Heart, Be at Peace

A Novel

By: Donal Ryan

Narrated by: Anne Marie Ryan, Ciaran O'Brien, Donal Ryan, Eva Bartley, Gerry Howard, Killian Coyle, Roy McMillan, Toni O'Rourke

Winner of the Irish Book of the Year * Winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction * Shortlisted for the Nero Novel of the Year * A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice

From one of the most acclaimed Irish writers today, a new novel about smalltown Ireland that explores a community on the mend and the power of love and trauma to both bring people together and divide them

“I said it before. Madness comes circling around. Ten-year cycles, as true as the sun will rise. . .”

In a small town in Ireland, the local people have weathered the storm of economic collapse and now look to the future: The jobs are back, the dramas of the past seemingly lulled, and although the town bears the scars of its history, new stories have begun to unfold.

But an insidious menace now creeps through back-alley shadows and into the lives of the townspeople. Old grudges fester and new ones arise. Young people are lured by the promise of fast money while the generation above them tries to hold back the tide of an enemy beyond their control. And the peace of this town is about to be shattered in an unimaginable way.

A stunning, lyrical novel told in twenty-one voices, Heart, Be at Peace reveals a community that together looks to overcome the betrayals, secrets, and grudges that can divide families, neighbors, and entire generations.

Wonderful sequel.

Great to revisit the people from his earlier novel. Haunting images and lyrical language. Strong themes. Really enjoyed the book.

Great performances

Too many characters, could not follow in audio format. Hard copy may be better for a story like this when one can trace who is related to who.

Personal Stories Entwined In a Lyrical Community Story

I loved this book. Told in a series of personal stories that gather into a tale of how a small town deals with drug crimes. Each character has a nuanced, personal story told in first person. The performances of each character are like small theatrical tales. The Irish dialect tickles, time after time. I immediately started the book over to collect more of the relationships among the characters, revealed slowly throughout the story. The author has created a wonderful book and the many performers do a great job of presenting it.