annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Sugar and Snails
    • Acknowledgements
    • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
      • Birthday blog tour
      • S&S on tour 2022
    • Early endorsements
    • Events >
      • Launch photos
      • Launch party videos
    • in pictures
    • Media
    • If you've read the book
    • Polari
    • Reading group questions
    • Reviews
    • In the media
  • Underneath
    • Endorsements and reviews
    • Launch party and events
    • Pictures
    • Questions for book groups
    • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

Crack, craic and Catholicism: The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney

18/4/2015

10 Comments

 
Picture
Ah for feck’s sake altogether. Another religious mother. You’d have to ask yourself what’s wrong with this country at all that it can’t stop birthing virtuous ould bags.

We know about the darkness of Catholic Ireland here on Annecdotal from our discussion of John Boyne’s dissection of cover-ups in the priesthood in his novel, A History of Loneliness, last year. But interestingly, rampant paedophilia is the one vice Lisa McInerney doesn’t address in her audacious debut novel exploring the murky underbelly of Ireland’s post-crash society. The Glorious Heresies kicks off with a murder in the ground floor apartment of the decommissioned brothel in which the gangster, Jimmy Phelan, has installed his long-lost mother. But this is no police procedural – the reader knows early on whodunnit to whom – but the murder of Robbie O’Donovan is the device through which Lisa McInerney weaves the lives of her misfit characters over the ensuing five years.

Thus Tony Cusack, alcoholic widower and bullying father of six, is brought in to dispose of the body, and, while he’s at it, takes the opportunity to offload the piano that reminds him too much of his wife. The latter devastates his already alienated son, Ryan, a fifteen-year-old drug dealer who casts off his boyhood as he takes his girlfriend up to his bedroom. Ryan finds dubious refuge from his father’s rages in the house of their clumsily interfering next-door neighbour, Tara Duane. Tara perceives herself as a saviour of the city’s prostitutes, including Georgie, the girlfriend of the murdered man. But when Georgie, after being taken in by a religious community, comes evangelising to Jimmy Phelan’s mother Maureen’s door, the underworld grows darker still.

I found the tangle of characters a little confusing initially, but the quality of the writing and the psychological depth behind the characters’ facades, soon pulled me in. While none of the people I met between these pages are particularly likeable, they all have a moral side, however slim. Even the fearsome Jimmy Phelan feels an obligation to do right by his old mammy. The younger characters, like Ryan and Georgie, totter on a tightrope between redemption and iniquity, so that you can’t help hoping they’ll turn out all right.

Throughout the novel there’s an undercurrent of rage at a society that turns a blind eye to the cruelties perpetrated on the vulnerable: from Ryan shouting at a couple who use a four-year-old child to steal to the teachers who pay attention to his defacing a desk but ignore his black eye; from the failure of the police to fully investigate Jimmy Phelan’s excesses to the dangers faced by Georgie on the streets (p98):

You could never be safe, even though you’d be so careful and smart, leaning in through car windows to slyly sniff their breath for signs of riled drunkenness, reading the tics and faces pulled to gauge violent intent. A few would always get through, and the ones you couldn’t interpret where the worst of the lot, the real evil bastards, the ones who hid behind stony faces the rage, the frustration, the deep-seated mammy issues they were only dying to take out on you. You, the dirty whore. You, representing in living, breathing audacity everything that was wrong with them.

Part of the difficulty for the powerless is that they’ve been knocked down so many times, the good things that come their way seem alien, “fragments of someone else’s bedtime story” (p99), unlikely to endure.

At the core lies the Catholic Church and the women, abused and abusing, colluding in the denigration of their sex, like Maureen’s brainwashed mother who “pandered to the vestments as if by debasing herself she could avoid the stain of her sex” (p186). It’s Maureen, banished from the country for the crime of pregnancy forty years previously and a little unhinged, who most clearly articulates the heart of the hypocrisy (p252):

The Church craves power above all things, power above all of the living. The Church has an ideal and it’ll raze all in its way to achieve it. The Church needs its blind devout … The Church creates its sinners so it has something to save.

For more musings on this novel, see my Q&A with the author, Lisa McInerney. Thanks to John Murray for my review copy.


Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
10 Comments
Norah Colvin link
19/4/2015 05:07:13 am

That sounds like quite a confronting read, Anne, with lots of unpleasant issues raised. Surprisingly I think I would enjoy it for that reason. Some of it would probably support already held beliefs. Others would be challenged. Overall I think it would give me something to think about. I like that you praise the quality of the writing, and the psychological depth to the characters. Now there is a recommendation in itself. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Annecdotist
19/4/2015 07:44:04 am

Thanks, Norah, I thought there was lots in this novel and the unpleasant issues didn't seem too disturbing amongst the fine writing.

Reply
charli mills
19/4/2015 05:02:44 pm

I'm intrigued by the writing, to read something complex yet well written. This would be a good book for a reading group. I'll catch up with the author interview...planting seeds and my hands are happily black with dirt.

Reply
Annecdotist
20/4/2015 11:59:17 am

You're right, Charli, it would be ideal for a reading group with divided loyalties across the various characters. Hope your seeds – literal and metaphorical – germinates beautifully, it's a great time of year for us in the northern hemisphere.

Reply
Derbhile Graham link
20/4/2015 02:25:24 am

Definitely an intriguing read. I'm trying to expand the types of books I read while still remaining true to my natural taste. Think this book will fit the bill nicely. I'm enjoying this new Irish literary tradition that moves away from fields and unwed pregnancies.

Reply
Annecdotist
20/4/2015 12:01:06 pm

Yes, it does feel like the new style of Irish writing – although have to admit, there are a couple of unwed pregnancies in this. Would love to know what you think if you do read it.

Reply
Safia link
20/4/2015 10:37:51 pm

Your review is excellent, Anne. I've seen @swearylady (the author) on Twitter and how appropriate it is that Kevin Barry's is the comment on the cover. Lately in Irish publishing, there has been a spate of what I'd call hard-hitting, non-delusional, tell-it-like-it-is, post Celtic Tiger novels, BUT most of them are written by youngish men and are from a very male perspective, eg, Rob Doyle, Kevin Barry himself, and the short stories (but novel on the way) of Colin Barrett. I'm really intrigued to see how Lisa McInerney handles the themes and situations you mention in your review and from the samples you give, I reckon there's a lot of humour in it too. Now what about that cover and title? The title is great, playing as it does on the Glorious Mysteries of the Catholic Church, and anyone who has lived in Ireland will be so familiar with the Mary grottoes scattered around the countryside, not to mention the statues in churches. On this cover, she's fading, melting away in her flood of tears, no?

Reply
Annecdotist
21/4/2015 04:24:29 am

Thanks, Safia, I do agree with you about the cover and title – perfect for this novel. An interesting point you make about potential difference between male and female perspectives on the post-Celtic Tiger Ireland – although just occurs to me, there's a new Anne Enright next month, wondering where you'd locate her? Be extremely interested to see what you make of it.

Reply
Safia link
21/4/2015 03:46:19 pm

I wouldn't automatically put Anne Enright into the group of writers I mentioned there - different generation, and less 'foul mouthed' (to quote Sunday Times on Lisa McInerney!). BTW, I read the sample of The Glorious Heresies this afternoon - fantastic voice, snappy prose, full of local flavour, with a pretty intriguing plot and a cracking pace. Definitely on the TBR list and I can understand why you said it drew you in so easily. A very talented writer. Also, have you read 'Young Skins' by Colin Barrett? Short stories, but the longest one takes up about 40% of the book - it's called 'Calm With Horses' - absolutely breathtaking story and it was literally, 'unputdownable' for me. Have read samples of Rob Doyle and Kevin Barry and might return to the latter sometime, but apparently Doyle's essays are pretty sharp and might suit me more than his fiction.

Annecdotist
22/4/2015 02:03:45 am

I was thinking maybe Anne Enright would be considered a bit gentler. Actually, just discovered I have Rob Doyle on my increasingly chaotic TBR pile. Colin Barnett sounds interesting too. (So many great books, how do we ever have time to sleep?)




Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    OUT NOW: The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My latest novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom