One Day As A Tiger

by Anne Haverty

One Day As A Tiger tells the story of Martin Hawkins, a brilliant young historian, who turns his back on a promising academic career and returns to the family sheep-farm in Tipperary where he finds himself at odds with his conscientious brother, Pierce. Hostile to the people around him, and secretly in love with Pierce's restless wife, Etti, Martin begins to harbour strange convictions about an adopted lamb he calls Missy. One of a flock that has been 'improved' with the introduction of human genes, Missy starts to make significant impact on Martin's imagination. When Etti starts to share these sentiments, she and Martin embark on a reckless and terrible adventure.

Genres: Fiction, Irish Literature, Ireland, Read For College

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 1998

Reviews

[Joanna]

This was an enjoyable and interesting read. The novel traces the themes of love, loss, and destruction. The lead character, Marty, leaves his job as a professor in Dublin and returns to the family farm. At the farm, Marty becomes infatuated with Etti, his brother's wife. Meanwhile, Marty adopts a genetically engineered sheep who was created with a mixture of human and sheep genes. A wonderful cast of rural characters circulates in the background as the tension between Marty and Etti builds. The pace of the book quickens throughout, all the way to the final resolution. I can't remember where I heard about this little book, but I'm glad someone recommended it to me. It deserves a wider readership.

[Gillian Oliver]

I liked this book, it is beautifully written, the descriptions are extravagant and it closes with an endless sadness.

[Marsha Valance]

A mutant sheep aids the healing process of a grieving student who returns to his Irish village after his parents’ death.

[Kathy Buys]

An unusual story - original and compelling. A truly sad story for so many reasons.