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120th out of 1,428 books
—
3,848 voters
The Silver Mist
by
Martin Treanor (Goodreads Author)
Her dying father calls her unique, doctors have diagnosed that her "brain is wired wrong," and most say she's "plain simple," but Eve Hayes, a young Down's syndrome woman, feels only that she's different. Then, on 21 July 1972-Belfast's Bloody Friday-Eve encounters the captivating Esther, who ferries Eve on a sequence of illuminating, metaphysical journeys. In order to mak
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Paperback, 300 pages
Published
February 21st 2011
by Better Karma LLC
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“The Silver Mist” by Martin Treanor
This story, set in riotous 1970's Belfast, Ireland, is told through the eyes of Eve, a young woman with Down’s Syndrome and her ‘alter ego’ Esther. Eve, living with a condition that most people meeting her would assume limits her ability to experience life and all it has to offer, in reality allows her to look at life, love and the world around her in ways her 'normal' family and friends could never imagine. You will be asking yourself who is Esther? How and wh...more
This story, set in riotous 1970's Belfast, Ireland, is told through the eyes of Eve, a young woman with Down’s Syndrome and her ‘alter ego’ Esther. Eve, living with a condition that most people meeting her would assume limits her ability to experience life and all it has to offer, in reality allows her to look at life, love and the world around her in ways her 'normal' family and friends could never imagine. You will be asking yourself who is Esther? How and wh...more
Eve is a young woman with Down’s Syndrome whose family are caught up in the Belfast bombings of 1972. They have very recently lost their father from a cancer of the blood and their mother is in a coma in hospital after being caught in a bus station bombing. Their chain-smoking next door neighbour comes in daily to help the family. Eve is enchanted by the silver mist she sees when she stands by the garden gate looking into the meadow. In this, she meets Esther, a guide, a friend, another self.
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This isn't my normal read, which makes it all the better when it turns out to be a fantastic one. The Silver Mist tells the story of a young woman with Downs Syndrome and her immediate family in their own bubble of tragedy set against the troubles in Belfast in 1972.
It's a moving tale of Eve's spiritual journey and as I say this isn't my normal type of read, but the story and elegant writing had me transfixed. The writing itself is simple, but has a cadence to it that mirrors how I expect the gi...more
It's a moving tale of Eve's spiritual journey and as I say this isn't my normal type of read, but the story and elegant writing had me transfixed. The writing itself is simple, but has a cadence to it that mirrors how I expect the gi...more
A young woman with Down's Syndrome, Eve Hayes is an unlikely heroine. Her journey, however, is wholly absorbing - sometimes joyful, sometimes bittersweet. She sees things in a way that other people do not and this is what makes this story so delightfully unique and uplifting. She witnesses everything around her - death, violence, the caring of family - and manages to put it all in an over-arching perspective through which the reader can identify with. Most of all, there is a magical element to t...more
Nothing trite here; Eve’s story in Silver Mist is one of the most unique stories I’ve read.
Ordinarily, I shy away from books with plots surrounding war or warlike themes; I find the reality too painful for entertainment. Silver Mist’s spiritual and metaphysical possibilities appealed to my curiosity; therefore, I threw the emotional caution to the wind.
The story takes place in the area near Belfast on July 21st, 1972, the eve of the historic, ‘Bloody Friday.’ The author sets a vivid scene with...more
Ordinarily, I shy away from books with plots surrounding war or warlike themes; I find the reality too painful for entertainment. Silver Mist’s spiritual and metaphysical possibilities appealed to my curiosity; therefore, I threw the emotional caution to the wind.
The story takes place in the area near Belfast on July 21st, 1972, the eve of the historic, ‘Bloody Friday.’ The author sets a vivid scene with...more
Not many books move me to tears, but this one did on several occasions. Sometimes through sadness, other times through joy, and occasionally through both simultaneously. The main character and narrator, Eve Hayes, is a young woman with Down's Syndrome living in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s. The skill with which the author has created Eve - telling the story through her words and thoughts - is substantial. Reading this book was a spiritual experience. I grew to love Eve more and more as th...more
Oct 01, 2011
Martin Treanor
rated it
5 of 5 stars
· (Review from the author)
Shelves:
editorial-reviews
EDITORIAL REVIEWS for THE SILVER MIST
'Most readers will find it refreshing to see a person with a cognitive disability tell her own story. In fact, all characters leap off the pages of The Silver Mist; the reticent astute protagonist who delights in simple things, ethereal Esther, cantankerous yet caring Martha, frazzled Lid and her pre-verbal toddler Robert: each character has their own distinct arc. Even absent characters—Dad, Mam, and a dissolute sister named Becky—come alive through Eve's re...more
'Most readers will find it refreshing to see a person with a cognitive disability tell her own story. In fact, all characters leap off the pages of The Silver Mist; the reticent astute protagonist who delights in simple things, ethereal Esther, cantankerous yet caring Martha, frazzled Lid and her pre-verbal toddler Robert: each character has their own distinct arc. Even absent characters—Dad, Mam, and a dissolute sister named Becky—come alive through Eve's re...more
On 21 July 1971, young Eve Hayes watches her terminally ill father leaving home for the last time. If his impending death in a city hospital is not enough for the Down’s Syndrome sufferer to endure, Eve’s mother and sister will, on the same day, be caught up in the wave of bombings in Belfast’s “Bloody Friday.” Eve, however, finds a new friend – the enigmatic “Esther” – to guide her through the pain of life, and in a series of metaphorical journeys, she learns that her brain is not wired quite a...more
A friend recommended this saying it was one of the best books she had ever read. Of course, since it was free on amazon, there was no stopping me from checking out her recommendation! I'm glad I read the book, it follows a girl diagnosed with Down Syndrome through a few months period in Ireland in the 1970s during massive bombings. There was some beautiful writing and some great thoughts on the essence of life, although, it might have been the constant interruptions from my children, I was lost...more
Could not recommend it more highly. I haven't read a book that I have liked this much for quite awhile. Well written, good pace, and very thought provoking in an almost spiritual way.
Before I had finished the first chapter of this novel I knew I was in for a very special reading experience. Poignant, emotive and superbly written, it perfectly invokes the mood of 1970's Belfast, as seen through the eyes of Eve, a young Down's Syndrome woman. Eve's friendship with the mysterious Esther opens her eyes to both the horrors and wonders of our world through a series of spiritual journeys, and we are there every step of the way. Treanor's tale is intriguing, heartfelt and uplifting....more
This story is captivating to say the least. Told through the eyes of a young Down syndrome woman, it bounces from the sometimes harsh real world around her to a surreal inner world with the guidance of her angelic friend Esther. Among many things that I noticed this novel addressed is our total misconceptions of what we consider weak and what we consider strong. Martin does a wonderful job of using this mostly non-verbal narrator to lay out the family dynamic with ease. It was a pleasure to read...more
Loved this book, an excellent read!!!
Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure.
To create a young female protagonist with Down syndrome is feat enough. To attempt it as an adult male author is downright gutsy. And to pull it off with panache is nothing less than a triumph. Matin Treanor accomplishes this and more in The Silver Mist. A charming, touching, unique presentation from a man who displays a good heart and a sensitive soul.
It took me quite a while to get into this book, in fact I was considering just giving up but I don't like to leave books unread once I have started, so I persevered. I am so glad I did once I got half way through I had started to really like Eve and her family.
This book is well worth reading
This book is well worth reading
This is very special book and one I'm very glad I came across. Beautifuly written and moving, it had me in tears...I loved the protagonist and the narrative told through her eyes. This book is a 'keeper' and one that will linger for some tine.
Absolutely fantastic - I couldn't put this down. Really inspiring and definitely makes you think.
May 24, 2013
Lori Gemalsky
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Martin Treanor is a London based, Irish fiction writer and blogger for The Huffington Post. His published stories include the award winning, 'The Confession'. His novel - THE SILVER MIST; Better Karma Publishing (USA) - was released 2011.
Martin Treanor has published stories in Canadian & US genre magazines SPINETINGLER and 'ZAHIR', THE SPINETINGLER SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGY 2005, CARILLON in UK, T...more
More about Martin Treanor...
Martin Treanor has published stories in Canadian & US genre magazines SPINETINGLER and 'ZAHIR', THE SPINETINGLER SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGY 2005, CARILLON in UK, T...more
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updated Mar 21, 2012 02:39pm