Set in Ireland in the 60's and 70's, A Son Called Gabriel is a touching and honest coming-of-age tale replete with rich, genuine characters and an overall brilliant story.
Gabriel is but a boy when we first meet him. His family is like many found around the world and the reader can immediately identify with Gabriel's love, fascination, and frustration with them and the secrets they hold.
The growing conflict between Catholics and Protestants of the time mirror the conflict within Gabriel as he makes his way through adolescence. Principle, desire, and autonomy are all a part of this young man's struggles, things to which most of us can relate.
Damian McNicholl has a wonderful gift and I'm grateful he chose to share it with us. McNicholl effectively weaves family, politics, and approaching adulthood deftly into a compelling novel. He never overwrites or imposes a broader scope to the story than one would expect from Gabriel himself. After all, it is Gabriel's tale. We don't know his family's secrets until he does. His family knows not of his until he is ready to come to grips with them.
Beautifully crafted, honestly told, and hauntingly heartbreaking with a gentle dash of humor, A Son Called Gabriel is simply one of the best books I've read in years. Be ready to share your copy with friends or be prepared to buy more—and now that the book has been released in paperback, you can afford it.
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1 - Pat Cummings
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