The Spinning Heart

Donal Ryan's slim little book packs a powerful punch. Winner of Ireland's Newcomer of the Year and Book of the Year, and the Guardian's First Book Prize, this debut novel shows us an Ireland that is suffering in the late 2000s economic climate in which jobs and hope for the future are hard to find. Each chapter is narrated by a different character from the same small Irish town. Through all these separate eyes, a complete story comes to light--a bleak story of poverty, alcoholism, desperation, and sometimes love. You may think you don't want to read about such a sad state of affairs, but The Spinning Heart is so beautifully written and poetic. Reading about the struggles of these Irish families makes you feel compassion for their plight. Actions that from the outside might seem senseless and irrational become understandable--not condoned, but understandable. This is a bird's-eye study of human nature and how people struggle to make their place in the world. We could all learn from it.