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97th out of 136 books
—
26 voters
As It Is In Heaven
Set in the west of Ireland and Venice, this book features a shy and unconfident schoolteacher and his lovelorn and depressed father whose only desire is to die and join his wife and daughter in heaven.
Hardcover, 310 pages
Published
1999
by Picador
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I purchased the book as I thought it was the novel of the movie by the same name, which I had seen upon its release in 2004 and remembered as brilliant. But when I found the novel to be set in Ireland, I knew something was up. The novel is not the same as the movie (which was set in Sweden) - but I'm glad I picked it up anyways.
The story opens with a father and son who have shut themselves off from life after their wife/mother and daughter/sister were killed in a car crash years back. They see e...more
The story opens with a father and son who have shut themselves off from life after their wife/mother and daughter/sister were killed in a car crash years back. They see e...more
Libro noiosissimo, e anche deprimente. Philip e Stephen, rispettivamente padre e figlio, perdono in un incidente la moglie/madre e la figlia/sorella. Questo doppio lutto getta un'ombra molto lunga sulle loro vite, specialmente sul padre Philip (fino a metà libro non sono riuscita a memorizzare chi era il padre e chi il figlio, grave eh?) che vive gli anni a seguire percependo un tumore in crescita dentro di lui e aspettando estaticamente il momento sempre più vicino del ricongiungimento con la m...more
This is my 5th books of Niall Williams. His first four had to do with the "Making a go of it" on the west coast of Ireland. This is his first work of fiction that I have read. He is an extraordinary wordsmith; his words have a lightness that almost float off the page to evoke a feeling of atmosphere - the sounds and smells and the look of a place are all captured through the essence of light. The story itself is a beautifully and artfully told tale of love - the love of a man for his dead wife;...more
Note: I posted this same review on Amazon.com right after reading the book.
As It Is In Heaven is my favorite Niall Williams book. Part of the reason it is my favorite is the fact that it takes place in Ireland and in Venice...two of my favorite places in the world. And Ireland and Venice are perfect locales for this story with its distinctly fairy tale quality. There is magic in "As It Is In Heaven" and it is definitely Irish magic.
The characters in this book are all emotionally and spiritually...more
As It Is In Heaven is my favorite Niall Williams book. Part of the reason it is my favorite is the fact that it takes place in Ireland and in Venice...two of my favorite places in the world. And Ireland and Venice are perfect locales for this story with its distinctly fairy tale quality. There is magic in "As It Is In Heaven" and it is definitely Irish magic.
The characters in this book are all emotionally and spiritually...more
Just what the doctor ordered: a beautiful, mystical story of love, loss, redemption and rebirth- complete with the dreamy atmospheres of Venice and the West of Ireland. And much to my heart's relief- a happy ending. Or rather, a beginning filled with hope and joy.
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I started this last week and stopped because the opening pages were too filled with grief and loss- more than I could stand at the present moment.
But I picked it up again last night, after abandoning another Iris...more
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I started this last week and stopped because the opening pages were too filled with grief and loss- more than I could stand at the present moment.
But I picked it up again last night, after abandoning another Iris...more
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A beautiful love story between a withdrawn Irish teacher and a passionate Italian violinist, who carries the scent of lilies with her. But the real wonder of the book is in the details – the father and son communicating silently through their chess games, the tailor who can read a man’s health through the fit of his clothes, the doctors who believe they are fakes because they cannot heal the soul, the magic realism in the way the music transports everyone who hears it. Even the minor characters...more
Yes, it is beautifully written but, like the Irish weather it often describes, it is wall-to-wall melancholy.
And Steven is more than a little bit creepy in his pursuit of Gabriella, the fickle and infuriating violinist. I agree with Meredith that the fruit shop owner is the warmest character. The last fifty or so pages are truly inspiring, although you just can't shake the feeling, at every turn of the page, that everything is going to come crashing down for Steven again. And it doesn't make up...more
And Steven is more than a little bit creepy in his pursuit of Gabriella, the fickle and infuriating violinist. I agree with Meredith that the fruit shop owner is the warmest character. The last fifty or so pages are truly inspiring, although you just can't shake the feeling, at every turn of the page, that everything is going to come crashing down for Steven again. And it doesn't make up...more
Some of my favorite parts/lines...
"When somethin of great size moves into the heart it dislodges all else, in just the same way that the forward movemen of the queen reshapes the (chess) board."
"But neither did he hear the voice that whispers insistently beneath the surface of al lour happiness, that urges us to gather each moment like a small stone and store it in the deep pockets of your soul, that knows what lies ahead and offers only the wisdom of living fully and cherishing like the briefes...more
"When somethin of great size moves into the heart it dislodges all else, in just the same way that the forward movemen of the queen reshapes the (chess) board."
"But neither did he hear the voice that whispers insistently beneath the surface of al lour happiness, that urges us to gather each moment like a small stone and store it in the deep pockets of your soul, that knows what lies ahead and offers only the wisdom of living fully and cherishing like the briefes...more
Apr 27, 2010
Ilze
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Ilze by:
Dorian Haarhoff
When you first start reading this book, it almost frustrates in the sense that the narrative is slowed down tremendously by the poetic language. Williams is able to create mood and beauty with his words like none I've read in English before. Once you've gotten used to this, the story starts to move and you are moved by it. There are moments when you want to cry, and moments when a smile is possible, and often, you see yourself in that narrative: Experiencing love and death and God. The three puz...more
This gets off to a very promising start: "There are only three great puzzles in the world, the puzzle of love, the puzzle of death, and, between each of these and part of both of them, the puzzle of God. God is the greatest puzzle of all." Although the book substantively wrestles with all three issues, it's not all that profound, despite a lot of over-the-top prose. At times it reads almost like a fantasy, but one very grounded in the mundane lives & landscapes of two very likable characters...more
I loved Williams first novel The Four Letters of Love, and looked forward to this, his second. In many ways I found it even better. The unashamed romanticism remains, and the magical realism, if anything, increases... As ever, I loved Williams' writing, but I was also drawn into the story and found it very satisfying. Perhaps I too am an unashamed romantic... I am certainly an unashamed fan of this writer.
If you're in the mood for an old-fashioned love story, one that will make you laugh and cry and sigh, then you really can't do better than "As It Is In Heaven." Personally it made me angry! I kept wanting to scream at the book's charactors..."Oh, get over it! Get on with life. Life doesn't end because your loved one dies!" But it supposedly has a happy ending.. so on to the next book club read.
one of the most beautiful and poetic books I've ever read. a love story that hinges on chance all the way through. streaked with loss and poignancy.
not for you if you like lots of dialogue or action or if you're not keen on similies!
an anatomy of a heart in love. I loved it!
not for you if you like lots of dialogue or action or if you're not keen on similies!
an anatomy of a heart in love. I loved it!
Sep 15, 2012
Norah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Bookcrossing wild release
Recommended to Norah by:
no-one
This seemed a sad and slow-moving book at first, but I soon began to enjoy the rich language of Niall Williams. A story full of ridiculous happenstance and coincidence, sad, slow-moving, but so satisfying, not as a happy-ever-after ending, but something better.
Okay, so I don't really remember this book all that well. But I do know I read it. I LOVE William's Four Letters of Love, but distinctly remember not liking this one as much.
Beautiful writing. I know few authors who can create such rich characters. The author uses such incredible imagery that you can SEE the whole story unfolding.
A beautifully written book about love, romantic love, familial love, and love for music. It's peppered with beautiful and original desciptive passages that make you want to read them twice. Certainly an author I want to read more of.
I struggled to get into this book initially however once the characters were established and the plot started to unfold it became more interesting.
What I loved about this book is the way in which Niall Williams writes. He uses beautiful metaphors to describe situations, feelings and emotions etc. Very refreshing. The story has a sunny ending which is also lovely
What I loved about this book is the way in which Niall Williams writes. He uses beautiful metaphors to describe situations, feelings and emotions etc. Very refreshing. The story has a sunny ending which is also lovely
Everytime I picked up this book and tried to read it i felt like I was torturing myself. After about 75 pages I skimmed through the rest of the book and got through it in a few hours and still didn't miss anything. Didn't really like the characters and the story was so slow and boring.
One of my favorites from 1999, I read several books about Irish people and Ireland in a row and this one was my favorite.
The moral of the story: money solves everything, even unrequited love. It was sappy enough for me to like it, though.
Beautiful use of language, felt refreshing after The Sea of Poppies, where the language got in the way for me.
First book I ever read of Niall Williams and I instantly fell in love with his work.
I am a big fan, read it years ago and adored his writing
I loved this gentle love story set in Ireland
Not to be confused with the movie
What a great book to make you dream!!!
Beautiful, lyrical writing.
A very descriptive book. Evokes lots of images in the writing. Interesting characters. Unexpected ending.
one of my favorite books ever
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Moved back to Ireland and wrote about his experiences.
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“Neither did she realise yet that grief is a kind of glue, too, that the essence of humanity is this empathy, and that we fall together in that moment of tenderest perception when we see and feel each other's wounds and know another's sorrow like a brother of our own.”
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