From a Low and Quiet Sea, by Donal Ryan

[Matthias]

I read this for ATY19, a book having to do with something blue (it has a blue cover).

This is the latest book by Donal Ryan, the Irish author of Spinning Heart (which was highly acclaimed, rightfully so, a few years ago). This novel tells the stories of three main characters, who are tied together in a touching final scene. The stories are all interesting, and Ryan's main gift being the description of characters, they are all compelling and well-drawn. I just feel that the story is lacking, more of vignettes without a plot - leaving impressions of people with little understanding of where they are going, or what will come from this. Perhaps that is the point - well-drawn interesting characters - but I feel there was much potential for more in this story, and sorry to leave Farouk, Lammy, and even John so soon.