Haven - Emma Donoghue - 4.5 stars rounded up

[Booknblues]

I've enjoyed reading Emma Donoghue and how she approaches subjects of isolation and spirituality, so I was excited to see she had a recently published book about Irish Monks of the 7th century. I love this setting as I was a fan of the Sister Fidelma series set in 7th century Ireland with Absolution by Murder as the first. I of course expected Donoghue to take a different tack.

Artt is a reputed scholar and priest who has a vision of setting up an isolated monastery on an uninhabited island. He handpicks to monks to accompany him an old but accomplished monk, Cormac and a young energetic monk, Trian, both of whom have necessary skills for survival.

Donoghue tells the tale slowly and quietly, with particular attention focused on the envioronment of the Skellig or island.

"Puffins poke gaudy beaks out of burrows. One launches itself into the air in front of Trian, then returns to the hillside with a crash of feathers. The squeaks and screeches of kittiwakes rise above the other cries; in their grass nests mudded to inaccessible perches, they face inwards and display their forked tails like knives. High ledges bristle with guillemots—duck-sized and upright in their black and white plumage. Some massive birds of a similar kind, too, that Trian’s never seen before, bigger than geese."

She builds the character of the men slowly and deliberately as well.

"DAY OF SUNSHINE and shadow, alternating as the clouds scud overhead. Cormac’s gathering stones for the altar. It’s to be a plain drystone square, knee-high. He’s made walls before; a flattened cube can’t be any harder, surely? He collects mostly sandstones and slates, gritty to the touch. Sandstone is good stuff for building—soft enough to work, but stands up bravely to weathering. When Cormac peers at the shimmering greys, he finds hints of tan, yellow, green, brown, even red and purple. Many of these boulders have wavy layers, as if they were liquid before they hardened to stone."

The building of the plot is slow and deliberate and I dare say it will be too slow for some. But I was impressed by this book and found so much food for thought which are recurrent themes in today's world.

[Booknblues]

Here is an interview with Emma Donogue in which she talks much more eloquently about the themes of Haven than I could.

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/24/111930...

[Booknblues]

There is a paywall with this article but there is an absolutely beautiful picture of the island that Haven was on

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/bo...

[Peacejanz]

Great review. Thanks. peace, janz

[Jgrace]

I keep avoiding Emma Donaghue. But this one tempts me.
Great review, thanks!

[Booknblues]

Jgrace wrote: "I keep avoiding Emma Donaghue. But this one tempts me.
Great review, thanks!"

Any particular reason you have been avoiding her?

[Jgrace]

The whole premise of Room was too horrific. I don't think it's possible to work in public education without dealing with child abuse at some point. I just don't go out of my way to read about it.

I know she's written other things, and this sounds like one that I could do.

[Booknblues]

Jgrace wrote: "The whole premise of Room was too horrific. I don't think it's possible to work in public education without dealing with child abuse at some point. I just don't go out of my way to read about it.
..."

I avoided reading it for quite a while. I'm not sure why I finally decided to read it.

I would try other of her books. She is a really good writer. I loved The Pull of the Stars, even though that is also very difficult subject matter.

[Booknblues]

Jgrace wrote: "The whole premise of Room was too horrific. I don't think it's possible to work in public education without dealing with child abuse at some point. I just don't go out of my way to read about it.
..."

Double checked on PBT for when I read Room. Tag for January 2016 was 2010, which was when Room was published. So I have my answer to why I finally read it.

[Marie]

Jgrace wrote: "The whole premise of Room was too horrific. I don't think it's possible to work in public education without dealing with child abuse at some point. I just don't go out of my way to read about it.
..."
I understand your argument about Room (although it was written in such a way that it is not horrific), but it is such a pity to deprive yourself of her other novels! The Wonder, for instance, was great!