Minutes May book: The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

The Secret Scripture

by Sebastian Barry

(chosen by Gypsy)

 

(ed note: Thanks to KM for taking the minutes in my absence!)

Gypsy started the meeting by sharing that after the 'trauma' of her last choice (Twilight), she spent lots of time on the selection of this book.

About the author:

Sebastian Barry was born in 1955 in Dublin, the son of the late Irish actress Joan O’Hara. He was educated there at Trinity College. He has held academic posts including Honorary Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa and Writer Fellow at Trinity College, Dublin, as well as working as a playwright, novelist and poet. His play The Steward of Christendom (1995), was first staged at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in March 1995, and subsequently transferred to Broadway. His 2005 novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He now lives in County Wicklow, Ireland, with his family.

(general biographical detail from the publisher's reading guide)

 What the publisher says about the book:

Roseanne McNulty, perhaps nearing her one-hundredth birthday - no one is quite sure - faces an uncertain future, as the Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital where she's spent the best part of her adult life prepares for closure. Over the weeks leading up to this upheaval, she talks often with her psychiatrist Dr Grene. This relationship, guarded but trusting after so many years, intensifies and complicates as Dr Grene mourns the death of his wife.

Told through their respective journals, the story that emerges - of Roseanne's family in 1930s Sligo - is at once shocking and deeply beautiful. Refracted through the haze of memory and retelling, Roseanne's story becomes an alternative, secret, history of Ireland. Exquisitely written, it is the story of a life blighted by terrible mistreatment and ignorance, and yet marked still by love and passion and hope.

What we discussed about the book:

• Sebastian Barry was a catholic who married a protestant and his great grandfather was his inspiration for John Clear
• Barry weaved lots of personal family stories into his book, in particular he wanted to rescue the 'lost' women
• Memory - from different perspectives - both are "truthful"
• Can memory rescue us from the past?
• Mental health - how were they treated.

And we were side-tracked into:

• Apparently best practice suggests to deal with post traumatic events 3 months after the event
• The Irish plan for independence from Britain - 1919 - 1921. Then Ireland went into a civil war between the free staters and republicans (IRA)
• The catholic church was very strong and influential
• The Presbyterian church started in Scotland 1707. Some of their doctrines are different. They have baptism and communion. Their churches have austere interiors.

In other news, we discussed: 

• The clever Breville kettle that moderates the heat of the water according to the hot drink - i.e. tea, coffee
• The wonderful dessert made by Elster. (Maggie Beer's recipe of chocolate and quince tart served with ice cream. We were also spoilt with nougat and home made coconut cupcakes)
• The Royal Wedding.......yes, we discussed Fergie's girls and THAT hat

Ratings:
Range  7 - 9
Average 7.9

Next book:
Franklin and Eleanor. An extraordinary marriage. by Hazel Rowley (chosen by KE)