The Gathering in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 06, 2008 Laura (booksnob) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013, literature, book-club

The Gathering by Anne Enright
A short review

There has been a death in the family. Veronica's brother, Liam drowned himself in the sea and now Veronica must collect the body from England and simultaneously hold herself together. As the family of nine siblings comes together to say goodbye to their brother in the family home in Ireland, Veronica must guard her deepest secret while she is coming apart at the seams. She fears her memories have warped and corrupted her and possibly Liam.

Enright has cr ...more

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Oct 05, 2009 Madeleine rated it it was ok

Shelves: books-for-hipsters

I had a "duh" moment as I was reading this book: I am just not that into apolitical literary fiction. Without a political struggle of some sort, literary fiction just seems to say "life is pointless." I read a lot of depressing stuff, but at least you come away from most of what I read thinking there's a point to life and to what we do, I think. The idea that none of us matter and none of our lives and tragedies and choices matter--imho--is exponentially more depressing than my usual fare of Ser ...more

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Mar 16, 2009 Paula Hiatt rated it really liked it

I was frustrated with the protagonist who seemed to surrender too much of her will to the past, but Enright's writing is beautifully subtle. ...more

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Feb 24, 2008 John rated it liked it

I can see how this was Booker-worthy, but Enright hits too many false notes along the way and I found myself not entirely buying key elements of the story. In several passages, she seems to be trying too hard to be provocative and ends up making her characters do and say things that just seemed wrong. Enright brilliantly depicts the imperfectness of memory, but early in the book, I just lost the faith.

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