56 pages • 1 hour read
Sebastian BarryA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
261
Novel • Fiction
Ireland • Contemporary
2023
Adult
18+ years
In Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry, Tom Kettle, a retired police detective living in a quiet Irish seaside town, is thrust back into his traumatic past as he becomes involved in a present-day investigation into crimes committed by priests, triggering complex memories and reflections on his life, including deeply entrenched themes of trauma, violence, and the passage of time. This source material contains depictions of physical and sexual violence against minors, suicide, drug abuse, terrorism, violence, and murder.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Mysterious
Emotional
Sebastian Barry's Old God's Time is praised for its lyrical prose and compelling narrative, but some readers found its pacing slow. Barry's portrayal of complex characters and haunting themes resonate strongly, though a few noted that the intricate storyline occasionally felt convoluted. Overall, it's a powerful, emotional journey for fans of literary fiction.
A reader who relishes introspective narratives and complex character studies will treasure Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry. Fans of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day or Marilynne Robinson's Gilead will find a similarly profound exploration of memory, loss, and redemption in this poignant, lyrical tale.
261
Novel • Fiction
Ireland • Contemporary
2023
Adult
18+ years
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