John McGahern

brianthebard

Some people may have memories of being force fed "amongst women" for the leaving, but he was a fantastic author, with a wonderful melancholic style. I've read the dark, amongst women, the pornographer and a collection of short stories. Going to start "that they may face the rising sun" tonight. Everything I've read by him has been brilliant, although the short stories were a bit touch and go, his style is a bit too slow burn for a short tale sometimes. Although the dark and amongst women are very similar plot wise there are a number of stylistic and narrative differences that makes them both worth reading. So any opinions?

Karlusss

I really like McGahern, I read The Dark a while ago and just finished Memoir recently. The Dark is one of my favourite Irish novels, there's something so real about his writing... you can feel how damp the world is. Something sort of uniquely Irish. Maybe. I enjoy his stuff anyway. I don't know where he fits into the grand scale of Irish literature, but if he's not being given recognition he should be.

McGinty

The only book I have read is 'that they may face the rising sun' and personally I believe OP you are in for a treat, he has a marvellous writing style, it is poetic, beautiful, captures characters marvellously, yes it is slow but sometimes slow is good, it is also rhythmic and cyclical, for me that novel was beautiful and profound and I do intend to read his other works, just with college I haven't had a chance yet. Happy reading and let me know what you think, ps: I think he also has a great eye for detail in an understated manner.

TheInvisibleFie

Have to say I'm not a big fan of his. I liked the short stories in Creatures of the Earth but had to force myself through Amongst Women. The short stories were so dark (except for Bank Holiday, which I loved) and meloncholy that it was really easy to feel the flow of the pieces and feel a love for the place when the characters and settings kept repeating themselves. But Amongst Women just dragged and in the end it just paled after Creatures of the Earth. Are The Dark or The Barracks worth reading if I hated Amongst Women?

brianthebard

Well the dark is very similar to amongst women in that its a bildunsroman and a story about childhood, but stylistically its very different and much um, darker. You might want to try the pornographer just because its a bit of a departure from the norm and different to amongst women. Haven't read the barracks but afaik its also about childhood and abuse to some extent.

buck65

I thought that " That they may..." was long winded and boring, although well written. I prefer his short stories. Great writer all the same.

kraggy

I think that Amongst Women is considered the jewel in his crown but I'd put That they may face the rising sun to be on a par.

Love John McGahern. He can describe the mundane in such a wonderful light and have you in stitches when simply talking about someone having a cup of tea while talking to the neighbours.