Basically, if you haven’t heard of this novel, it’s the story of a gay Irish man from the beginning to the end of his life, told in 7 year intervals. However, what struck me about it is that it feels like Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, but done right.
Both are hefty books that I finished within a couple of days, but where A Little Life felt cruel and manipulative, THIF had a protagonist that the author clearly cared about. It didn’t feel like it was exploiting it’s MC with unreasonable misery without any character development.
What I’m trying to say is that if you want an un-put-downable read that will rip your heart out and stamp it into pieces without having to deal with melodramatic torture porn, read this book. You won’t regret it. It was marvelous!
This book has tragic elements but also some amazing comic writing and eccentric unique characters. The fist fight at the dinner party. The author mother’s motivations for writing. More.
The book also incorporates the history of how gay men were treated in the 20th century. It reminds me of Alex Haley’s Roots and of Forest Gump.
I thought it was very well done and a satisfying book to read.