Delaney's use of voice in this novel is excellent, as is the massive amount of local flavor with which he imbues his writing. That's the best I can say about this book. As you probably already know, Ireland attempts to tell the story of Ireland (surprise, surprise): about half the novel is a frame story set in the 1950s and 60s, concerning a young boy, Ronan, who meets a traveling storyteller and is captivated by Irish history. The other half consists of the stories themselves, told by various people (the storyteller, Ronan, a history professor, various people Ronan meets as he tries to find the storyteller again). The stories are almost all quite short and come in sequential order as we move through history. I'm impressed by just how much Delaney takes this framework to heart: never for a moment does he forget who's telling a story, and the reader will know too, simply by reading a few sentences of it. The local flavor comes in when we're reading the frame story; the places and local characters we meet in it couldn't feel more real. Still, though, I was disappointed. As a novel, Ireland didn't work for me. The frame story takes up a lot of time and was reasonably interesting, but Ronan was a jerk and there wasn't enough substance there to justify the time spent on him. And the sheer number of words Delaney's characters spent lavishly praising the embedded short stories (written by Delaney) felt self-indulgent. Most of the short stories themselves, meanwhile, didn't work for me. I freely admit that I'm not a short-story person, and had I realized quite how short they would be, may not have read the book (the first story is 40 pages, but after that the average is probably around 12). There simply wasn't enough there in terms of plot, character development, historical information or anything else, for me to care about them. Paradoxically, I think this is what makes so many people like the book--the fact that the stories tell you more about the storyteller than the content of the story, and what that tells us about our constructions of history. It is interesting, and had I been looking for thematics rather than a novel that would suck me in and teach me about Irish history (this one didn't teach me much; someone who's already familiar with Irish history might appreciate it more), I might have liked it better. Maybe I'm not being fair to this book; my criticism comes more from what I wish it had been than any serious flaws. Nonetheless, potential readers should know that Delaney's Ireland isn't for everyone.
I was strongly recommended this book after reading and enjoying Delaney’s subsequent work, Tipperary. The acclaim from friends and colleagues was certainly not exaggerated; the book immediately grabbed my imagination, and is one of the most enjoyable I have read in quite some time.The book opens with a fateful meeting between a young Irish boy, Ronan O’Mara, and an itinerant storyteller who comes to stay at his family’s house for a few evenings and regales the neighborhood with vivid, fascinating tales of Ireland’s myth and history. The story follows Ronan through his youth as he attempts to find the old man again, and through both the journey itself and the various stories and fables he is told on the way, he explores the secrets of his own family and discovers the quiet, waiting destiny born of their revelation.The star of this book is the rich selection of Irish folk tales hidden in its pages, bringing to life such towering figures as Brian Boru, St. Patrick, Strongbow, and James Connolly. The lyrical and dreamlike quality of these stories brought them to life as I read them; they begged to be read aloud, and I can see why many have suggested that this book be enjoyed as an audiobook. Ultimately, I felt that the book was all about the power of collecting and passing on these stories; the tale of Ronan was secondary to the exploration of the storytelling tradition. Personal perspectives on history, including the balance of emotion and fact, are big themes in this book.Which leads me to my only complaint: the main narrative begins to drag in the final third of the book. As pained as I am to admit it, the central story of Ronan and the Storyteller is not very strong. The motives of the characters are muddled and unclear, and the twists near the end are not very difficult to see coming (I guessed both of them well before they were revealed). After I read about halfway through the book, I found myself largely ignoring the narrative in favor of the interspersing historical/mythological stories, until the last fifty pages or so.Even with that problem, though, I loved reading this book. Delaney is a talented storyteller, and has a knack for placing layered, realistic characters in a magical and almost dreamlike interpretation of a country he obviously loves and has extensively researched. This translates into an literary Ireland in which I very much enjoyed spending time exploring.
What do You think about Ireland (2006)?
What makes it such a great audio book? I've read it, but don't get into audio books. I suppose told with an Irish accent might make a difference worth hearing? Please share. If you think it's a worthwhile experience (even after already reading the book) I might listen to the audio book as well.
—Neptunem
I just could not get into this book at all. I found the tales to be boring and the storytelling even worse. I have many Irish friends who are able to tell a tale in a most fun and witty way. They are never boring and with that true Irish wit and the glint in their eyes, they weave a story that amazes and thrills you. (or perhaps it is that wonderful accent and laugh they all seem to have naturally!) Frank Delaney, unfortunately, could not seem to muster up any enthusiasm in this reader. He made me dread going back to a book I knew or at least I thought I knew, I was going to love. What a big disappointment! Where was that Irish charm, those wonderful folktales, or even where was that pot of gold we always hope to find in the Irish rainbow's end? Sadly, this was definitely missing in this book.I made it halfway and even had my husband read it (He has a lot more Irish in him than I) and he could not even get past the first 100 pages.So, sorry to say, this is my second book of the month that has gotten a "no can do" from me. I have to say this is a record for me...I have never quit two books in a row before. :(
—Marialyce
As a folklorist, Frank Delaney is pretty decent. As a novelist ... Frank Delaney is a pretty decent folklorist. His book celebrates the Irish tradition of the itinerant storyteller who earns his room and board by spinning tales and captivating audiences. One such storyteller, perhaps the last of his kind, drops by the home of 9-year-old Ronan O'Mara, and for three nights weaves his spell over the boy. One of his stories gets Ronan's mother riled up, and she tosses the storyteller out on his arse, but the damage has been done. As soon as he's old enough, Ronan sets out in the footsteps of the storyteller to find him and learn more. His quest takes him all over the country, always too late to catch the storyteller but in time to hear the stories repeated. The thousands of years of myth and history Delaney recounts in "Ireland" are interesting, but his framework is bland. The travels and travails of storyteller-in-training Ronan feel like dreary rest stops on a vacation thru Ireland's past. Delaney glosses over the darkest moments of history with folksy good cheer, treating the "troubles" like a minor neighbors' tiff to be resolved at the fireside over a worn pipe and a warm cuppa. I picture Delaney as a rosy-cheeked, relentlessly chirpy tour guide reciting well-rehearsed routines with a twinkle in his eye. Well, there are some people who just won't be twinkled at.
—Jonathan Briggs
