CWLC presenters offer a unique perspective on their selected author and on the session’s theme. We were very fortunate to have our Ireland-born member, Anna Q., give her presentation on Paul Lynch and provide her perspective on Irish literature. Anna is a talented presenter, writer, and curler: her team won their curling league championship only hours before giving her presentation!
Anna’s presentation is entitled: “Paul Lynch, A Study of the Resilience of Human Nature: Tales of Oppression, Emotional Repression, Guilt, Fascism, Famine, Escape, Survival, and Pastoral and Maritime Journeys.” Effortlessly, Anna covers all these elements as she discusses five of Lynch’s novels.
Red Sky in Morning (2013), Lynch’s debut novel, explores the brutal exploitation of the Irish peasantry by the English gentry in the 1800s. Based on historical events, the language of this Hemingwayesque book is poetic, sparce, and melodic.
The Black Snow (2014) is set in 1945 in Donegal, Ireland. It tells the story of an Irish emigrant who returns to Ireland after working in New York. Superstition is pervasive, and Anna found the story very engaging and one that kept her guessing. This book is described as raw, savage, and tender.
Grace (2017) is Anna’s favourite Lynch novel—a beautifully written story that incorporates lyrical and inventive language. Readers learn of a young girl’s relentless fight for survival during Ireland’s Great Famine, and it can be compared to books and television shows including The Road, The Handmaid’s Tale, and “The Last of Us.”
Beyond the Sea (2019) is a highly philosophical novel that questions the meaning of life. Unlike Lynch’s other novels, which take place in Ireland, this maritime journey takes place in South America. This story of isolation is described as stark and mesmerizing.
Prophet Song (2023) is Lynch’s most well-known book and winner of the 2023 Man Booker Prize. This gripping dystopian story is inspired by the Syrian civil war; although, it takes place in the Republic of Ireland, which has fallen into totalitarianism. Mimicking the story’s severity, Lynch’s writing and structure are unconventional, consisting of irregular punctuation and a relentless pace.
Anna chose Lynch for her presentation as his writing is thought-provoking and poetical, he writes about universal themes, and he is a skilled storyteller. Paul Lynch is an internationally acclaimed Irish author who began writing fiction after a career in journalism.
Posted by Mooréa G.