Ireland

I purchased this book in an airport gift shop while I was waiting to catch my plane for my first trip to Ireland. I was standing there trying to find something to read on the flight over, and it just seemed like providence, so I picked it up. Needless to say, I was instantly enchanted by this book!

Told alternatively between what is happening "now" and stories from Ireland's vast and rich history, Ireland is a journey of discovery for a boy both about his national heritage as well as his ancestral heritage. Each story is more mesmerizing than the last and will draw you in farther and farther into the history and lore of Ireland. The continuing story of Ronan, the young protagonist of the story and his continuing interaction with the show more Storyteller keeps the story of what is happening "now" moving forward as well, all the way to an ending that you don't see coming.

What was amazing to me is while I was in Ireland, I would read a chapter or 2 each morning, which usually included one of the Storyteller's stories. On two occasions, the story he told in the book related directly to something that I was doing that day (I read about the creation Book of Kells the day we went to Trinity College to view it, and I read about the Easter Uprising the morning that I stopped into the very same Post Office that it occurred in to mail my postcards back home). It was entrancing to me to read something of the history of these items or places and actually be able to look at the same article or walk the same street as the characters in the story.

Part history lesson, part mystery, part drama, Ireland is an amazing book that has captured the imaginations of both myself and everyone I have lent my copy too (which is a very well-traveled book now). show less

Wonderful, expansive, layered book weaving an intricate tale of the beloved country of Ireland through the voices of many narrators. Most of the tales of the emerald isles' history are shared through meandering stories by a wandering storyteller who traveled the length and breadth of the country by foot. More history is covered through the tales from Ronan, who met this "seanachi" when he was just nine and was inspired, both by the man, and by his tales. Once he grew to adulthood, Ronan, too travelled Ireland to find the aging storyteller and share some tales of his own. In a lovely twist, Delaney brings it all full circle and the grown up Ronan finds the man, becomes a respected historian in his own right and resolves his own family show more dramas too.

Luscious, gorgeous, breathtaking! Such a wonderfully written yarn. The only thing missing is the hearth. show less

What a pleasure to read! I've read quite a few historical novels set in Ireland from the Tuatha De Danann to the Easter Rebellion and nothing put it all together as well as this. And in such a light and interesting way. Reading this book is like examining the facets which make up a beautiful diamond -- you see little minute parts of a history that gradually comes together in a wonderful story. For example, I've read complete novels about the potato famine. The 3 or 4 page story of the the doctor's anquish examing the potato leaves left me with a clearer feeling of the terror of famine than many complete books have done.

At first I wasn't sure I was going to like the chapters alternating between "plot" and "story" but it didn't take too show more long to begin to see the connection and then I was totally pulled in and found it hard to put the book down. This book is a delight.2005-06-15 show less

A charming book about an apprentice storyteller who wanders like a troubadour through Ireland telling stories of Ireland's history and myths. His stories have connections to events in his own life, and his mentor is constantly sought after. There are a couple of family surprises that cause a bit of upheaval. Thoroughly enjoyable.

A very interesting read and a must for anyone who loves Ireland. The book alternates every other chapter between the story of a boy growing up in Ireland and finding the mysterious Storyteller who came to his house at the age of 9, and stories that make up the history of Ireland. Some of the stories can get a little dense (especially if you're not too familiar with Irish history), but they're worth it. And the story of Ronan growing up is genuinely intriguing. This is the kind of book that you have to make time to sit down and read--if you don't, it may cross over into that period of "will this ever end?". But trust me, the ending is worth it. I wish I had read it with a book club or for a class; there's really so much to discuss.

I have just finished one of the most amazing books. Ireland: A Novel by Frank Delaney intricately weaves together several tales with Ireland itself fulfilling the role of setting and supporting character. I thoroughly enjoyed not only the plot and originality of the story, but the writing was spectacular in its lush descriptions of ancient and modern day Ireland, as well as the very soil and green (as you've never seen before) grass of the island.

The story begins one evening with the visit of an Irish storyteller to the O'Mara household. Ronan, the only child of the house, becomes immediately enthralled with the old man whose station in life is to travel the country telling and retelling the rich history of Ireland. On this first night show more where we meet the Storyteller we hear the tale of an ancient and awe-inspiring burial site at Newgrange. Ronan hangs on the Storyteller's every word and puts every image and syllable to memory. But Ronan is not the only one who is listening, several townspeople have filled the O'Mara's sitting room to hear the magical tales and so it goes for three evenings.

The morning following the Storyteller's tale about St. Patrick, Ronan's mother has a falling out with the visitor over accused blasphemy. She asks him to leave her household at once - without saying goodbye to Ronan. His departure sets into motion a journey by the then 9-year-old boy that lasts well into his adulthood. Ronan's journey brings him to many corners of the Emerald Isle during his life, coast to coast, in search of the Storyteller. Along the way he learns the history of his beloved country, even more about the love the Irish people have for a good tale and the people who tell them and most of all, Ronan learns about his own family heritage and where he comes from.

While the story of Ronan's journey drives the story forward, the tales that we hear told by the Storyteller and his friends are like a separate storyline altogether. We learn of kings and queens, Viking battles, English occupation, the Great Hunger that drove so many millions to emigrate and several more millions to the grave, and of course, the Easter Uprising of 1916 that led to England retreating from Dublin and giving up all but the very Northern most part of the island. The history is rich, the language like music and I can still hear the voice of the Storyteller echoing in my head as he told of the bullets breaking windows and the images of death permanently burned into his eyes on that bloody, Easter holiday weekend.

I have completely fallen in love with this book. Not only is the story compelling, but the way in which Delaney connects each character with history and illustrates how each person is somehow connected to his neighbor is amazing. But most amazing of all is that by the time you get to the end of the book (and it is a lengthy one) the resolution leads you to recall all that you have read from page one. Each event depends upon all of the events that precede it, both in history and in the novel, and Delaney seamlessly constructs this intricate web without one misstep.

Delaney writes not only a wonderful "oral" history of his land, but provides the reader with one of the most human stories I've read in quite some time. Ireland: A Novel has been added, with great pleasure, to my personal Top Five Best Novels list and I believe, if you give it the time it deserves, you will be greatly impressed as well. show less

I plucked this book from the "New Fiction" shelf at my library, based purely upon the previous nights' conversation with a friend about her honeymoon in Ireland.

This book has three parts to it: it is the story of Ronan O'Mara, a history-obsessed only child growing up with his doting father, abrasive mother, and fun-loving aunt in a small town in Ireland. One night, he looks out his window to see a man walking up the path, looking like "a scarecrow that abandoned his post". Enter the storyteller.

Back in the Olde Days, Storytellers would wander the roads of Ireland. Households would take them in and house them for a short time in exchange for evenings filled with wonderous tales of the history and people of Ireland. Ronan had always show more dreamed of a Storyteller happening upon his house, and when he was nine, his dream came true.

The Storyteller stays for a few days and enchants Ronan, but his mother, Allison, doesn't want the man in her house and kicks him out. Thus begins Ronan's search for the Storyteller.

This book alternates between the life of Ronan, his family drama and his obsession with finding the storyteller; and the stories that he hears as time goes on. There is an excellent balance between storyline and tale, it doesn't seem at all like Frank Delaney didn't have enough to fill a book so he put in some lore to add a chapter or two. The tales are written as an Old Storyteller would relate them - making it all the more charming and engaging. show less