A Slanting of the Sun: Stories

There are some astonishing short stories in this book but unfortunately the Audible version doesn’t list them. When you click on “Chapters” you get a numerical list. Chaper1, Chapter 2 and so on. The name of each chapter is read out at the beginning of each, but there’s little pause between each, and that plus the strong Irish accent of the narrator makes it impossible to decipher the name of every story.,

As well, some chapters span more than one story. So one story I particularly liked is in chapters 4 and five contain “Tommy and the Moon” a story of an old man and his thoughts about life, the universe and the concept of time. Beautifully written and narrated. “Long Puck” is set in Syria when ISIS is about to take over show more and though most stories are set in non-metropolitan Ireland, in every story rural despair and the poetry of adversity linger quietly..

Just a pity that the audiobook was so thoughtlessly produced. Still worth the read. show less

A SLANTING OF THE SUN: STORIES has done nothing to shake my conviction that Donal Ryan is one of THE most exciting young writers of the new century. And it also demonstrates his mastery of the short story genre. In all of his books, both long and short form fiction, Ryan has created his own literary landscape in his stark depictions of the often economically depressed regions around Limerick and Tipperary. Think of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, Russo's Mohawk Valley, or the Midwestern towns and parish priests of J.F. Powers, and you will know what I mean. Donal Ryan is making Irish village life familiar and understandable to a world readership one story, one novel at a time. Now I have read these stories and his first three novels. show more They all shine like diamonds in a literary world full of mediocrity and dreck. I can't wait to read his newest. My highest recommendation.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER show less

If you always look for happily ever after stories, best skip Donal Ryan. Having read The Spinning Heart, a 2014 Booker Prize finalist, I knew what to expect, mainly poverty, loneliness, and violence set in contemporary rural Ireland, with hints of hope and love thrown in. And that's what we find in this collection of short stories. A young man falls into an almost-friendship with the boy assigned to guard him while his brother is beaten to death. A boy is both stuck in a group of Travelers and ostracized because of it. An old man in a nursing home confronts his memories, most of which lead to regrets that are too late to remedy. A priest sent to Syria tries to unite the community by arranging hurling games, but the peace is short-lived. show more Vigilantes go in search of a rapist. So yes, lots of downers here. Nevertheless, Ryan's stories crawl inside the hearts and minds of his characters, many of them caught in situations and social pressures from which they can't escape, and often reveal a glimpse of goodness that, sadly, is either suppressed or eats away at their consciences. Beautifully written and very moving, Ryan's stories gave me a fascinating look at a world quite different from my own and an exploration of the brutal side of human nature. show less

I’m finding it difficult to decide how many stars I should give to this collection of around twenty bleak and quite short stories, because there was a few that I found that rest too much on a really powerful first-person Irish oral style but lack a bit on the side of plot. But as this was not always the case, some of them did work for me. My standouts include “The Squad” and “A Slanting of the Sun”, and above all the impressive and unforgettable “Long Puck”: a touching story set in Syria about religion and hurling, and so sadly appropriate these days.

A true talent, this author makes us see behind the faces that are presented to the public. See behind these lonely displaced, down and out people to their humanity, hopes and failures. All of these stories are very good but a few stood out for me. One of the stories is "Lark" where a woman is, thinking of things to do for her husband, a rather normal life kids, just leaving to go to work and then, well what happens just whacked me in the face, I actually hade to reread the paragraph. Won't soon forget that one. The other one concerns a priest in Syria and a hurling game, another one that surprised me.

Of course since all these stories take place in Ireland, hurley and hurling is mentioned in many of the stories and in some the brogue show more speech helps make them seem more authentic. I have read both of his books and loved them too. A new favorite author for me. show less

Each story a tiny meditation.