What do you think?
Rate this book
The Coast Road
“The last great book I read . . . an early proof of debut novelist Alan Murrin’s The Coast Road , about women in ’90s Ireland negotiating the complexities of marriage in a country where divorce is illegal. It will no doubt be a bestseller.”—actor Gillian Anderson A poignant and heartbreaking debut novel set in the 1990s in a claustrophobic coast town. With divorce not yet legal in Ireland, how will two women trapped in very different marriages find their way? Set in 1994 , The Coast Road tells the story of two women—Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. Colette has left her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin. When she returns to her home in County Donegal to try to pick up the pieces of her old life, her husband, Shaun, a successful businessman, denies her access to her children. The only way she can see them is with the help of neighbor Izzy, acting as a go-between. Izzy also feels caught in a troubled marriage. Their friendship that develops between them will ultimately lead to tragedy for one, and freedom for the other. Addictive as Big Little Lies [ with a depth and compassion that rivals the works of Claire Keegan, Elizabeth Strout, and Colm Tóibín, The Coast Road is a story about the limits placed on women’s lives in Ireland only a generation ago, and the consequences women have suffered trying to gain independence. Award-winning Irish author Alan Murrin reminds us of the price we are forced to pay to find freedom.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
May 12, 2024
A phenomenal debut by Irish writer, Alan Murrin. The Coast Road takes place in Ireland during the 1990s, before divorce was made legal.
“After her husband left in the morning and the kids went off to school, she floated around the place like she was haunting her own life.”
This was a beautifully written story. We follow three strong female characters – Izzy, Colette, and Dolores, and how they navigate tumultuous relationships. These are well-developed characters with great depth and complexities. It was easy to root for them, to hope they somehow prevailed. Murrin is an author that knows how to write women and paint vivid scenes with impressive prose.
“She could only read poetry that was new and unfamiliar to her. The collections that had offered her solace in the past could now undo her with a single line.”
I particularly enjoyed the lyrical descriptions; sentences to make you pause and appreciate the quality of storytelling. It’s undeniably Irish in feel and content, and the coastal landscape added further layers to atmosphere. I felt like I was a resident of small fishing town Ardglas, watching their lives unfold.
“She could wake each morning to the sound of the sea dissolving in her ears, and watch the weather change over the bay as she sat at this window, writing.”
The backdrop of the divorce referendum, and what it meant to the lives of many, was ever present. Murrin wasn’t afraid to explore multiple angles of marriage and divorce, to include effective villains and sympathetic characters. I enjoyed the strong dialogue, and Izzy’s relationship with Father Brian. Colette's writing classes were another highlight, along with the touching perspective of Izzy’s son, Niall.
I couldn’t put this book down. Something about its rhythm and characters get under your skin, linger in the mind. There’s a subtle intensity and inevitable collision courses. The intertwined lives were captivating. It’s both tragic and heartwarming - the final chapter a poignant example of the latter, and fitting end to a memorable experience.
To read The Coast Road is to also learn about Irish history and culture. It’s to connect with wonderfully drawn characters, feel their pain, and share their hope. It's well-deserving of its accolades. This exploration of the human condition seems certain to be one of the standout books this year.
“She was ready to make peace with herself.”
Many thanks to Bloosmbury Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“After her husband left in the morning and the kids went off to school, she floated around the place like she was haunting her own life.”
This was a beautifully written story. We follow three strong female characters – Izzy, Colette, and Dolores, and how they navigate tumultuous relationships. These are well-developed characters with great depth and complexities. It was easy to root for them, to hope they somehow prevailed. Murrin is an author that knows how to write women and paint vivid scenes with impressive prose.
“She could only read poetry that was new and unfamiliar to her. The collections that had offered her solace in the past could now undo her with a single line.”
I particularly enjoyed the lyrical descriptions; sentences to make you pause and appreciate the quality of storytelling. It’s undeniably Irish in feel and content, and the coastal landscape added further layers to atmosphere. I felt like I was a resident of small fishing town Ardglas, watching their lives unfold.
“She could wake each morning to the sound of the sea dissolving in her ears, and watch the weather change over the bay as she sat at this window, writing.”
The backdrop of the divorce referendum, and what it meant to the lives of many, was ever present. Murrin wasn’t afraid to explore multiple angles of marriage and divorce, to include effective villains and sympathetic characters. I enjoyed the strong dialogue, and Izzy’s relationship with Father Brian. Colette's writing classes were another highlight, along with the touching perspective of Izzy’s son, Niall.
I couldn’t put this book down. Something about its rhythm and characters get under your skin, linger in the mind. There’s a subtle intensity and inevitable collision courses. The intertwined lives were captivating. It’s both tragic and heartwarming - the final chapter a poignant example of the latter, and fitting end to a memorable experience.
To read The Coast Road is to also learn about Irish history and culture. It’s to connect with wonderfully drawn characters, feel their pain, and share their hope. It's well-deserving of its accolades. This exploration of the human condition seems certain to be one of the standout books this year.
“She was ready to make peace with herself.”
Many thanks to Bloosmbury Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2024
4.5⭐️
Set in the mid-1990s, in the small Irish town of Ardglas, County Donegal, The Coast Road by Alan Murrin tells the story of three women navigating troubled marriages in an era before divorce was legalized in Ireland.
Colette Crowley, a published poet, has returned from Dublin after a failed love affair. Married with three children, she is separated from her husband Shaun, whom she left after falling in love with another man. She is eager to reconnect with her children, but her husband is not allowing her to do so. With no income and no place to live, she rents a cottage near the coast, from Donal and Dolores Mullen. Dolores has three children and is expecting her fourth. Her husband is mostly critical of her and does not extend her much kindness. Despite being aware of her husband’s infidelity, she has no option but to turn a blind eye to his affairs. Colette also starts writing classes where she strikes up a friendship with Izzy Keaveney, the wife of a local politician. Izzy, a mother of two and married for over two decades, is trapped in an unfulfilling marriage with a husband who gives no importance to her aspirations. Her only friend is Father Brian Dempsey, the parish priest who lends a sympathetic ear to her troubles.
The narrative follows these three women as their lives intersect and they are left to grapple with the consequences of the choices they make.
The vivid coastal setting, the lyrical yet restrained prose and the well-thought-out characters render this novel an engaging and thought-provoking read.
What primarily drew me to this novel was the premise. The author writes beautifully, creating a strong sense of time and place. Set in the years preceding the 1995 referendum, the author establishes the premise strongly, with an unflinching look into the different aspects of marriage viewed through the lens of our characters – communication, respect, intimacy, honesty, trust, fidelity, and motherhood- and the restrictive societal norms that contributed to the stifling conditions of women with no recourse to break away from toxic relationships.
The narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and is relatively slower-paced, which suits the nature of the story and allows us to explore the characters and their innermost thoughts and motivations. The main characters - complex and flawed – are portrayed as strong and resilient in their own way but also vulnerable, which struck me as realistic. I also appreciated the author’s depiction of small-town dynamics and how the same contributed to the trajectories of the lives of our characters. Needless to say, with the exception of Father Dempsey, none of the male characters are particularly likable, but given the subject matter, this was to be expected. I particularly liked the interactions in Colette’s writing class and wished we had more of those. This is a quiet novel, with minimal melodrama, even in its most shocking moments. The ending left me with a heavy heart and much to reflect upon.
Overall, I thought this was a praiseworthy debut that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven fiction.
I look forward to reading more from this talented new author.
Many thanks to HarperVia for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on June 4, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Set in the mid-1990s, in the small Irish town of Ardglas, County Donegal, The Coast Road by Alan Murrin tells the story of three women navigating troubled marriages in an era before divorce was legalized in Ireland.
Colette Crowley, a published poet, has returned from Dublin after a failed love affair. Married with three children, she is separated from her husband Shaun, whom she left after falling in love with another man. She is eager to reconnect with her children, but her husband is not allowing her to do so. With no income and no place to live, she rents a cottage near the coast, from Donal and Dolores Mullen. Dolores has three children and is expecting her fourth. Her husband is mostly critical of her and does not extend her much kindness. Despite being aware of her husband’s infidelity, she has no option but to turn a blind eye to his affairs. Colette also starts writing classes where she strikes up a friendship with Izzy Keaveney, the wife of a local politician. Izzy, a mother of two and married for over two decades, is trapped in an unfulfilling marriage with a husband who gives no importance to her aspirations. Her only friend is Father Brian Dempsey, the parish priest who lends a sympathetic ear to her troubles.
The narrative follows these three women as their lives intersect and they are left to grapple with the consequences of the choices they make.
The vivid coastal setting, the lyrical yet restrained prose and the well-thought-out characters render this novel an engaging and thought-provoking read.
What primarily drew me to this novel was the premise. The author writes beautifully, creating a strong sense of time and place. Set in the years preceding the 1995 referendum, the author establishes the premise strongly, with an unflinching look into the different aspects of marriage viewed through the lens of our characters – communication, respect, intimacy, honesty, trust, fidelity, and motherhood- and the restrictive societal norms that contributed to the stifling conditions of women with no recourse to break away from toxic relationships.
The narrative is shared from multiple perspectives and is relatively slower-paced, which suits the nature of the story and allows us to explore the characters and their innermost thoughts and motivations. The main characters - complex and flawed – are portrayed as strong and resilient in their own way but also vulnerable, which struck me as realistic. I also appreciated the author’s depiction of small-town dynamics and how the same contributed to the trajectories of the lives of our characters. Needless to say, with the exception of Father Dempsey, none of the male characters are particularly likable, but given the subject matter, this was to be expected. I particularly liked the interactions in Colette’s writing class and wished we had more of those. This is a quiet novel, with minimal melodrama, even in its most shocking moments. The ending left me with a heavy heart and much to reflect upon.
Overall, I thought this was a praiseworthy debut that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven fiction.
I look forward to reading more from this talented new author.
Many thanks to HarperVia for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on June 4, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
June 3, 2024
In a Nutshell: A literary fiction set in 1994 Ireland, when divorce wasn’t legally allowed. Interesting and layered characters, many points to ponder upon. A strong debut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
✔ The characters: complicated, flawed, human. Can’t understand whether to root for them or not. Loved the nuanced depiction.
✔ Father Brian: When I saw the priest mentioned in this Irish work, I thought the story would go the typical way. But Fr. Brian is an interestingly complex character. Also, the approach towards organised religion and some of its control freaks is kept realistic and balanced.
✔ The writing approach: The initial chapters are somewhat episodic, with the narrative view point going from character to character. Helps us to know each of the key people well. Perfect approach for a character-oriented story.
✔ The setting: A small Irish town where everyone knows all the affairs of their neighbours, and yet, they don’t know the truth. Works excellently for such an intimate story. The coastal location is also incorporated well into the narrative.
✔ The Irish connection: Great representation of the 1990s social, political, and religious scene in Ireland.
✔ The lyrical writing, bringing depth to the town, the coast road and the humans equally well.
✔ The focus on the divorce referendum: As divorce was not legally allowed in Ireland till the mid-1990s, the only options available for women who suffered in their marriages were silence or separation. As expected, only women bear the repercussions of such a restrictive policy. The plot highlights the plight of many such women.
✔ The other themes, especially the sexist behaviour, the small-town tendency to gossip, the pressure on the women to stay thin and attractive for their husbands, and the scorn towards independent women, are equally powerfully depicted. I also enjoyed glimpses of Collette’s writing class.
✔ Three strong yet brittle female characters, written by a debut male author who does justice to their emotions without once succumbing to #MenWritingWomen tropes. Love how the women aren’t glorified or condemned for their choices. Rather, the plot lets us decide for ourselves what we want to feel about them.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚠ The pace is quite slow. As this is literary fiction, a slower tempo is the norm, but this one gets a tad too sluggish in between, making us feel as restricted as the women in the story.
Bookish Nays:
❌ The last quarter somehow doesn't hit the mark, I wish I could pinpoint why. It was not bad, but also not as impactful as the rest of the book. It felt unhinged somehow.
❌ There is not a single healthy marriage in the entire story. I wish the representation of marriage had been slightly more balanced, even if the plot required only the flip side of marital unions.
❌ The author's note is too brief. I'd have loved to know more about the divorce referendum and what happened next. But it hardly covers any of the history.
All in all, this is a satisfying debut, focussed on an important referendum of recent Irish history, and indirectly depicting why it was needed. Though the last section went a bit haywire, I still liked the book for its true-to-life portrayal of human emotions and fickleness.
For a debut work, the book aims high and hits much of the target without succumbing to the dreaded “kitchen sink syndrome’ by overloading themes. As is common in literary fiction, the story is somewhat sad, though the writing never feels like it is piling on the misery for maximum effect.
Definitely recommended to literary fiction lovers who love character-oriented fiction set around actual historical events.
4 stars.
My thanks to HarperVia and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Coast Road”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
County Donegal, 1994.
Izzy, who is married to a local politician since many years, isn’t content with her life and her husband’s parochial attitude. She whiles her time by staying active in multiple activities, but she wonders if she should separate from her husband to liven up her life.
Colette left her husband and her sons some years ago to live with a married man in Dublin. Now she’s back, but her family no longer wants her. She rents a house by the coast road, while planning to earn some money through writing classes as well as trying to reconnect with her sons.
Dolores, married with three kids and pregnant with a fourth, knows that her husband cheats on her. But with limited options, she ignores his infidelity as much as she can. When she rents out the cottage on their property to Colette, little does she imagine what would happen next.
The story comes to us from the third person perspectives of multiple characters, including the above three women.
Bookish Yays:
✔ The characters: complicated, flawed, human. Can’t understand whether to root for them or not. Loved the nuanced depiction.
✔ Father Brian: When I saw the priest mentioned in this Irish work, I thought the story would go the typical way. But Fr. Brian is an interestingly complex character. Also, the approach towards organised religion and some of its control freaks is kept realistic and balanced.
✔ The writing approach: The initial chapters are somewhat episodic, with the narrative view point going from character to character. Helps us to know each of the key people well. Perfect approach for a character-oriented story.
✔ The setting: A small Irish town where everyone knows all the affairs of their neighbours, and yet, they don’t know the truth. Works excellently for such an intimate story. The coastal location is also incorporated well into the narrative.
✔ The Irish connection: Great representation of the 1990s social, political, and religious scene in Ireland.
✔ The lyrical writing, bringing depth to the town, the coast road and the humans equally well.
✔ The focus on the divorce referendum: As divorce was not legally allowed in Ireland till the mid-1990s, the only options available for women who suffered in their marriages were silence or separation. As expected, only women bear the repercussions of such a restrictive policy. The plot highlights the plight of many such women.
✔ The other themes, especially the sexist behaviour, the small-town tendency to gossip, the pressure on the women to stay thin and attractive for their husbands, and the scorn towards independent women, are equally powerfully depicted. I also enjoyed glimpses of Collette’s writing class.
✔ Three strong yet brittle female characters, written by a debut male author who does justice to their emotions without once succumbing to #MenWritingWomen tropes. Love how the women aren’t glorified or condemned for their choices. Rather, the plot lets us decide for ourselves what we want to feel about them.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚠ The pace is quite slow. As this is literary fiction, a slower tempo is the norm, but this one gets a tad too sluggish in between, making us feel as restricted as the women in the story.
Bookish Nays:
❌ The last quarter somehow doesn't hit the mark, I wish I could pinpoint why. It was not bad, but also not as impactful as the rest of the book. It felt unhinged somehow.
❌ There is not a single healthy marriage in the entire story. I wish the representation of marriage had been slightly more balanced, even if the plot required only the flip side of marital unions.
❌ The author's note is too brief. I'd have loved to know more about the divorce referendum and what happened next. But it hardly covers any of the history.
All in all, this is a satisfying debut, focussed on an important referendum of recent Irish history, and indirectly depicting why it was needed. Though the last section went a bit haywire, I still liked the book for its true-to-life portrayal of human emotions and fickleness.
For a debut work, the book aims high and hits much of the target without succumbing to the dreaded “kitchen sink syndrome’ by overloading themes. As is common in literary fiction, the story is somewhat sad, though the writing never feels like it is piling on the misery for maximum effect.
Definitely recommended to literary fiction lovers who love character-oriented fiction set around actual historical events.
4 stars.
My thanks to HarperVia and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Coast Road”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 1, 2024
Murrin takes us back to the ‘90’s in Ireland, when divorce was illegal and a separation was a sin.
We meet Izzy, Delores & Colette. Three women whose marital relationships are strained or irreparable. . Colette who left her husband and has returned but can’t get access to her children. An unlikely friendship begins between Izzy & Colette.
This was a dark time for women. Held captive in a marriage by a law determined by men. Marriages that didn’t work, some destructive, others harmful. The shaming and double standards.
Themes of divorce, alienation, betrayal, alcoholism and acceptance.
4.5⭐️
We meet Izzy, Delores & Colette. Three women whose marital relationships are strained or irreparable. . Colette who left her husband and has returned but can’t get access to her children. An unlikely friendship begins between Izzy & Colette.
This was a dark time for women. Held captive in a marriage by a law determined by men. Marriages that didn’t work, some destructive, others harmful. The shaming and double standards.
Themes of divorce, alienation, betrayal, alcoholism and acceptance.
4.5⭐️
June 7, 2024
An amazing debut!
Three women trapped in their marriages in 1994 County Donegal where divorce is not yet legal.
This author captures the desires and limitations, and disappointments put on these women during this time of unrest in their lives …much in part to the gossipers of the town!
This ended up being a page turner!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the ARC!
Three women trapped in their marriages in 1994 County Donegal where divorce is not yet legal.
This author captures the desires and limitations, and disappointments put on these women during this time of unrest in their lives …much in part to the gossipers of the town!
This ended up being a page turner!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the ARC!
July 17, 2024
"Acceptance is not the same as resignation.
I give very few five star ratings. For a book to qualify it must have strong character development, good writing, a well described setting and a relatable, realistic plot. I must immerse myself in the story to the point where I can picture myself in the story itself. And it must be memorable. Will I remember this book in a few months time? A year?
This terrific novel meets the criteria, and it is the author's debut. This takes place in 1992, in a small coastal village in Ireland. The vote on a referendum that would at least allow divorce is right around the corner. Until it passes, if it does, a couple could separate,but not remarry. Two women, Izzy and Colette bond over their children,but are in different marital states. These are two characters that are not easy to forget. Their circumstances at book's end are also very different.
A time when women were totally under men's thumbs. Limited in what they were allowed to do, what decisions they were able to make. Powerless, since the man earned and controlled the finances. If she leaves a marriage, she cannot support nor take her children with and it is his decision on whether she is able to see her children.
A very strong message, indeed. I've also never read a book with so many unlikable men.
This a must read for those who like quieter novels that will stick in ones mind.
I give very few five star ratings. For a book to qualify it must have strong character development, good writing, a well described setting and a relatable, realistic plot. I must immerse myself in the story to the point where I can picture myself in the story itself. And it must be memorable. Will I remember this book in a few months time? A year?
This terrific novel meets the criteria, and it is the author's debut. This takes place in 1992, in a small coastal village in Ireland. The vote on a referendum that would at least allow divorce is right around the corner. Until it passes, if it does, a couple could separate,but not remarry. Two women, Izzy and Colette bond over their children,but are in different marital states. These are two characters that are not easy to forget. Their circumstances at book's end are also very different.
A time when women were totally under men's thumbs. Limited in what they were allowed to do, what decisions they were able to make. Powerless, since the man earned and controlled the finances. If she leaves a marriage, she cannot support nor take her children with and it is his decision on whether she is able to see her children.
A very strong message, indeed. I've also never read a book with so many unlikable men.
This a must read for those who like quieter novels that will stick in ones mind.
July 17, 2024
I am astounded that The Coast Road is a debut book! I am blown away by that fact alone. Another fact that I was blown away by is that divorce was not legalized in Ireland until 1996! That blew my mind. I love books that not only evoke emotion, are moving, and teach me something new, and The Coast Road delivered on all of those!
I found this book to be both gripping and thought provoking. Slow at times, but I didn't mind as I was fully invested in Izzy, Delores and Colette's lives. This book touches on marriage, Motherhood, loneliness, power, sexism, and friendship to name a few.
I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the town and the plight of the women. Speaking of the town, everyone knows everyone and loves to talk about everyone. Izzy, Delores and Colette are distinct, well drawn, and flawed. I felt for all of them. I could feel how trapped they felt, their lack of power, and their desire to carve out a life for themselves in small ways.
This book oozes with sadness and the feeling of being trapped. Yet, there is also hope. This was a thought provoking and moving book. It showed how during the time when divorce was not allowed that many suffered, felt trapped, and were affected by their parents’ marital/relationship issues.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
Beautifully written, thought provoking, and moving.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
I found this book to be both gripping and thought provoking. Slow at times, but I didn't mind as I was fully invested in Izzy, Delores and Colette's lives. This book touches on marriage, Motherhood, loneliness, power, sexism, and friendship to name a few.
I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the town and the plight of the women. Speaking of the town, everyone knows everyone and loves to talk about everyone. Izzy, Delores and Colette are distinct, well drawn, and flawed. I felt for all of them. I could feel how trapped they felt, their lack of power, and their desire to carve out a life for themselves in small ways.
This book oozes with sadness and the feeling of being trapped. Yet, there is also hope. This was a thought provoking and moving book. It showed how during the time when divorce was not allowed that many suffered, felt trapped, and were affected by their parents’ marital/relationship issues.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
Beautifully written, thought provoking, and moving.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 3, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
I don’t uniformly round up my stars, but in Coast Road, I am compelled, by a turn of phrase, or the fate of a character, or a bit of both. The story came toward me as it held itself back. I often felt there was a subtext underneath the sentences as they revealed themselves. The story toggles between two couples, a priest, and a woman who left her family, in the mid-1990s Ireland, before divorce was legal. It’s a cruel lifestyle if couples can’t end a painful marriage rather than live in an ongoing struggle with each other. How far would you go to let go? Author Alan Murrin explores the harsh boundaries placed on women who are subsumed by the system, as well as the significance of friendships. It’s a quiet book about the restive lives of women in difficult marriages.
This is small town Ireland in Donegal County (nicknamed “Ireland’s Forgotten County”), where everyone knows everyone’s business. Colette Crowley, a published poet, had previously left her husband, Shaun, to go live with a man in Dublin. It blew up in her face, and now she is back, but Shaun won’t allow her to see their children. Near the opening of the book, Colette is inquiring about the cottage house owned by Donal Mullen and his ever-pregnant wife, Delores (three children and another baby due). (Donal is a terrible husband in a smorgasbord of ways.) It’s on a hill flanking the Mullen’s land, and can be rented out in summer for three times the price they can get now, in winter. They agree to rent it to Colette for these off-months.
Colette is tall, radiant with her grand posture, swivel-ly, shiny hair, strong jaw and creamy skin. She drinks too much and lives a lonely life. Moreover, she sure makes some unfortunate choices, almost like an adolescent. She also offers a writing class to pay her bills. Izzy Keveany signs up, takes pleasure in the assignments and begins a deeper friendship with Colette. In the meantime, Izzy’s friendship with Father Brian creates ugly gossip and rumors across the town. Her marriage isn’t great shakes, either.
Liftoff is gradual in the novel, and initially there’s more interior drama than physical action. You’ll know when a crisis is underway, you’ll feel a tight thread winding around the story, and the characters headed for trouble. I can still point to a place that could potentially call for a sequel. I don’t actually think it was resolved in the end—I mean, in finding a perpetrator for a certain act, it seems they deployed very little energy in coming to a conclusion. Anyway, there is a climax--a denouement, and then the finale. But I have other thoughts about what the author decided.
This is a meditative story, a thoughtful and thought-provoking narrative that covers marriage, motherhood, friendship, betrayal, small town antics, and the artist’s life. Be patient, it’s more a journey than a destination.
I don’t uniformly round up my stars, but in Coast Road, I am compelled, by a turn of phrase, or the fate of a character, or a bit of both. The story came toward me as it held itself back. I often felt there was a subtext underneath the sentences as they revealed themselves. The story toggles between two couples, a priest, and a woman who left her family, in the mid-1990s Ireland, before divorce was legal. It’s a cruel lifestyle if couples can’t end a painful marriage rather than live in an ongoing struggle with each other. How far would you go to let go? Author Alan Murrin explores the harsh boundaries placed on women who are subsumed by the system, as well as the significance of friendships. It’s a quiet book about the restive lives of women in difficult marriages.
This is small town Ireland in Donegal County (nicknamed “Ireland’s Forgotten County”), where everyone knows everyone’s business. Colette Crowley, a published poet, had previously left her husband, Shaun, to go live with a man in Dublin. It blew up in her face, and now she is back, but Shaun won’t allow her to see their children. Near the opening of the book, Colette is inquiring about the cottage house owned by Donal Mullen and his ever-pregnant wife, Delores (three children and another baby due). (Donal is a terrible husband in a smorgasbord of ways.) It’s on a hill flanking the Mullen’s land, and can be rented out in summer for three times the price they can get now, in winter. They agree to rent it to Colette for these off-months.
Colette is tall, radiant with her grand posture, swivel-ly, shiny hair, strong jaw and creamy skin. She drinks too much and lives a lonely life. Moreover, she sure makes some unfortunate choices, almost like an adolescent. She also offers a writing class to pay her bills. Izzy Keveany signs up, takes pleasure in the assignments and begins a deeper friendship with Colette. In the meantime, Izzy’s friendship with Father Brian creates ugly gossip and rumors across the town. Her marriage isn’t great shakes, either.
Liftoff is gradual in the novel, and initially there’s more interior drama than physical action. You’ll know when a crisis is underway, you’ll feel a tight thread winding around the story, and the characters headed for trouble. I can still point to a place that could potentially call for a sequel. I don’t actually think it was resolved in the end—I mean, in finding a perpetrator for a certain act, it seems they deployed very little energy in coming to a conclusion. Anyway, there is a climax--a denouement, and then the finale. But I have other thoughts about what the author decided.
This is a meditative story, a thoughtful and thought-provoking narrative that covers marriage, motherhood, friendship, betrayal, small town antics, and the artist’s life. Be patient, it’s more a journey than a destination.
July 1, 2024
Coastal Roadblocks
In an interview with Library Love Fest, the HarperCollins YouTube channel, author Alan Murrin says that he has always “...had a thing for a female character that is difficult, but that you are rooting for.” In his debut novel “The Coast Road” he has nailed that. Colette Crowley is a character who would always stand out in a crowd, but in a rural Irish town in 1994 all eyes were on her.
Thanks to the stranglehold of the Catholic Church, divorce was still constitutionally illegal in Ireland, long after the rest of the world accepted it. Colette had left her emotionally dead marriage and ran off with another man– a relationship doomed to fail. When she returned to the small town of Ardglas, her husband forbade her from seeing her children. Not only was she cut off financially, but the town saw her as a jezebel and the gossip raged.
Colette’s neighbor, Izzy, had an up and down marriage of her own to a politician, a man who places appearances above all else. In order to get out of the house, she enrolled in a poetry class Colette was offering and the two bonded there. Izzy reluctantly agreed to set up a secret rendezvous for Colette and her son, something that held the possibility of a blow-up if their husbands found out about it.
Another family in this triangle is the Mullens. Delores Mullen, currently pregnant, rented their cottage out on the coast road to Colette. Her husband, Donal, took advantage of Colette’s solitude and state of mind– resulting in an affair. Delores had her suspicions but tried to ignore the reality of the situation.
…and then comes the plot development, an explosion that blows everything up and sparks a long overdue turn of events.
In this, his debut novel, Alan Murrin paints the picture of how claustrophobic things are for these women. They are trapped in a world limiting what they are allowed to do, what they are allowed to be. The subject of divorce is barely mentioned, but the fact that it is not accepted colors the way Colette is viewed and barricades the options these women have for their future. While Colette is the focus of everyone’s attention, so much is bounced off Izzy’s viewpoint and what she learns about herself. Delores, too– early on she is portrayed as so subservient– she is capable of surprising. The men, the husbands, are very believable– if not universally bad. Surprisingly (maybe refreshingly), the only male with any redeeming qualities is the village priest.
“The Coast Road” is a wonderful read with brilliantly realized characters. The landscape– you can feel yourself in the beautiful and rugged County Donegal. I highly recommend it and anticipate seeing it listed on end of year award nominations.
Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley and Edelweiss for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheCoastRoad #NetGalley
In an interview with Library Love Fest, the HarperCollins YouTube channel, author Alan Murrin says that he has always “...had a thing for a female character that is difficult, but that you are rooting for.” In his debut novel “The Coast Road” he has nailed that. Colette Crowley is a character who would always stand out in a crowd, but in a rural Irish town in 1994 all eyes were on her.
Thanks to the stranglehold of the Catholic Church, divorce was still constitutionally illegal in Ireland, long after the rest of the world accepted it. Colette had left her emotionally dead marriage and ran off with another man– a relationship doomed to fail. When she returned to the small town of Ardglas, her husband forbade her from seeing her children. Not only was she cut off financially, but the town saw her as a jezebel and the gossip raged.
Colette’s neighbor, Izzy, had an up and down marriage of her own to a politician, a man who places appearances above all else. In order to get out of the house, she enrolled in a poetry class Colette was offering and the two bonded there. Izzy reluctantly agreed to set up a secret rendezvous for Colette and her son, something that held the possibility of a blow-up if their husbands found out about it.
Another family in this triangle is the Mullens. Delores Mullen, currently pregnant, rented their cottage out on the coast road to Colette. Her husband, Donal, took advantage of Colette’s solitude and state of mind– resulting in an affair. Delores had her suspicions but tried to ignore the reality of the situation.
…and then comes the plot development, an explosion that blows everything up and sparks a long overdue turn of events.
In this, his debut novel, Alan Murrin paints the picture of how claustrophobic things are for these women. They are trapped in a world limiting what they are allowed to do, what they are allowed to be. The subject of divorce is barely mentioned, but the fact that it is not accepted colors the way Colette is viewed and barricades the options these women have for their future. While Colette is the focus of everyone’s attention, so much is bounced off Izzy’s viewpoint and what she learns about herself. Delores, too– early on she is portrayed as so subservient– she is capable of surprising. The men, the husbands, are very believable– if not universally bad. Surprisingly (maybe refreshingly), the only male with any redeeming qualities is the village priest.
“The Coast Road” is a wonderful read with brilliantly realized characters. The landscape– you can feel yourself in the beautiful and rugged County Donegal. I highly recommend it and anticipate seeing it listed on end of year award nominations.
Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley and Edelweiss for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheCoastRoad #NetGalley
June 22, 2024
The Coast Road is a character driven novel about women’s autonomy in the 1990s, pre-divorce Ireland. Taking place in a small town on the rugged coast of County Donegal, the book follows the lives of three married women with children. Collette is a poet who left her husband Sean and suffers when her husband does not allow her to see her children. Izzy is a bored and frustrated housewife who is stuck married to a controlling, heavy handed, low level politician named James who manipulates circumstances to his own ends. And Delores is overwhelmed with babies and married to the town’s philanderer, Donal, who is a really despicable narcissistic character.
They each represent a range of education and class with Delores and Donal seemingly at the bottom. Without the support of her rich husband, the educated and beautiful Collette has very little income from her books of poetry, and in her new circumstances resorts to giving writing workshops to locals. Izzy, who once had her own floral shop business, given up when her first child came and now denied by her husband, takes Collette’s class to relieve the monotony of her life now that her children are school age. Delores and Donal, with few resources, do have a cottage on their land which they agree to rent to Collette to bring in a little extra income to their ever expanding family. Other minor characters include a Ann, woman who has taken up with Sean, Brian, a priest who is a friend to Izzy and a policeman who ultimately helps Delores.
The women characters all seem flawed but also very real. The men in the book are the catalysts for the plot, with none of the husbands behaving very well. The priest and the policeman are the only likable men in the book. The local high school principal is also not very nice. A few of the children have minor roles, and they are also authentically portrayed in their words and actions. The small town plays a part in the book as well, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, or at least they think they do. There is small town gossip about everyone and sex shaming of Collette.
It took me awhile to get into the novel, but by the end, it was almost a page turner with surprises, tragedy and final resolution without resignation. Although it could be characterized as historical fiction, the aspect of passing a divorce law in Ireland is underplayed. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this male first-time novelist has written authentically and compassionately about these female characters, without the over-bearing feminist ideology, a tone that might have been struck by a feminist writer of the 1970s. Bravo to the author!
After I read a review of the novel, I suggested it for our book club and it was selected. It will stand as one of my favorites of the contemporary novels that we read.
They each represent a range of education and class with Delores and Donal seemingly at the bottom. Without the support of her rich husband, the educated and beautiful Collette has very little income from her books of poetry, and in her new circumstances resorts to giving writing workshops to locals. Izzy, who once had her own floral shop business, given up when her first child came and now denied by her husband, takes Collette’s class to relieve the monotony of her life now that her children are school age. Delores and Donal, with few resources, do have a cottage on their land which they agree to rent to Collette to bring in a little extra income to their ever expanding family. Other minor characters include a Ann, woman who has taken up with Sean, Brian, a priest who is a friend to Izzy and a policeman who ultimately helps Delores.
The women characters all seem flawed but also very real. The men in the book are the catalysts for the plot, with none of the husbands behaving very well. The priest and the policeman are the only likable men in the book. The local high school principal is also not very nice. A few of the children have minor roles, and they are also authentically portrayed in their words and actions. The small town plays a part in the book as well, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, or at least they think they do. There is small town gossip about everyone and sex shaming of Collette.
It took me awhile to get into the novel, but by the end, it was almost a page turner with surprises, tragedy and final resolution without resignation. Although it could be characterized as historical fiction, the aspect of passing a divorce law in Ireland is underplayed. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this male first-time novelist has written authentically and compassionately about these female characters, without the over-bearing feminist ideology, a tone that might have been struck by a feminist writer of the 1970s. Bravo to the author!
After I read a review of the novel, I suggested it for our book club and it was selected. It will stand as one of my favorites of the contemporary novels that we read.
June 22, 2024
I know it sounds odd, but I don’t think I’ve ever read a “crime” novel before—or even a novel where crime takes centre stage. I avoid them on purpose, so I doubt I’d have bought or read it, had I known The Coast Road included a crime. It was labelled “Historical Fiction” and “Literary Fiction” with no mention of it. So I was surprised when it happened at ~75% in. Luckily, the book was so beautifully written—even “the offending” chapters—that I loved it from start to finish.❤️ And considering it’s the author’s debut, I’d say that’s pretty darned great! But there’s much more to the book than the crime…
With the help of the Catholic Church, divorce remained prohibited in Ireland until 1996—and even then, a referendum passed with only the slimmest of margins, and with serious conditions attached. It seems kind of incredible as it’s now second nature in Canada and the United States where couples get into and out of marriage with barely a second thought. In Ireland, however, the 1996 ruling marked a very significant societal milestone. So, knowing this historic event was the basis for the novel, I was eager to read it (and because I have a bit of history with the issue, myself😬). It’s quite surprising to me that this might be the only novel written about one of Ireland’s most controversial topics. I hope I’m wrong, though; I would love to hear about other novels written about the legalisation of divorce in Ireland.
The story is utterly compelling; the characters are so real you’ll swear you know them. And honestly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful landscape than the west coast of Ireland, and when Murrin describes it, you’ll see it right before your eyes. Please don’t pass the book up. It’s a keeper, for sure.
5 “When-love-dies-you-shouldn’t-have-to”😉 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
With the help of the Catholic Church, divorce remained prohibited in Ireland until 1996—and even then, a referendum passed with only the slimmest of margins, and with serious conditions attached. It seems kind of incredible as it’s now second nature in Canada and the United States where couples get into and out of marriage with barely a second thought. In Ireland, however, the 1996 ruling marked a very significant societal milestone. So, knowing this historic event was the basis for the novel, I was eager to read it (and because I have a bit of history with the issue, myself😬). It’s quite surprising to me that this might be the only novel written about one of Ireland’s most controversial topics. I hope I’m wrong, though; I would love to hear about other novels written about the legalisation of divorce in Ireland.
The story is utterly compelling; the characters are so real you’ll swear you know them. And honestly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful landscape than the west coast of Ireland, and when Murrin describes it, you’ll see it right before your eyes. Please don’t pass the book up. It’s a keeper, for sure.
5 “When-love-dies-you-shouldn’t-have-to”😉 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 18, 2024
It was 1994 in County Donegal, Ireland. In the next year, the Irish people were to vote in a referendum to remove the constitutional prohibition on divorce. In his debut novel, author Alan Murrin writes about several troubled marriages before divorce was an option.
Colette Crowley, a poet, left her husband to follow a married man to Dublin. When she returns to County Donegal, her husband refused to allow Colette to see her children. Colette teaches a creative writing workshop which Izzy Keaveney joins.
Izzy's controlling husband sold her flower shop, without her consent, when her first child was born. His life revolves around politics. She pours out her problems to Father Brian who takes the time to listen to her. However, small town gossips speculate about their friendship.
Dolores and Donal Mullens were forced to marry when she became pregnant, and he's had a succession of other women. Colette asks Dolores if she can rent their small cottage overlooking the sea. Colette's life becomes entwined with the lives of both Dolores and Izzy.
Alan Murrin's lovely prose tells about the restrictions on women's lives in the 1990s, the lack of options, and the decisions that these three women make. It all plays out along the Coast Road in a small Irish town that offers few choices.
Colette Crowley, a poet, left her husband to follow a married man to Dublin. When she returns to County Donegal, her husband refused to allow Colette to see her children. Colette teaches a creative writing workshop which Izzy Keaveney joins.
Izzy's controlling husband sold her flower shop, without her consent, when her first child was born. His life revolves around politics. She pours out her problems to Father Brian who takes the time to listen to her. However, small town gossips speculate about their friendship.
Dolores and Donal Mullens were forced to marry when she became pregnant, and he's had a succession of other women. Colette asks Dolores if she can rent their small cottage overlooking the sea. Colette's life becomes entwined with the lives of both Dolores and Izzy.
Alan Murrin's lovely prose tells about the restrictions on women's lives in the 1990s, the lack of options, and the decisions that these three women make. It all plays out along the Coast Road in a small Irish town that offers few choices.
June 1, 2024
Alan Murrin’s The Coast Road, set in the small coastal town of Ardglas, Ireland in 1994, is the story of some families of that town, especially several women who are at important points in their lives. Ireland is also at an inflection point. There are rumors that a referendum on divorce might be considered in the near future though no one is seriously discussing it in public. The Church and men continue to have the upper hand.
The women we meet, chief among them Izzy, Colette and Dolores, are all married, in various states of unhappiness, with husbands who control their lives and happiness in different ways. The men, James, Shaun and Donal, are quite different from each other but they each assume what the role of men and women, husbands and wives is and should/must be. As the novel plays out, we follow both the expected and unexpected consequences as women talk and listen and judge and teach each other. There are some lovely contemplative moments but also some horribly sad ones.
This is a society where wives have few if any options: very often no money except from their husbands, no home except their husbands home and no legal way to leave their marriage. If they should leave, they have also are likely to lose their children. The Coast Road provides a portrait of several women trying to deal with less than happy marriages in those Irish times. A worthwhile read.
Thanks to Harper Via and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
The women we meet, chief among them Izzy, Colette and Dolores, are all married, in various states of unhappiness, with husbands who control their lives and happiness in different ways. The men, James, Shaun and Donal, are quite different from each other but they each assume what the role of men and women, husbands and wives is and should/must be. As the novel plays out, we follow both the expected and unexpected consequences as women talk and listen and judge and teach each other. There are some lovely contemplative moments but also some horribly sad ones.
This is a society where wives have few if any options: very often no money except from their husbands, no home except their husbands home and no legal way to leave their marriage. If they should leave, they have also are likely to lose their children. The Coast Road provides a portrait of several women trying to deal with less than happy marriages in those Irish times. A worthwhile read.
Thanks to Harper Via and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
February 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book.
The story takes place in 90s Ireland, pre legalization of divorce. We follow three women Dolores who is married to an adulterer, Izzy who is married to a politician and Colette who is married but separated from her well to do husband.
The writing is superb, a real character study. I loved following these women's lives while they maneuver through messy situations. I can't get over how good the writing is...lyrical, in depth, moving... A great book for people that like to read about the day to day madness of ordinary people.
The story takes place in 90s Ireland, pre legalization of divorce. We follow three women Dolores who is married to an adulterer, Izzy who is married to a politician and Colette who is married but separated from her well to do husband.
The writing is superb, a real character study. I loved following these women's lives while they maneuver through messy situations. I can't get over how good the writing is...lyrical, in depth, moving... A great book for people that like to read about the day to day madness of ordinary people.
May 26, 2024
The Coast Road is getting lots of hype in book circles, and for good reason: it’s brilliant.
Alan Murrin takes a community in Donegal in 1994/1995, just prior to Ireland’s seminal divorce referendum when divorce was legalised for the first time, and helps you understand just why that referendum was passed by the *narrowest* of margins (50.28% to 49.72%).
Ireland was still firmly in the grip of the Catholic Church, with the parish priest a ubiquitous figure, no end to the curtain twitching in communities and domestic abuse rampant behind closed doors with women (and men too) powerless to leave unhappy marriages. Respectability and appearance counted for everything.
Colette has recently separated from her husband Shaun, having left him for another relationship that didn’t work out. She’s back in town and attempting to see her children, living alone and penniless in a ramshackle cottage. Dolores and Donal own the cottage rented to Colette, and Dolores’ mistrust of her philandering husband is futile in the face of the prevailing times and her multiple small children. Izzy and her husband James, a local politician, have a rocky marriage that might not survive her burgeoning friendship with the parish priest and with Colette, the scarlet woman.
Perfectly paced and brilliantly portraying the social mores of the time in a rural community (think Valley of the Squinting Windows), the three women’s lives collide in dramatic fashion over the course of the book, reaching a crescendo that is impossible to put down. Terrific writing with tension and poignancy and pathos (and humour) in spades, but more than that, The Coast Road is a just really good story. Highly recommend. 4.5-5/5⭐️
*Thanks to @bloomsburypublishing for the arc via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Coast Road was published on 9 May.
Alan Murrin takes a community in Donegal in 1994/1995, just prior to Ireland’s seminal divorce referendum when divorce was legalised for the first time, and helps you understand just why that referendum was passed by the *narrowest* of margins (50.28% to 49.72%).
Ireland was still firmly in the grip of the Catholic Church, with the parish priest a ubiquitous figure, no end to the curtain twitching in communities and domestic abuse rampant behind closed doors with women (and men too) powerless to leave unhappy marriages. Respectability and appearance counted for everything.
Colette has recently separated from her husband Shaun, having left him for another relationship that didn’t work out. She’s back in town and attempting to see her children, living alone and penniless in a ramshackle cottage. Dolores and Donal own the cottage rented to Colette, and Dolores’ mistrust of her philandering husband is futile in the face of the prevailing times and her multiple small children. Izzy and her husband James, a local politician, have a rocky marriage that might not survive her burgeoning friendship with the parish priest and with Colette, the scarlet woman.
Perfectly paced and brilliantly portraying the social mores of the time in a rural community (think Valley of the Squinting Windows), the three women’s lives collide in dramatic fashion over the course of the book, reaching a crescendo that is impossible to put down. Terrific writing with tension and poignancy and pathos (and humour) in spades, but more than that, The Coast Road is a just really good story. Highly recommend. 4.5-5/5⭐️
*Thanks to @bloomsburypublishing for the arc via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Coast Road was published on 9 May.
June 17, 2024
What is it about Irish literature that makes me want to devour every debut that comes along? Is it their history of Celtic storytelling, the writers’ ability to delve deep into themes of social and religious repression, or something else entirely? From Sally Rooney to Sara Baume, from John Boyne to Colm Toibin, I can’t get enough of it.
Now debut novelist Alan Murrin joins the ranks and thankfully, I saw a Goodreads friend’s review of The Coast Road and had to read it. It takes place right before the people of Ireland voted – an a referendum – to remove the constitutional prohibition on divorce in the 1990s. The focus is on three women trapped by the yokes of marriage.
Colette Crowley is a woman laid low, a bohemian poet who left her well-connected husband and three sons for a married man in Dublin. The affair did not end well, and now her husband refuses to give her access to her youngest boy, who sorely misses her. She rents a cottage from the Mullens – Donal and Delores – whose marriage is barely holding on. Before long, Donal is making visits to the small cottage while his pregnant wife suffers in silence.
Colette teaches a writing workshop, attended by Izzy Keaveney, who is dealing with a controlling husband – a politician – and who seeks comfort with the local priest, her confidant. Even though the relationship is not romantic, wagging tongues from gossip mongers suggest otherwise.
Needless to say, a small-minded town and a heartless control of women isn’t going to end well. As the women chafe against the status quo and the men become victims of their own bull-headedness, the stakes begin to rise. The book captivated me from start to finish and certainly introduces a writer to watch.
Now debut novelist Alan Murrin joins the ranks and thankfully, I saw a Goodreads friend’s review of The Coast Road and had to read it. It takes place right before the people of Ireland voted – an a referendum – to remove the constitutional prohibition on divorce in the 1990s. The focus is on three women trapped by the yokes of marriage.
Colette Crowley is a woman laid low, a bohemian poet who left her well-connected husband and three sons for a married man in Dublin. The affair did not end well, and now her husband refuses to give her access to her youngest boy, who sorely misses her. She rents a cottage from the Mullens – Donal and Delores – whose marriage is barely holding on. Before long, Donal is making visits to the small cottage while his pregnant wife suffers in silence.
Colette teaches a writing workshop, attended by Izzy Keaveney, who is dealing with a controlling husband – a politician – and who seeks comfort with the local priest, her confidant. Even though the relationship is not romantic, wagging tongues from gossip mongers suggest otherwise.
Needless to say, a small-minded town and a heartless control of women isn’t going to end well. As the women chafe against the status quo and the men become victims of their own bull-headedness, the stakes begin to rise. The book captivated me from start to finish and certainly introduces a writer to watch.
June 16, 2024
Set in County Donegal in the mid 1990’s in a remote coastal town, in a time when divorce was illegal, this is a story of three women, Izzy, Delores and Colette who no longer wish to be married to their husbands. Colette’s husband then refuses to allow her to see her children, and turns their children against her.
These three women who are trapped in these marriages struggles are deeply felt, their frustrations and disappointments are heartbreaking. The men, on the other hand, don’t seem to have any sympathy for them.
This is one of those sad, quiet stories where nothing much happens - until it does, and then everything changes. The friendship between these women, Colette, Izzy and Delores, becomes stronger as time passes and as they are shunned by others.
This is a beautifully written story which explores the dynamics of power between men and women in a time and place where and when women had little if any power.
A deeply felt, powerful debut.
Published: 04 June 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Harper Via
July 1, 2024
This book should not be read quickly but absorbed in the writings and dilemmas of three women and their marriages in Ireland where divorce was not legal. This is in the 1990’s!!! A look at what women had to either put up with or face the wrath of others if you wanted to leave your marriage. A sad reality for far too many.
June 14, 2024
This is amazing Irish storytelling… for a debut author.
You follow three women, who are all married mothers, in different nuances in life. All of these women are particularly unhappy and unsettled in their marriages but this is their lot in life, as divorce is not allowed in Ireland. As with most Irish stories, the church has a key part in their lives and this dictates many of their decisions.
I think it is quite amazing that this book was written by a male author as he captured the depth of motherhood and their emotions. You were cheering them on as you turned the pages. Very well done.
The only downside was at times I found it to be a bit crass although I am sure it was authentic.
Highly recommend.
You follow three women, who are all married mothers, in different nuances in life. All of these women are particularly unhappy and unsettled in their marriages but this is their lot in life, as divorce is not allowed in Ireland. As with most Irish stories, the church has a key part in their lives and this dictates many of their decisions.
I think it is quite amazing that this book was written by a male author as he captured the depth of motherhood and their emotions. You were cheering them on as you turned the pages. Very well done.
The only downside was at times I found it to be a bit crass although I am sure it was authentic.
Highly recommend.
February 1, 2024
Small Irish Towne where people like to talk….or make assumptions about others…
Pre-1995 Ireland, where it is still illegal to divorce, and the 3 main characters all make choices on how to deal with the marriages they are set into.
Mr. Murrin does a great job at setting the tone, the characters and the seaside landscape…..Great read!
Pre-1995 Ireland, where it is still illegal to divorce, and the 3 main characters all make choices on how to deal with the marriages they are set into.
Mr. Murrin does a great job at setting the tone, the characters and the seaside landscape…..Great read!
June 11, 2024
I wanted to like it,but... Tries at in depth characters and fails,full of tropes and clichés; all men are horrid, all women are poor downtrodden victims, or whiners, or timid. The only character that could have been interesting - Colette- is drawn with such broad strokes,she ends up being a caricature. The word that comes to mind re this book is coarse. No subtlety,no greys.
July 24, 2024
What a fantastic debut novel by Alan Murrin! This book will live on in my memory for a long time.
The book traces three women in small town Ireland, where private life is discussed publicly over coffees and shopping errands. Each of their marriages is different and has issues of its own. While separation is an option, a divorce is not yet legal.
A year from this story's happenings, divorce will be legalised through a referendum. But in the meantime, how are marital issues dealt with if you are meant to be stuck in the relationship forever?
Highly recommend this book to anyone that is fond of prose that holds within it a deeper emotional experience. The characters are well sketched, their arcs speak of individual journeys and the end does justice to each of their stories.
The book traces three women in small town Ireland, where private life is discussed publicly over coffees and shopping errands. Each of their marriages is different and has issues of its own. While separation is an option, a divorce is not yet legal.
A year from this story's happenings, divorce will be legalised through a referendum. But in the meantime, how are marital issues dealt with if you are meant to be stuck in the relationship forever?
Highly recommend this book to anyone that is fond of prose that holds within it a deeper emotional experience. The characters are well sketched, their arcs speak of individual journeys and the end does justice to each of their stories.
July 24, 2024
Classic Irish storytelling here. I love the way so much Irish fiction has such a strong sense of place and time. This book is set in the mid nineties when the Irish people were asked by referendum if divorce should be legalised. With that backdrop, Murrin tells the story of Colette Crowley who left her husband and children for a married man in Dublin but has returned alone. Her presence has an unsettling effect on the people of this small coastal town, especially the women. The book interrogates the limited options available to women and the systems designed to keep it that way.
May 31, 2024
I greatly enjoyed this debut novel. Set in the 1990s, in a tiny Irish town, population about 1000, whether Ireland will legalize divorce is the backdrop, women’s rights, the strictures and mores under which they live. The novel follows the lives of a few married women, reaching their middle years, mothers all, their marriages uniformly not as they want or perhaps expected. Among them is Colette, a poet, who left her husband, the wealthiest man in town, for a man she was sure she loved. Her husband has refused to let her see her sons, and when she leaves the affair, and returns from Dublin to the tiny town, her very existence will alter the lives of these other women, in big and small ways. The book, with its focus on a handful of lives, the small details, the ways one turn or another can change everything, reminded me of Anne Enright’s novels. I look forward to what the author writes next.
Thanks to Harper Via and Netgalley for the arc.
Thanks to Harper Via and Netgalley for the arc.
Read
June 17, 2024I just finished this book, I immediately want to start it again.
May 6, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! It is deeply moving, introspective, and hopeful. If you are a big fan of character-driven novels, enjoy Irish literature, or appreciate historical fiction, then this book is for you. And for a debut novel, it’s a pretty solid outing.
January 30, 2024
The Coast Road is a historical fiction novel set in the 1990's while Ireland was undergoing the vote to legalize divorce. First of all, it's shocking to learn that Ireland took until 1996 to legalize divorce and it barely passed the vote. That bit of information left me gobsmacked!
The Coast Road focuses upon relationships of a few different families all from the same small town. Colette is the main focus of the story as she has recently left her husband for another man. We learn of her plight to fight her husband to see her children as she moves back to the small town to be near them. Colette is the main narrative of the story however Izzy and Dolores and their marriages are also interwoven into the story.
The main storyline is about the limitations of small-town Ireland, its patriarchal society with peer pressure and gossip, all overshadowed by the control of the church. Women were expected to care for their homes, children, and support their husband without regard for their own aspirations.
The story has strong female voices, tragic relationships, and mixed with a bit of mystery but mostly it is fraught with bad timing. Women, born of a time where they are bound by the rule of law and limitations set by a patriarchal society. Topics include marriage, friendships, career, divorce, abortion, family law, and parental rights.
I found the storytelling spellbinding and the author's unraveling of Colette's complicated story well told. I enjoyed the multi-layers of each community member's interpersonal relationships.
My favorite quote from the book, "She had exhausted herself with stories, spent her life and energy in always wanting things to be another way. The only thing that seemed to offer her comfort was the lesson she had taken from Colette-that acceptance was not the same as resignation."
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
The Coast Road focuses upon relationships of a few different families all from the same small town. Colette is the main focus of the story as she has recently left her husband for another man. We learn of her plight to fight her husband to see her children as she moves back to the small town to be near them. Colette is the main narrative of the story however Izzy and Dolores and their marriages are also interwoven into the story.
The main storyline is about the limitations of small-town Ireland, its patriarchal society with peer pressure and gossip, all overshadowed by the control of the church. Women were expected to care for their homes, children, and support their husband without regard for their own aspirations.
The story has strong female voices, tragic relationships, and mixed with a bit of mystery but mostly it is fraught with bad timing. Women, born of a time where they are bound by the rule of law and limitations set by a patriarchal society. Topics include marriage, friendships, career, divorce, abortion, family law, and parental rights.
I found the storytelling spellbinding and the author's unraveling of Colette's complicated story well told. I enjoyed the multi-layers of each community member's interpersonal relationships.
My favorite quote from the book, "She had exhausted herself with stories, spent her life and energy in always wanting things to be another way. The only thing that seemed to offer her comfort was the lesson she had taken from Colette-that acceptance was not the same as resignation."
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
April 14, 2024
I loved this book! The Coast Road is a stunning novel that explores the complexities of small town life. Murrin weaves the characters and the landscape together to create an Irish masterpiece - his observation of women and their challenges in 90s Ireland are beautiful, heartbreaking and funny.
I am so excited to read more from this debut novelist.
I am so excited to read more from this debut novelist.
June 18, 2024
"The Coast Road" by Alan Murrin is an utterly compelling debut novel set in 1994/95 Ireland, in a small coastal town called Arglas in the county of Donegal, just before divorce was legally allowed. It is centered around three women - Izzy, Dolores and Colette- who are trapped in their unhappy marriages. We learn about their disappointments, their fears, their hopelessness and their dreams.
Since at that time divorce isn't an option, women are forced to stay with their husbands, even if they are physically or psychologically abused. Women hardly have any options, their role is restricted to raising their children and providing their husbands with a comfortable and clean home. Religion still has a strong influence, people go to church every Sunday even though men do as they please while women are condemned at the slightest mistake, are judged very harshly when veering off the beaten track. Especially in a small town like Arglas, it is difficult to do anything without everybody knowing about it. If women do leave their husbands, they are cut off financially and might even lose their children for good.
So it is not surprising that when Colette, a 40-something woman and poet, returns to Arglas, she is shunned by almost the whole town. Colette left her husband and her three sons to live in Dublin with a married man, but when that relationship breaks up, she returns to Arglas to be near her sons and to maybe patch things up again with her husband, who she is financially dependent on. She rents a small ramshackle cottage on the Coast Road, trying to get back on her feet again. But unfortunately things don't turn out as she planned.
I loved all three women, especially Izzy, who is a very courageous and headstrong woman, willing to fight for at least a little bit of independence. Colette is the unpredictable one, always following her current mood and not bearing in mind the consequences of her actions. And Dolores is worn out from an unhappy marriage with a narcisst. All the characters in the book (women and men alike) are interesting, authentic and very complex so that at the end of the book I had the impression of knowing them personally.
Another thing I loved is Murrin's descriptive and poetic writing style that beautifully captures the essence of the Irish landscape and the characters that inhabit it. You get beautiful coastal landscape descriptions that mirror the turmoil and eventual clarity the protagonists experience. The story is filled with twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Overall, "The Coast Road" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a blend of stunning scenery and compelling storytelling. It is a literary fiction novel that towards the end culminates in an atrocious crime.
So in a nutshell: "The Coast Road" is a fascinating debut novel I can't recommend highly enough!!!!
Since at that time divorce isn't an option, women are forced to stay with their husbands, even if they are physically or psychologically abused. Women hardly have any options, their role is restricted to raising their children and providing their husbands with a comfortable and clean home. Religion still has a strong influence, people go to church every Sunday even though men do as they please while women are condemned at the slightest mistake, are judged very harshly when veering off the beaten track. Especially in a small town like Arglas, it is difficult to do anything without everybody knowing about it. If women do leave their husbands, they are cut off financially and might even lose their children for good.
So it is not surprising that when Colette, a 40-something woman and poet, returns to Arglas, she is shunned by almost the whole town. Colette left her husband and her three sons to live in Dublin with a married man, but when that relationship breaks up, she returns to Arglas to be near her sons and to maybe patch things up again with her husband, who she is financially dependent on. She rents a small ramshackle cottage on the Coast Road, trying to get back on her feet again. But unfortunately things don't turn out as she planned.
I loved all three women, especially Izzy, who is a very courageous and headstrong woman, willing to fight for at least a little bit of independence. Colette is the unpredictable one, always following her current mood and not bearing in mind the consequences of her actions. And Dolores is worn out from an unhappy marriage with a narcisst. All the characters in the book (women and men alike) are interesting, authentic and very complex so that at the end of the book I had the impression of knowing them personally.
Another thing I loved is Murrin's descriptive and poetic writing style that beautifully captures the essence of the Irish landscape and the characters that inhabit it. You get beautiful coastal landscape descriptions that mirror the turmoil and eventual clarity the protagonists experience. The story is filled with twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Overall, "The Coast Road" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a blend of stunning scenery and compelling storytelling. It is a literary fiction novel that towards the end culminates in an atrocious crime.
So in a nutshell: "The Coast Road" is a fascinating debut novel I can't recommend highly enough!!!!
June 30, 2024
“The Coast Road”, by Alan Murrin, completely captivated me! I was transported to a small village on the Irish coast and immersed in the scandals and secrets of its denizens.
Set in 1994, when Ireland still outlawed divorce, Murrin introduces us to several couples who are struggling in their marriages. Colette left her husband and sons to run away with a married man to Dublin, only to realize her grave mistake. She’s returned repentant, but only the parish priest is willing to forgive her.
Izzy, who was once a businesswoman, has been completely subjugated by her politician husband. She forms a friendship with Colette; will it be her undoing?
And then we have the most chilling situation of all: Dolores (pregnant with her fourth child) is married to Donal, a serial adulterer, and an outright abuser. Can Donal continue to do whatever he likes, including violence, with impunity?
What a wonderful storyteller Alan Murrin is! I look forward to reading more from this gifted Irish writer.
Set in 1994, when Ireland still outlawed divorce, Murrin introduces us to several couples who are struggling in their marriages. Colette left her husband and sons to run away with a married man to Dublin, only to realize her grave mistake. She’s returned repentant, but only the parish priest is willing to forgive her.
Izzy, who was once a businesswoman, has been completely subjugated by her politician husband. She forms a friendship with Colette; will it be her undoing?
And then we have the most chilling situation of all: Dolores (pregnant with her fourth child) is married to Donal, a serial adulterer, and an outright abuser. Can Donal continue to do whatever he likes, including violence, with impunity?
What a wonderful storyteller Alan Murrin is! I look forward to reading more from this gifted Irish writer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews