I have since read “The Coast Road” and I thought it was wonderful. Alan Murrin’s writing has a wonderful flow. This novel is a page turner. The dialogue among the characters is very natural. He captures the ambience of each couple’s home and the town itself without being overly descriptive. I read it consecutive to reading Toibin’s “Long island” (also a page turner). The two novelists are great at rendering the thoughts and emotions of especially the female characters. I would describe “The Coast Road” as an Irish “Peyton Place”. (A reference that alas may be meaningless to the younger commenters and readers. However, it will be “Aha , I’ve got it for the Boomers reading this.)
I have since read “The Coast Road” and I thought it was wonderful. Alan Murrin’s writing has a wonderful flow. This novel is a page turner. The dialogue among the characters is very natural. He captures the ambience of each couple’s home and the town itself without being overly descriptive.
I read it consecutive to reading Toibin’s “Long island” (also a page turner). The two novelists are great at rendering the thoughts and emotions of especially the female characters.
I would describe “The Coast Road” as an Irish “Peyton Place”. (A reference that alas may be meaningless to the younger commenters and readers. However, it will be “Aha , I’ve got it for the Boomers reading this.)
Colm Toibin’s enthusiasm and genuine interest in speaking with Alan Murrin about his novel has piqued my interest in reading it soon.