Absolution by Alice McDermott - A Review (I've Read Something #81)

Absolution by Alice McDermott - A Review (I've Read Something #81)
Also mentioned
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
Charming Billy by Alice McDermott
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[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Terrific review, Rainier. I loved this novel. My book group read it earlier this year, and I also reviewed it here. I'm a big fan of McDermott, although this novel felt quite different from her earlier novels. Very thoughtful review. Thanks.

[@DefaultName-nt7tk]

Sounds excellent, especially as you reviewed it.😊

[@mame-musing]

Having read all of Alice McDermott’s novels it warms my heart to hear a reader new to her work appreciate her writing. “Absolution” is quite different from her other novels in that its location is away from the outer boroughs of NYC and Long Island, NY. Mcdermott is especially skilled at character development and creating the ambience in which they exist. She often uses omniscient narrative or first person interiority. There is not a lot of snappy dialog between characters. Sometimes there are beautifully captured moments in which the reader will be caught off guard and suddenly experience a sense of being in the story with the characters.
Most of her stories feature characters that have civil service type jobs and are likely the grandchildren of Irish immigrants. Patricia in Absolution is from such a family. “Charming Billy” is a nice next choice. However, I enjoyed “That Night” better it’s an earlier work. I would skip her debut novel “The Bigamist’s Daughter”. Her later work is much more polished.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Sounds an insightful read. I get that it makes sense from the protagonists pov, not to have highlighted a Vietnamese character, but it sounds like a bit of a missed opportunity.

[@Rainierbooks]

Yes, Alice McDermott was a discovery. I started her novel "Charming Billy", but DNF:ed it. Not that it wasn't good, but I am too old and there are so many books but so little time...