Welcome to Litsy!

So many feelings with this book. Anger and frustration with the protagonist. Sadness about the terrible waste and suffering with the lack of communication. Story about grief and racism and inter generation trauma and substance use and colonialism and war. Enjoyed and recommend

This was my first book by Barry, but it won't be the last. I really loved the way the story unfurled -- moving from the present to the past and back again. Jack McNulty is looking back on his past in Ireland in the late 1950's from his post in Africa. He is an unreliable narrator at the beginning, becoming more honest as the book progresses.

Not Barry's strongest novel (IMO), but who cares when it is written with such beautiful prose. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Start another book late on a Sunday night? Why, don't mind if I do!

Just as good as the Secret Scripture, though took me longer to get into it. Looking forward to 2 more McNulty family books!

According to an interview in the Guardian, the narrator of Temporary Gentleman is based on the author's grandfather, who fell out with him over "the literary airing of family secrets".

The fur cushion in the background is in fact a dog.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/feb/01/sebastian-barry-costa-book-award-2...

#nextbook

Having enjoyed the Secret Scripture, I am really looking forward to this. Although Jack McNulty (the narrator) wasn't exactly a sympathetic character in the earlier book.