Tbr: The Empty Family

  

    The more I read and the more I write about books, the less well-read I feel. You'd think it would be the other way round, but so many books coming in from all quarters tends to show up the gaps in my reading. One of today's arrivals is a good example: The Empty Family is a new collection of short stories by Colm Tóibín, someone I've never read despite having had The Master in my sights for some time, and noting the praise for Brooklyn, but here's my chance to put that right.

    "Always deeply moving, the stories here - like the surf-washed pebbles on that Wexford beach - will be read for meaning and enjoyed for their shape and sound for ages to come", and "Exquisite ... The chief reason to read these stories is the peculiar power of Colm Tóibín's prose," say the reviewers.

    Out in paperback on 30th. June, this collection could be a great introduction for anyone who, like me, has yet to sample the author's longer work, and with nine stories to the 200 or so pages, they could be taken in one go or fitted in around the usual novel-reading.

(Two more new arrivals will be popping up here later in the day).

Comments

[Rhys]

Sometimes Colm Toibin doesn't suit me especially the gay thing which is not for me of great interest or a central concern but I think Brooklyn is very worthwhile reading, modest and understated and I have read somewhere it is a take on one of James Joyce's stories in Dubliners which gives it another dimension so I think you might enjoy that one.....

[cindyf]

Brooklyn was a perfect book for me - concise, beautiful, not a word wasted. Fascinating plot, wonderful sense of place. Everyone I've recommended it to, of differing ages and reading persuasion, also loved it. I'm slightly put off reading anything else by Mr Toibin in case it doesn't live up to 'Brooklyn', but I may pick up these short stories for some summer reading.