The Secret Scripture

Another book that was middle of the road for me. I really liked both main characters, as well as the old woman's life story. I think it sheds an important light on a rather shameful period of history, when it was ok to institutionalize women for really any reason a powerful man could think up. But it never really gelled for me, it wasn't amazing.

Seriously the worst book I have ever read. I threw it across the room midway through and decided life was way too short to finish it. Even if your life was completely perfect and rays of sunshine and gold streamed down on you 24/7, this book would still find a way to depress the hell out of you. Horrible.

Disappointed

a great insight into a tormented mind and a look at the conflicts between religion and medicine. i've always said there are always 3 sides to every story...

This may well be the best book I've ever read. Part memoire, part detective story of sorts set in Northern Ireland during the start of the Troubles. A serious commentary on the power the catholic church held sway in Ireland and also on the state of the mental health system of the last century. The Irish cadence is pitch perfect - to be expected as the author is an Irishman. Might prove to be...more

This may well be the best book I've ever read. Part memoire, part detective story of sorts set in Northern Ireland during the start of the Troubles. A serious commentary on the power the catholic church held sway in Ireland and also on the state of the mental health system of the last century. The Irish cadence is pitch perfect - to be expected as the author is an Irishman. Might prove to be a little difficult for those unfamiliar with Irish speech patterns - but thanks to Granny Hamel-Smith, late of county Cork, I'm fluent. This is an stunning book.   hide

The mystery of Roseanne was compelling me through the book, but the writing kept stalling me - so amazing, piercing and lyrical, can't tell you how many paragraphs I read twice. It all just aches with trajedy, joy, pain and relief. The best thing I've read in a long time.

What an amazing writer Sebastian Barry is! Ever the bridesmaid, he deserves to win more prizes instead of being runner-up. This is a wonderful, thoughtful story - and though I saw the ending coming from about half way through, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. Next day I went out an bought another of his. Highly recommended.

This is a remarkable story, told both by a centenarian from her room in an asylum and her psychiatrist, through his attempt to assess her sanity. Memory and tragedy are woven together--mysteriously, beautifully. It is a novel that proves there is never just one version of the truth.

good book so far ....