This is a fantastic book - for what it is. There should be a small note on the book to let people know what they are getting into. This book has essentially no plot and not much happens in it. But that doesn't mean it is one of those dull pretentious literary books where the author spends a whole chapter describing a tree and the reader is bored to death.

This is a book about characters. If you want a book about interesting characters and dialogue, this is for you. Nothing in the book happens other than characters appearing and talking. McGahern brilliantly captures the way people talk and this makes the book very enjoyable.