Helpful Score: 1
Frank Delaney has mastered the art of storytelling - no question about it. His intimate knowledge of Ireland and the ways and mannerisms of the Irish people (including those of bygone times) brings an authenticity to this tale of love found and love lost. I enjoyed his little digressions in the story (and he tells you they are digressions) - not unlike the way we might relate details to someone to explain an account of an event in a conversation. As he says, "We Irish do this digression stunt. We're so damned pleased with our ability to talk hind legs off donkeys, that we assume people like to listen." And we do! That's the magic of a good storyteller - we are captivated and drawn in to the spell he is casting with his tale. It is not only the digressions, however, it is also the myriad of seemingly inconsequential details that he weaves into his narrative with such apparent ease that fleshes out the story and really brings it to life. It is this attention to detail that gives the story its sense of time and place. In that aspect his writing is somewhat reminiscent of James Joyce's technique (from the excerpts I've read of Ulysses). Since this is the first of a trilogy, there's more good storytelling ahead, it would appear.
