Comments on: The Emigrant’s Farewell by Liam Browne http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/ SinĂ©ad Gleeson's blog Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:49:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Howard Kay http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/#comment-14868 Howard Kay Sun, 03 Sep 2006 01:08:47 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/#comment-14868 I have just read the book in 2 days. Almost didn't put it down! Your review perfectly encapsulates the gripping story of the two bereaved fathers separated by a century and a half. My ex-wife hails from Armagh city and she has a brother who lived (or lives) and taught school in 'Derry. So I have heard a little of the area. I have never been to the UK and live in Brisbane, Australia.The book graphically presented the dramatic change from a tidal backwater village with a fledgeling shipbuilding business to a modern city with all of the things which we hate about progress, as well as the humanity of it's occupants. I'm not one who generally reads modern Irish writers. Maybe because I have been conditioned to the effects the "troubles" have on the psyche of many of those who live in the north, and expect them to dwell too long on morbidity, pain and suffering. This is one author I have added to my list and look forward to reading more. Also, Sinead I will now add your blog to my favorites and read some more of your reviews. I have just read the book in 2 days. Almost didn’t put it down! Your review perfectly encapsulates the gripping story of the two bereaved fathers separated by a century and a half. My ex-wife hails from Armagh city and she has a brother who lived (or lives) and taught school in ‘Derry. So I have heard a little of the area. I have never been to the UK and live in Brisbane, Australia.The book graphically presented the dramatic change from a tidal backwater village with a fledgeling shipbuilding business to a modern city with all of the things which we hate about progress, as well as the humanity of it’s occupants.
I’m not one who generally reads modern Irish writers. Maybe because I have been conditioned to the effects the “troubles” have on the psyche of many of those who live in the north, and expect them to dwell too long on morbidity, pain and suffering.

This is one author I have added to my list and look forward to reading more. Also, Sinead I will now add your blog to my favorites and read some more of your reviews.

]]> By: Elisabetta d'Erme http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/#comment-5865 Elisabetta d'Erme Tue, 06 Jun 2006 18:54:10 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/#comment-5865 Dear Sinead, I live in Trieste, Italy, and I have just finished reading "The Emigrant's Farewell". I agree with you, it is a very compelling reading. I was much taken by the loving descriptions of Derry. I think the city deserves good writers such as Liam Browne. All the best from Trieste Elisabetta d'Erme Dear Sinead,
I live in Trieste, Italy, and I have just finished reading “The Emigrant’s Farewell”. I agree with you, it is a very compelling reading. I was much taken by the loving descriptions of Derry. I think the city deserves good writers such as Liam Browne.
All the best from Trieste
Elisabetta d’Erme

]]> By: Sinead http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/#comment-1633 Sinead Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:53:05 +0000 http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2006/02/27/the-emigrants-farewell-by-liam-browne/#comment-1633 Patry and JG - I would definitely recommend the book. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that apart from uber high-profile writers like McGahern, Banville and even Colm Toibin, that the only writing coming out of Ireland is a tsunami of chicklit. Browne puts me in mind of a couple of other writers, who in the last couple of years have emerged as some of the new hopes of Irish writing - writers like Gerard Donovan and William Wall (whosr book This is the Country was long-listed for last year's Booker). As for <i>The Grown-ups </i>, on paper it sounded like exactly the kind of play I wanted to see - a look at how new Ireland, free of religion and wallowing in money is more emotionally bankrupt than ever before. Sadly it didn't do that and I think I was harder on it than the other two. JG, I assumed it was a novice writer but one of my fellow panellists told me that this is Nick Kelly's 7th play, and I really expected more from someone with Gerry Stembridge's experience. He directed one of the best Irish plays I've ever seen, Mark O'Rowe's <i>Made in China </i>a few years back at The Peacock. As for Camille O'Sullivan, I only met her briefly but on watching the show, her performance of God is in the House (one of my favourite Nick Cave songs in recent years) was stunning. Patry and JG - I would definitely recommend the book. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that apart from uber high-profile writers like McGahern, Banville and even Colm Toibin, that the only writing coming out of Ireland is a tsunami of chicklit.

Browne puts me in mind of a couple of other writers, who in the last couple of years have emerged as some of the new hopes of Irish writing - writers like Gerard Donovan and William Wall (whosr book This is the Country was long-listed for last year’s Booker).

As for The Grown-ups , on paper it sounded like exactly the kind of play I wanted to see - a look at how new Ireland, free of religion and wallowing in money is more emotionally bankrupt than ever before. Sadly it didn’t do that and I think I was harder on it than the other two.

JG, I assumed it was a novice writer but one of my fellow panellists told me that this is Nick Kelly’s 7th play, and I really expected more from someone with Gerry Stembridge’s experience. He directed one of the best Irish plays I’ve ever seen, Mark O’Rowe’s Made in China a few years back at The Peacock.

As for Camille O’Sullivan, I only met her briefly but on watching the show, her performance of God is in the House (one of my favourite Nick Cave songs in recent years) was stunning.

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