Kathleen Anne Kenney

Oh boy, this has such a pretty cover, and honestly, the writing isn't bad, but the story...just so slow and strange.

It revolves mainly around 27-year-old Siobhan and her Uncle Kee as they live and work in their pub, the Leeside, in a quiet little Irish village. I mean, that's basically it.

I didn't feel Siobhan, the main character, was all that interesting. A 27-year-old with the book-intelligence of a scholar and the social intelligence of a primary school student. Though the author freely admits this characteristic of Siobhan, that's she's too naive and too young for her actual age, it was just not an interesting premise. More frustrating, than anything.

I was frustrated because of the below spoilers:

[I felt that the sexual assault in the beginning was totally gratuitous. Mentioned once in passing and then never again, for what? To make Siobhan more three dimensional, more relatable? It was random to me and felt unjustified. She was naive and basically clueless without that happening to her, so why throw that in? For what purpose?

Then she falls in love with an American professor that she met once? That's fine, but I'd have appreciated the author developing the relationship a little bit more. I get that somehow she completely avoided/suppressed/never had romantic relationships and feelings for twenty-seven years due to her circumstances, but it was just all too not-real for me. She 'loved' Tim because he loved poetry as much as she did. And he waxed poetic about her because of her innocence. Come on.
(hide spoiler)]

Anyway, yes, this was not my cup of tea. Though the cover is indeed gorgeous and dreamy, what was on the inside, unfortunately, was not.

Thank you to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance.… (més)

Girl on the Leeside by Kathleen Anne Kenney is a recommended deferred-coming-of-age story for a woman in Ireland.

Siobhan Doyle has been living with her Uncle Kee since her mother died when she was two years-old. Now twenty-seven, she helps her Uncle Kee run the family pub. The two also share a passion for reading and discussing Irish folklore and poetry together. Until Tim Ferris, an American professor of Irish literature, arrives to discuss poetry with her Uncle, Siobhan has been protected by Uncle Kee, content to live and work at the pub, while keeping to herself, and secretly writing her own poetry. Now she may be opening herself up to the world and new experiences for the first time. Suddenly some secrets may be revealed and her future may hold more options than simply working at the pub.

Pluses include the lovely writing and the Irish poetry sprinkled throughout the novel. Minuses include the many mentions of Siobhan's small stature, long hair, and fairy-like appearance. It is a stretch to also believe that today someone would be as naive and sheltered as Siobhan is portrayed here - but then this is fiction. The dialogue is a bit stilted at times and, although this is a coming-of-age story, it is the "lite" version. There are a few too many unrealistic circumstances for my tastes.

If you like novels that are light, gentle reads about Ireland, Irish poetry, and a late first romantic interest, then this may be a nice choice to bring along on your summer vacation.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Nan A. Talese.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/06/girl-on-leeside.html… (més)