and the small currents and pockets of movement within the flow." That phrase, "small currents and pockets of movement within the flow", is a rather good description of this book, as Redmond recalls the "small currents and pockets of movement" within the flow that is his life.

I have seen Tóibín compared to Joyce, and it's not a bad comparison. His ability to show people's relationships and characters through the simple description of the mundane events of their daily lives, yet leading to a moment of realization, is very Joycean. His language is neither fancy nor stilted, but polished to a gem-like luster, each word perfectly chosen, and all strung together like a matched set of pearls.

I feel like if I knew anything at all about Ireland's political history, this would have been more enjoyable. It's very melancholy, and kind of boring. Reminded me of Cider With Rosie, except a little more happens. But just a little. ( )

The Heather Blazing reads as a very 'Irish' book (as one would of course expect from Colm Toibin) with themes and elements of family, memories, the sea, religion, politics and death. There's not much action or plot here as such, but who cares? I found the start a bit slow, but the final result is a poignant character study of an intelligent and 'successful' man whose need to be self reliant from a very early age leads him into his own little island of emotional isolation.

The writing is deceptively simple, having a controlled quality reflecting the emotional tone of the book, and the narrative flows effortlessly to and fro between past and present.

While reading, I was reminded of similarities between this book and Old Filth by Jane Gardam . . . another piece of brilliant writing with the main protagonist also a Judge, and the present being juxtaposed with memories of his past. Very different settings and stories, but remarkably similar emotionally stunted characters.

A very melancholy book, but not wholly depressing. The ending has a redemptive quality, but it's just such a shame that it took his gut wrenching grief and sense of loss on the death of his wife, Carmel, to force Eamon to leave his little island. ( )

I read The Master when it was shortlisted for the 2004 Booker. I loved the cool, elegant prose and the delicate exploration of Henry James' feelings and manners.

I'm not sure why its taken me 5 years to pick up another Toibin novel but I'm very gald I did.

The Heather Blazing won't be for everyone. There are no fireworks here, no vampires or wizards, no sudden plot twists or amazing coincidences - nothing out of the ordinary really happens at all. Instead we get a subtle exploration of the differences between a person's public and private personas.

Eamonn Redmond is a High Court judge in Ireland. Each of the three parts of the book starts with his ending a case just before summer recess and heading down to his holiday home on the east coast of Ireland. Interspersed are chapters from his early life - first as a boy, then a teenager and finally an aspiring and promising barrister. Redmond's mother died during childbirth and his father had interests in many matters other than his son. He grows up self-reliant and reserved - qualities that work well in a judge but are less attractive in a husband and father.

As well as exploring the development of Redmond's character, there is some beautiful writing on the Irish landscape and sea in particular. Also interesting are the passages about the post-independence Irish civil war which is not well known about in England but was very nasty indeed (c.f. Sebastian Barry's excellent The Secret Scripture). But what really shines out is Tobin's wonderful prose. Every sentence is crafted so that there is not a word out of place. There is precision and honesty in his style reminiscent of Hemingway in The Old Man and the Sea and in Orwell's later works. Not a book that you want to gobble up in one go, but worth savouring slowly. ( )

This book was a book club selection and it created quick a bit of discussion - so that makes it a sucess. The author did a wonderful job of creating a character that allows the reader to draw their own conclusions as to his motive and actions. The writing is lyrical and makes this makes the story so much more heart wrenching in places. An easy read, an enjoyable story and a great discussion book. I would suggest this book and am looking for to reading more stories from this author. ( )