Mothers and Sons

Reviews

“In all the wise, tender and illuminating stories to be found in this collection, [Tóibín] aims simply to show how, for better or for worse, the bond between mother and son is as inexplicable as it is unbreakable.”

“Tóibín is a writer of extraordinary emotional clarity…These are beautiful stories, beautifully crafted.”

“Gerard Doyle’s introspective and masterful reading of most of Tóibín’s short stories is nearly perfect…Doyle phrases the stories carefully in order to highlight the rich nuances and stark lighting and scenery…Tóibín’s consummate writing skills are not to be missed by lovers of serious literature.”

“Longing, frustrated expectations and an offhandedly gorgeous Ireland run steadily throughout…Wistful, touching and complex, these stories form a panoramic portrait of loss.”

“[Tóibín’s] exacting control over both form and material never varies…his adaptability in writing short or long, and in working with characters far different from one another, is astonishing…[A] rich but supple prose style seals each story’s—and thus the collection’s—absolute success.”

“This outstanding collection will be deeply satisfying if you love literary fiction. Gerard Doyle does the best and apparently hardest thing for a narrator: He makes himself invisible so that the stories come alive for the listener, seemingly without an intermediary between the ear and the author…Doyle brings them alive with gravity and respect, exciting wonder at the emotional complexity of ordinary lives. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

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