The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (Longlisted 2008 Booker Prize)
This is the first book I have read by Irish writer Sebastian Barry and I was relatively impressed. As all good students of Booker history will know Barry was shortlisted in 2005 for A Long Long Way and I think Barry has a good chance at a second shortlisting with The Secret Scripture. The book is not perfect plot-wise but it is beautifully written. I felt like I wanted to wallow in this beautiful language and I was constantly re-reading passages. 
The story is told in alternating narratives. Firstly, the memoirs of 100 year old Roseanne McNulty reflect upon the many traumatic aspects of her life and tell of how she came to be placed in a mental assylum. Secondly, the journal of Dr Grene casts a different light on Roseanne’s life and reveals his inner turmoil as he mourns for his wife.
Now, I could not get enough of Roseanne’s story, set in a small Irish seaside town, covering a period in Irish history from 1920-40.. it is stunning.. the religious tension, poverty, violence and sexual politics of the times is encompassed in the life story of Roseanne. I felt like I was in Ireland with the rain and the bogs and the cups of tea. Beautiful. Sad. Elegiac. Reading these sections of the novel we sort of get shards of Roseanne’s life, where perspective is distorted by time. It is in Dr Grene’s alternating narrative that some of the gaps are filled in or doubt is cast on the truthfulness of Roseanne’s story.
To me, this book is largely a discourse on the nature of memory, truth and perception, how it can be distorted by time and bent to others wills. (Oh, how I loathed Fr Gaunt, didn’t you just want to smack him one, towards the end of the novel..).
What I found frustrating with the novel was Dr Grene’s parts – he always seemed to interrupt the flow of the story and I was not always that engaged with what he had to say. For some reason I found the writing in these sections to be over-written and slightly pompous. He also contributes towards one of my key dissatisfactions with the novel – the ending…(we can discuss further in the comments for those who have finished the book..
In general, my over-riding feeling towards this novel is positive, however I do have a penchant for novels set in the 1930s and also novels with asylums (loved The Woman in White for this reason). Some people may find the writing too overblown? and I know there will be a fair few people annoyed by the ending. I am choosing to overlook these niggling problems and give The Secret Scripture the thumbs up for shortlisting.
4 / 5
(I rather liked this picture (stolen from the Boston Globe? review of the novel… )
Shoreline at Strandhill, Sligo. (mik997 FlickR)
Other Blogger reviews :
Faber and Faber podcast interview with Barry - This is very good!
Next Up : The Lost Dog
Trevor Berrett said,
August 13, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I’m glad that I still have this book coming up in my booker queu. I’ve only been moderately pleased with what I’ve read so far – though now I’m reading A Fraction of the Whole and it’s very refreshing!
redheadrambles said,
August 14, 2008 at 9:51 am
I have been shying away from A Fraction of the Whole because of it’s size but if it makes the shortlist I may change my mind. I will be interested in your opinion on The Secret Scripture…so far it is my pick but then I have only read 2!
CB James said,
August 23, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Maybe I’ll give it a try. I’ve not had much luck with this years long list. They’ve tended towards the four out of five star ranking. I’m still waiting for a five star Booker nominee.
redheadrambles said,
August 24, 2008 at 7:14 am
CB – I agree, this years crop does appear to be below the standard of previous years, of the ones of have read, nothing has really rocked my world, unfortunately. Now I really would like to get back to my normal reading schedule…
2008 Booker shortlist announced « RedHead Ramble said,
September 9, 2008 at 1:59 pm
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