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The Coast Road
The Coast Road: A Novel | Alan Murrin
16 posts | 10 read | 12 to read
"The last great book I read . . . an early proof of debut novelist Alan Murrin's The Coast Road, about women in '90s Ireland negotiating the complexities of marriage in a country where divorce is illegal. It will no doubt be a bestseller."--actor Gillian Anderson A poignant debut novel about the lives of women, set in a claustrophobic coast town. How can they find independence in a society that seeks to limit it? Set in 1994, The Coast Road tells the story of two women--Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. Colette has left her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin. When she returns to her home in County Donegal to try to pick up the pieces of her old life, her husband, Shaun, a successful businessman, denies her access to her children. The only way she can see them is with the help of neighbor Izzy, acting as a go-between. Izzy also feels caught in a troubled marriage. Their friendship that develops between them will ultimately lead to tragedy for one, and freedom for the other. Addictive as Big Little Lies with a depth and compassion that rivals the works of Claire Keegan, Elizabeth Strout, and Colm Tibn, The Coast Road is a story about the limits placed on women's lives in Ireland only a generation ago, and the consequences women have suffered trying to gain independence. Award-winning Irish author Alan Murrin reminds us of the price we are forced to pay to find freedom.
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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

Set in Ireland in 1994, The Coast Road follows two women coping with their unhappy marriages at a time when divorce is still illegal. Collette left her husband, but returned, and now her husband won‘t allow her access to her children and she lives in poverty. Izzy is frustrated and miserable, struggling to find autonomy within the confines of a marriage she cannot escape. Both are considering the high cost of personal freedom. An excellent debut.

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TheKidUpstairs
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Panpan

The ideas and the bones of a great novel are here, but the execution felt somehow soulless.

This is a story about women's lives in the brink of the divorce referendum in Ireland, and about the men who deeply fear the loss of control that women's freedom of choices signifies. It should rage and burn, but it fails to ignite. Most of the characters feel like blanks, and I just could not bring myself to care.

57 likes1 comment
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Jess861
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Pickpick

This book follows the lives of three women in a small coastal Ireland town, Ardglas. It follows their broken lives in the year or two before Ireland legalizes divorce. I didn't realize that divorce wasn't legal in Ireland until 1996! Not the typical book I'd pick up - but it was beautifully written and a fairly easy and quick read. The families in this town lead sad lives and I was quickly drawn in by the descriptive writing. I enjoyed this book.

50 likes1 stack add
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charl08

Hello,' he said and walked straight to the end of the table where he hung his anorak on the back of the chair.

Under the stairs, she thought, under the stairs. They had the same conversation every evening about him hanging his anorak under the stairs .... he pulled some letters and his diary and keys from the pocket of his anorak and piled them on the table. Say nothing, she said to herself, say nothing.

Bookwomble Who's been bugging my house? 🤨 2mo
charl08 @Bookwomble and mine. 🤣 2mo
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Anna40
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Pickpick

Ireland 1990s in the year before divorce was legalized.The story of 3 women:Colette is a poet who left her husband&sons to live a free life but returns disillusioned to the small town where she desperately tries to reconnect with her children.Izzy is unhappily married to a man who pursues his career but controls her pushing her into a life confined to their home.And then there‘s Dolores married to Donal,a cruel predatory man.👇

Anna40 I loved the writing&characters.The story is well crafted. I loved the empathy for these women whose lives are dictated by limitations put on them mostly by their husbands. (edited) 2mo
charl08 Yes me too. Great comments. 2mo
Anna40 @charl08 Thank you :). It‘s a great book, looking forward to reading whatever he published next :). 1mo
23 likes3 comments
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Jess861
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Want to finish this book and return to the library before I get into my October reads. Autumn weather is my favourite time to read outside - so I'm in the backyard bundled up in a sweater and warm coat getting some reading in. Hoping to get an hour or two in tonight.

#LibraryBook #AutumnWeather #WarmCoat #SweaterWeather #CoolEvening

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Jess861
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The boy has joined Cubs which runs for an hour and a half. This means an hour or so of reading time. Not sure the light will hold out too much longer though. I'm excited to dive into this book - set in Ireland during the 90s. Can't believe the 90s is now historical!!

#LibraryBook #Ireland #90s #Women #Divorce

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Tamra
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Pickpick

I love this starts with the “mystery” of an arson and then tells the stories of three women navigating complicated, messy relationships in the period leading up to Ireland‘s referendum to make divorce legal. I had no idea this didn‘t happen until the ‘90s and only passed by a hair.

It‘s a well written & entertaining debut novel. Will look out for his next!

Cuilin I voted in that referendum!!! I was 22. Stacked. 2mo
Tamra @Cuilin it is well worth your time if you are okay with emotional domestic drama. Lots of issues explored and not superficial in the “wives of Hollywood” way. 😊 2mo
51 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Tamra
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Perfect audio book for multitasking and bedtime. I‘ve been having a difficult time finding one that works lately.

Finished up a cowl! @mabell Goes well with my new purple winter coat. ☃️

TheBookHippie Love the color!!! 2mo
TheSpineView Beautiful and my color!💜 2mo
LeahBergen Pretty! 2mo
Cathythoughts Very lovely 🩷 2mo
48 likes4 comments
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Leniverse
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My Booker reading is going nowhere this month, as I have to read books in the order that they are due back to the library. 😛
On the bright side, it pushed me to read these three books which are all excellent. I haven't finished The Coast Road yet, but unless the ending is terrible I predict five stars. I'm also pleasantly surprised at the skill and empathy with which the male author has written the female characters.

squirrelbrain Loved The Coast Road! 3mo
36 likes1 comment
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Pinta
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Pickpick

County Donegal, 1994, just before Irish referendum allowing divorce. Women‘s friendships, women pushing against marriages, loving their children extravagantly. Scandal & dread, bits of humor. Irish “Big Little Lies”? 2024

186 “The boy was depressed […] Half the country was depressed, including herself.”

306 “The only thing that seemed to offer her comfort was the lesson she had taken from Colette–that acceptance was not the same as resignation”

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rmaclean4
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Pickpick

A story set in 1990's Ireland looking at three marriages in a country where divorce is not legal. Some beautiful writing, but it did not blow me away. 3 🌟

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

The Coast Road is a quiet, simmering portrait of a small community in Ireland during the lead up to the divorce vote. It focuses on women and their choices, and how those choices are constrained both by the law and society. Gripping.

Crazeedi Sounds interesting 5mo
TrishB I loved this and the cover ❤️ 5mo
squirrelbrain What @trishb said! 5mo
Hooked_on_books @TrishB @squirrelbrain I could stare at that cover all day! 5mo
kspenmoll Stacked! 5mo
45 likes5 comments
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JHSiess
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🌊 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒍 📬

I received a copy of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 by 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧, thanks to the generosity of Bibliolifestyle & Harper Via Books. This debut novel is set in “a claustrophobic coast town“ in Ireland when divorce was still illegal. The story of 2 women's “search for independence in a society that seeks to limit it“ is a “smashing debut“ & “marvel“ (Publishers Weekly) that's perfect for book clubs. Published 06/04/24.

Areader2 This is on my TBR I have heard good things about it! 5mo
31 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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TrishB
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Pickpick

I can‘t call it a lovely quiet read as actually it‘s a bit of a sad story about lost people! Set against the backdrop of the divorce vote in Ireland. It‘s not that long ago and there‘s a lot of lost, lonely women in this.
A good read and a great cover.

rockpools It is gorgeous. 6mo
squirrelbrain Looking forward to this, if that‘s the right way of putting it. 6mo
BarbaraBB That cover is great indeed 😍 6mo
See All 13 Comments
Deblovestoread Beautiful cover and Ireland stacked 6mo
Bookzombie I had to look up stonkingly from the blurb. I‘ve never come across it before. 🙂 6mo
Cathythoughts Nice review ❤️ 6mo
Hooked_on_books Total agree about the cover. It‘s stunning! 6mo
TrishB @rockpools hi Rachel 👋 yes it is beautiful @BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books 6mo
TrishB @squirrelbrain hope you like it 👍🏻 6mo
TrishB @Deblovestoread hope you enjoy it. 6mo
TrishB @Bookzombie how weird! Is it a U.K./Irish centric word? Very, very good 😁 6mo
TrishB @Cathythoughts thanks Cathy 😘 6mo
Bookzombie @TrishB Google said it‘s British slang. I‘m going to try and remember to use it. lol. 6mo
88 likes4 stack adds13 comments
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TrishB
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#coverlove
There‘s a sub genre at the moment- small, quiet novels set in coastal Irish towns with amazing covers.
Reading on a quiet Sunday morning.

squirrelbrain Enjoy! I have this as an ARC but I‘ve got a bit behind with those…. 6mo
Suet624 I‘m all for reading this particular genre. And that cover!! 6mo
TrishB @squirrelbrain I hear you! 6mo
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TrishB @Suet624 the cover is awesome. 6mo
JacqMac I have a thing for this genre. I blame Maeve Binchy. Lol 6mo
TrishB @JacqMac ah, Maeve could write a story couldn‘t she. 6mo
76 likes1 stack add6 comments