The History of Loneliness is a depressing title – it has to be about loneliness, doesn’t it? Yes, but it’s about so much more. This novel by John Boyne is about the soul of a boy growing up in 1960s Ireland and becoming a priest, it’s about guilt and responsibility and honesty [with oneself, with others]. And, given its setting and time, it is about the Catholic church in Ireland and child abuse. 
But it is not a depressing novel. It is the story of Odran Yates’s journey from childhood to seminary to adulthood, via Rome where he serves tea to two Popes, back to Ireland where he watches from the sidelines as one then another trusted Irish priest is convicted of child abuse.
It is an unexpected page turner. Boyne drops hints at ‘things that happened’, enough to make you want to know what. He maintains the suspense by telling Odran’s story in disparate chunks – the first four chapters move from 2001 to 2006, 1964 to 1980 – answering some questions and asking new ones, and weaving in the story of Odran’s sister Hannah and her family. Some bits made me chuckle, some made me laugh out loud, others brought a lump to my throat. A favourite was the discussion with Katherine Summers, a neighbour of the Yates who cycles by wearing short skirts to the horror of all the Catholic mothers, about the naughty bits in The Godfather.
Most of all, this book tells the story of the priesthood from the 1960s when the word of the priest was God, to 2008 when a stranger spits in Odran’s face because he is a priest wearing a black suit and a white plastic collar.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK
Read my reviews of these other novels by John Boyne:-
A LADDER TO THE SKY
A TRAVELLER AT THE GATES OF WISDOM
ALL THE BROKEN PLACES
STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND THEN LEAVE
THE HEART’S INVISIBLE FURIES
If you like this, try:-
‘Brooklyn’ by Colm Tóibín
‘Himself’ by Jess Kidd
‘The Pull of the Stars’ by Emma Donoghue
And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
An honest, harrowing novel: A HISTORY OF LONELINESS by @john_boyne #bookreview via @SandraDanby http://wp.me/p5gEM4-1dm
SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS 
Pingback: #BookReview ‘The Heart’s Invisible Furies’ by @john_boyne #literary | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #Bookreview ‘A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom’ by @john_boyne | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘A Ladder to the Sky’ by @john_boyne #Ambition #Plagiarism | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #BookReview ‘Stay Where You Are & Then Leave’ by @john_boyne #WW1 | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
Pingback: #Bookreview ‘All the Broken Places’ by @john_boyne #literary #WW2 | SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS
I’m glad you reviewed this book, I’d like to read it since I was captivated by Boy in the Striped PJs. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed it, hope you will too 🙂 SD
LikeLike
Obviously a great author and I have t say, to one who frets over these things, he certainly knows how to come up with an eye-catching title. I was grabbed by his before I get near reading the post
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, it is true though that if I hadn’t read any of his other stuff I probably would have been put off by the title. It is excellent. 🙂 SD
LikeLike
Hi Sandra
As usual I can’t sign in to reply to your review so thought I’d just write and say you’ve inspired me to get this book!
My Catholic and Irish background draws me to this novel.
I’ll write properly soon but just to say we’re in Spain but I haven’t a clue where you guys are now! Hope you’re both well.
P xx
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know you had an Irish/Catholic background! I’m now reading another Irish author, Colm Tóibín, so am on a bit of an Irish run at the moment. SD x
LikeLike
I thought Striped Pyjamas was great, so I’m glad you did mention it, gives me more incentive to look out for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to read all his other adult stuff now. SD
LikeLike