Synopsis
Nearing her one-hundredth birthday, Roseanne McNulty faces an uncertain future, as the Roscommon Regional Mental hospital where she's spent the best part of her adult life prepares for closure. Over the weeks leading up to this upheaval, she talks often with her psychiatrist Dr Grene, and their relationship intensifies and complicates. Told through their respective journals, the story that emerges is at once shocking and deeply beautiful. Refracted through the haze of memory and retelling, Roseanne's story becomes an alternative, secret history of Ireland's changing character and the story of a life blighted by terrible mistreatment and ignorance, and yet marked still by love and passion and hope.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Faber & Faber
- ISBN: 9780571215287
- Number of pages: 320
- Dimensions: 239 x 158 mm
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Couldn't put down
I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. The only reason it has 4 stars rather than 5 is that I found the conclusion d... READ MORE
Predictable.
An okay read with a few interesting moments of humour, sadness and utter tragedy, on the whole though very predictable. I guessed the ending about a third ... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
While I wouldn't class this as the most enjoyable book I('ve read in recent times, it's certainly among the most riveting. The story is one of an old lady,... READ MORE
Just okay
I was excited to read this book but I'd have to say I was disappointed. Somehow there just didn't seem to be enough of a story, or perhaps the characters j... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
Winner Irish Fiction 2009Book Review of The Secret Scripture by Annette Dunlea This book is now available in paperback, published by Faber and Faber and it... READ MORE
A dissapointing read
I was really looking forward to reading this, but was very dissapointed. It became very obvious what the ending was going to be - and all very unrealistic.
Unputdownable!!!
A great story. Every spare minute I picked up the book and couldn't wait to get to the end, but when I had finished it I missed it, but good stories are li... READ MORE
the Secret Scripture
Not a fullfilling read at all. I hate not finishing books but I couldnt even make it halfway thgrough this one. i found the story quite boring & very diffi... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
Its extremely well written, very intriguing, and captures you throughout,although a very depressing story, and not one to read to lift your mood.
An emotional read
I actually really enjoyed this book. It is difficult to describe why as it is the most gripping or exciting book, but I found the main Roseanne's story com... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
Unfortunately, I really didn't get this book. I bought it on a whim as it was number 1 in the chart, and was really looking forward to getting stuck in. A... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
It is true that a few things can be guessed from half way through the book. I felt engaged at some points and I some other points i felt like the book was ... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
I enjoyed reading this book very much! The language is very rich, writing style quite difficult yet it reads brilliantly. The plot is very interesting, I w... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
The ending of this book saved it for me. I was expecting it to be amazing due to it's winning an award, but I found it dull in some places to be honest. I'... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
Although this was a beautifully written book, and I was gripped for the first half or so, I thought that the ending was really disappointing, as I had gues... READ MORE
Disappoiningly flat
The psychiatrist Dr Grene and his elderly patient Roseanne McNulty are the two voices in this novel which opens prior to the closure of a large old fashion... READ MORE
Sympathetically written
I LOVED this book, but I can understand why if if were not some readers cup of tea. Barry has taken a highly sensiteve subject and woven a charmingly movin... READ MORE
thoroughly recommended
This book is beautifully written, allowing real insight of the characters and how their lives and actions influence one another. You will not be disappoint... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
Sebastian Barry's lyrical prose presents an endearing, mesmerising, triangulated tale of a young Presbyterian woman, whose life has been blighted by Cathol... READ MORE
The second novel in the 'McNulty' trilogy
Having just finished a back-to-back reading of all three novels in Sebastian Barry’s ‘McNulty’ trilogy, I thought I’d pen a few words for a review. I don’t... READ MORE
The Secret Scripture
Between The Covers - Series 3 Book
I would never have bought this book if it hadn't features on between the covers, always enjoy recommendations.
This very much features on a patient who has... READ MORE
Not my cup of tea
I worked as a nurse in a psychiatric hospital and there were many patients who had been admitted as 'imbeciles' or similar. One of the patients I remember ... READ MORE
A good read
Roseanne McNulty is nearing her 100th birthday and has spent several decades in the Roscommon Psychiatric Hospital after being committed early in life. H... READ MORE
Brilliant Irish fiction
The Secret Scripture is the seventh stand-alone novel by Irish author, Sebastian Barry. Against the background of the imminent closure of an Irish mental f... READ MORE
Devastating and haunting
Roseanne McNulty is a remarkable woman, and an interesting narrator. To have endured the life that she has, being sectioned for over half of her extremely ... READ MORE
Comforting and reflective
A beautifully written reflective story, Roseanne looking back at the century of her life, alongside the caring Dr Grene. Their two stories run side by side... READ MORE
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