“The prose is rich,” says the critic. And the Pacific is wet. The prose rises off the page in a fierce embrace of the reader’s heart and spirit; the prose cannot be contained by ink and paper, and the reader, if possessed of any remnant…
Apr 12, 2023jcamenga rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
My wife and I watched a televised version of this book, which inspired me to read the book. It takes place in Ireland during the 20s to the present during a time of strife in the country. The main character, Roseanne McNulty, is living out…
Jan 20, 2021Jenkskitten rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I finally finished the book! The story is great if you can find it in the author's wordy telling. It rambles through the first three quarters of the book. I was tempted so often to just give up. Each chapter has just a hint or two…
Aug 04, 2020mamalainewagener rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Barry's story crept up on me; it wasn't till I got to the end that I fully appreciated the writing and the philosophy behind the story. When I finished, I felt so satisfied that I started reading it again, this time writing down all the…
i
ilovebks
Jan 02, 2020ilovebks rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Fav book from 2011...recommended it to Vicki in 2013 and she said her book club rated it the best of the year
Oct 29, 2018Michaelene1 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I didn't give this book a very high rating because it seemed to move so slowly. I got much more than halfway through before I felt like it was a page turner. However, I appreciate how beautifully written the book is and the story line. I…
Oct 02, 2018Inga57 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
So, a quiet cloudy St. Paddy's day brought me to one of my favorite Irish author's, Sebastian Barry, for a second read of his book 'The Secret Scripture' which I first read back in 2013.
Then, as now, my eyes are leaking and my heart is…
Jan 08, 2016dbrh852 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I would give this gem more stars if they were available. This is a well crafted story with memorable characters and remarkably gracious prose. Barry has created a female heroine with depth, compassion and mystery. This was a sad story,…
Nov 29, 2015CmnThru rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
When visiting Ireland in 2010, a book store owner recommended Sebastian Barry's novels, so I bought and read "A Long Long Way." Loved his writing, so I read more. This is the fourth book of his I've read and loved. It had me hooked from…
Jun 09, 2015Wong_Anne rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Costa Book Award Winner – A female inmate of a hospital is nearing her 100th birthday and a young doctor seeks her history, resulting in the revelation of a shocking secret. I really enjoyed the unfolding of the story.
Dec 20, 2014Chapel_Hill_KenMc rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written study in perspective and the relative terms of sanity and mental health. Women in 1920's Ireland faced a treacherous minefield of sexual repression and two-faced codes of morality, and those who strayed could find…
May 18, 2013druby rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I found the author's writing style really difficult to read. There were many passages I had to read over and over again to understand the meaning.
Having said that I was intrigued from the start. It was interesting how Roseanne's…
J
Jane60201
Dec 26, 2012Jane60201 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A really interesting and well written book by an Irish author whom I was not aware of. Will look for more by him.
Aug 15, 2011John4516 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I stumbled upon this novel (and novelist) purely by chance. What a lucky break for me. Barry is a compelling writer with a terrific story to tell. I literally could not put it down.
Nov 14, 2010JIS1946 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I discovered this book and it's author, Sebastian Barry, by chance while listening to him being interviewed by the CBC's Eleanor Wachtel. I found the Secret Scripture to be another fascinating story of the Irish history and all it's sad…
Feb 11, 2010readtoday rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A good read overall. Sometimes there was a feeling that the author/narrator's voice was speaking rather than Roseanne; however, an ending quite unexpected. ReadToday
Comments (27)
The Secret Scripture