The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

Some months ago I read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox and somebody recommended The Secret Scripture as a follow up. This book is just as good. It covers the same sort of ground, a modern day mental hospital about to be demolished and the long term patients assessed for re-entry into society. This one is written in two voices, that of the patient herself, Roseanne, and that of her doctor, William Grene. It becomes a quest to discover what the truth really is, whether Roseanne is delusional or whether she has been misjudged and mistreated. Set in Ireland in the early part of the century, the book is tangled up with Irish history and the values of the time, particularly pertaining to women, sexual mores and the power of the Irish Catholic church. I had two problems with the book, the first that it is written in rich language that takes time and concentration but the underlying story is so powerful that I just wanted to KNOW what happened, and to hell with all the words. So I didn’t enjoy that language as much as it deserved to be enjoyed. The second is the ending, which is pretty unbelievable. Though perhaps in Ireland, with its tiny population, perhaps…. Anyway, this is a terrific book. 4 ½ stars.