Imagine tragedy slapping you in the face. Hurts, right? Sebastian Barry’s “Old God’s Time” is 100x of whatever you imagined, maybe more. The book is a harrowing dive into Ireland’s legacy of church-inflicted child abuse, told through the lens of Tom Kelly, a retired cop. Tasked to help in a church-related case, Tom wrestles with his own trauma, leaving us to question the reliability of his memories.
Barry’s narrative deftly illustrates the church’s immeasurable harm, counterbalanced only by Tom’s resilience and his late wife June’s solace. However, justice offers scant closure, emphasizing that past wounds often remain unhealed. What makes the story even more intriguing is the question of Tom’s reliability as a narrator. With his history and looming dementia, we’re left to wonder how much of his memories are tainted, adding layers of complexity to an already intricate tale.
The characters are wonderfully sketched. As Tom digs deeper into the case, we’re also acquainted with intriguing neighbors who add texture to the story and bring to light Tom’s own understated bravery and resilience, despite his own feelings of shame and cowardice. The pursuit of justice in the story offers little closure, emphasizing that the wounds of the past are often too deep to heal fully.
Rich in atmosphere, the book is as eloquent in its prose as it is devastating in its subject matter. While exploring deeply unsettling issues, Barry maintains your engagement through nuanced characters and tangible settings.
In summary, “Old God’s Time” isn’t an easy read but is profoundly impactful, and personally for me it was an exercise in gratitude. It’s an essential journey into a dark corner of Irish history, delivered with narrative brilliance. A must-read for those willing to confront uncomfortable truths.
Get the book here:
