A literal gun-shot has called the adult children of Joy Tobin to her side – has brought their lives to a standstill and caused them to stop and consider their lives lived so far.
Frances, Conor and Sinead all live as ‘shards of brokeness’ – sharpened to life in response to their mother’s alcoholic existence. Separate and apart, each choosing different ways to live with their mother’s impact in their lives.
Tragedy and tragic circumstances threaten to weigh this narrative with a heaviness but instead, it managed to read like an ongoing revelation of Irish Joy and her own personal demons. Her persona is not what it seems and as you discover more of her history you can respond with an empathy. So too, with Joy’s children, as each chapter unfolds, layers are revealed and the story builds with tension but also hope.
The story begins with sharp, raw shards and piece by piece the narrative softens to be hopeful. Throughout, the family finds a way to lay their ‘self-inflicting weapons’ down to make a personal truce.
A deeply personal, thoughtful debut novel from Anne Tiernan and one that deserves its rightful place in the bestseller’s list since publication. Set in Tauranga, New Zealand with strong Irish links, Anne draws on her personal heritage – born in Zimbabwe, raised in Ireland and now resides in New Zealand.