Heart, Be at Peace
By Donal Ryan

I have been meaning to read something by Donal Ryan for ages. Although this is a sequel or companion piece to The Spinning Heart, it stands up well on it's own. It's a slim book but it packs a punch.

With an authentic Limerick, Clare, Tipperary setting, it is told from the perspective of 21 locals, each one distinctive, but with interconnecting elements. Each vignette is told in first person, so the effect is rather like gleaning gossip about the hinterland and it's inhabitants, and it's only through putting all the pieces together that you find out the more complete story of this community.

The writing is wonderful, elegant and shrewd. Ryan has a similar style to Anne Enright, where the characters profiles develop with each perspective you hear from. He has a distinctly Irish flair and would appeal to anyone who loves Niall Williams, Niamh Mulvey, Joseph O'Connor,
Kevin Barry.

I really like the sense of time and place he achieves, the social commentary he highlights and the gently structured narrative arc. This makes me want to explore this author's backlist. Highly recommend.

Publication date: 8th August 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #randomhouseuk for the eGalley

It was a confusing tale with an explosive ending.
After reading the early information about this book, I was expecting a literary feast, but sadly, it didn't reach form the high level I was anticipating. The fact that what is 3ssentially twenty-one short stories was highlighted at the start, but for me, it was difficult to find any coherence. There is a lot of rural Irish dialect used that I didn't have any problems with. Perhaps if I had read the author's previous book in the same location, then I might have related to this more than did.
The book is well written, albeit in a very unconventional style. It has some memorable points of interest and will undoubtedly appeal to some, but not to me.

This is like a big jigsaw with each character’s story adding to the picture and you can hear the characters talking in your head as you read. The only difficulty I had was sorting out who is who and how they all fit together. Maybe an idea to jot down names as you read? It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book though.

This is the first book I’ve read by Donal Ryan and I am completely smitten.
I love his writing style - with each character having their own chapter and the story gradually emerges from the perspectives and dialogues of each of the characters, who are all so beautifully and simply drawn .
Wonderful!

Thankfully this book can be read as a stand alone or as a companion piece to The Spinning Heart - a book I've not yet read.

Heart, Be At Peace is yet another example of stunning Irish literature. For me, it felt close to home because I've spent a lot of time on the west coast of that beautiful country and the characters are echoed in so many people I've met over time.

This short book is the story of small town Ireland told by its inhabitants in 21 different voices although all the stories intersect at various points. That makes it sound a little clinical but that's far from the truth. The writing is gentle, beautiful, lyrical and evocative whilst having flashes of violence, grief and pain. Donal Ryan manages to weave this intricate portrait of a town using many different voices but the whole is just as cohesive as a tale told by one person.

All of the voices are relevant but some stuck with me more than others - the stories of Denis and Triona are wonderful but Kate's was by far my favourite. (I swear it's not just the name).

Stunning. Highly recommended.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Random House UK for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

'Heart, be at Peace' follows on from 'The Spinning Heart' but is set 10 years later. The problems of the Celtic tiger are more or less over and now Ireland is dealing with the influx of drugs to it's villages. The book is again told from the point of view of different voices who are all residents of a small village. I definitely think it helps to have read the first book for the back story of the narrators. It is a very sensitive book and one can't help but feel involved in the characters lives. The only disappointment I had was the ending which seemed quite abrupt. I would certainly recommend reading this book but preferably in conjunction with it's partner The Spinning Heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

If my blogging has been marked by anything this year, it is been debut authors, it I’ve also read a number of books by Irish writers. Ryan seems to be popular, the writing is efficient enough. It seems to be a state of the nation novel, which is a trend in Irish fiction as the country itself sails into uncharted waters.

It seems, at times to be an indentikit of what an Irish novel looks like in 2024 (the first person narrative of Orla Mackay’s Mouthing), the reflection of Irish history to predict it’s future (Niamh Mulvey’s The Ammendments, one of the best novels this year). It’s also got some of Roddy Doyle’s sardonic wit and a little hint of Anne Enright’s Kubrickian aloofness.

The narrative, however seems loose, disconnected. There’s the odd current of darker waters, but it’s a short novel, in a year of short novels; that doesn’t always have the literary weight that it’s aiming for. It’s published by Random House on 8th August and I thank them for a preview copy. #heartbeatpeace.

Donal Ryan writes beautifully about things that can be quite ugly.
This short novel, is a string of linked points of view from 21 characters.
It is a follow up from Ryan's debut novella This Spinning Heart, and revisits his characters 10 years on..
Ryan has a gift for language with phrases that stay in the heart long after one has finished the book.
Our book group recently discussed Ryan's novels and, while some members found some of his writing uncomfortable in parts, all agreed that this is a writer of great skill with a talent for writing lyrically even when the subject matter may be dark in parts. Many members are now looking forward to the publication of this latest title.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, for an earc of this latest , beautifully crafted piece of writing from Donal Ryan.

Brilliant novel, each chapter narrated in the voice of a different character. Simple and emotional with clever writing about rural Ireland.

This is another good read by the author. I love how he seems to get right into the heads of all the characters. Every chapter is written from points of view of different characters, all slightly linked but with their own individual stories to tell. It is very clever writing and skilful plotting. A good follow up to The Spinning Heart 10 years later. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Heart Be at Peace is the follow up to Donal Ryan's 2012 novel, The Spinning Heart. Set ten years later, this book revisits many of the same characters and introduces us to some new ones.

Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, 21 in total, however each chapter is cleverly intertwined , grounded in a central storyline. It's a short book at approximately 200 pages however speaks volumes more.

I'm a long time fan of this author's work. His writing sings to my soul and this book is everything I expected it to be. It is beautiful; lyrical, slow, rhythmic and incredibly moving. The characters lift off the pages and I felt their feelings; their pain, their loss, their hope and love. The observations are astute, powerful in their simplicity and I loved every single word. This is one of my favourite lines......

“You can do things that seem impossible if you believe truly and with your whole heart.”

Out on 8th August, I'm excited for all of you yet to read it.

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐁𝐞 𝐀𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 | 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 | 𝟑*

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
⟡ Literary fiction
⟡ Ireland setting
⟡ Told through 12 voices

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Firstly, this was described as able to read as a standalone but I totally disagree. It can be read as a standalone in the technical sense but I definitely recommend reading The Spinning Heart first. I haven’t read TSH and I could tell I was missing way too much context and character dynamics to truly understand what was going on in the story.

Even though it’s a short novel, it took me ages to get through it. Or it felt like it did. I think it was because I found myself either continuously rereading pages over and over again or completely zoned out from the book. Again, I think that missing context is absolutely crucial. I had no prior emotional connection to the characters and whilst the writing is, of course, amazing and emotionally provocative, it just was not happening for me.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Beautifully written, thoughtful and enlightening. I sped through this cover to cover, a really good, honest, hard worked on novel. Enjoyed immensely.

In some ways Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan feels like a series of short stories but the links between all of the characters is very cleverly woven.

Taking as his central story the effects of the drugs trade on an Irish town, the impact on all 21 characters in vastly different ways is beautifully done. Each character has a very distinct voice and although all of their individual sections are short, they come immediately to life with a history and personality of their own. Only the central characters running the trade remain shadowy and distant throughout.

Ryan’s writing is wonderful and flows completely naturally – this is apparently a companion piece to his debut novella, The Spinning Heart, so I will certainly be seeking that out to read more about this community. It’s been a few days since I finished this but it’s stuck in my head and I want to go back and reread it almost immediately as it feels as though those earlier chapters and characters will look different in the light of what follows. A truly beautiful book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

A fantastic series of slightly connected stories set in Ireland. I haven’t read this author’s previous book The Spinning Heart(this is the companion piece to it) but I certainly will be. A wide range of characters each have a story of their own. I found the language came alive on the page. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan revisits the characters of his debut novella, The Spinning Heart, and is every bit as beautifully written and well observed. Set a decade after the events of The Spinning Heart , the small community has weathered the economic storms but now faces a new threat in the form of the drug trade that has spread widely across the country. Through the stories of twenty one characters we see how lives are interconnected as story threads weave together. I can see how the idea of 21 characters could be off putting to some readers, especially if they haven't read the earlier book, but Ryan has a peerless way with characterisation and voice and he is at the height of his powers here. The skill with which he uses the dynamics and relationships between characters to not only reveal the plot but also explore different aspects of the characters is nothing short of masterful. There was a narrative throughline that flowed no matter which character's perspective we are reading and each of the characters had a distinctive voice that made them feel very real and very true to life in rural and small town Ireland. Not a single word is wasted in this slim book, the sparse prose is beautiful, memorable and often thought provoking like : “You can’t just go about your business as before when someone you love departs: the dead take something of the world with them, something of your being, because they were part of your being.”
I loved The Spinning Heart and I approached this book with equal parts anticipation and trepidation, but I need not have worried, Donal Ryan has once again produced a book that has a special place in my heart.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

An Irish community seen through 21 diverse characters , from Lily (a witch) to Vasya, who lives off-grid and is given food and shelter by another villager. They all have different perspectives on life. Many have problems in their relationships and are trying to improve things. Gradually their stories link up so you get a sense of the whole community. It would be better to read The Spinning Heart first, which introduces most of the characters.

Donal Ryan never disappoints. I hadn't realised it was linked the The Spinning Heart so it was a wonderful surprise to re-visit people and places. As always, the story is told in an engaging, beautiful-written but raw way. I particularly loved how the characters connected to each other. It's one of those books that you read slowly, to savour. Really well done.

I haven’t read The Spinning Heart which provides the backstory to this novel, or any of Ryan’s previous work. Though I was drawn by the potential of discovering the warmth, wit, lyrical writing, superb storytelling, and compelling characterisation I’ve found in other Irish literature. This novel has them all in spades.

Related through the eyes of 21 different but Interlinked people, the author skilfully weaves a fine web of nuanced narrative via poetic, pared down prose that crackles with feeling. A heart cannot be at peace while reading it because we become heavily invested in the individual characters and the outcome of what they’re experiencing.

It all takes place in a small Irish town that has slowly built itself back up after weathering a devastating economic collapse. Their peace is now being threatened by a new menace sucking young people into its deadly trap. Will the townsfolk tackle the trouble themselves or watch helplessly as a new generation folds in on itself?

I especially enjoyed the author’s observational gems, such as: “Goodness is a hard thing to define. It’s inexpressible in its nature. I’d say that’s the right word anyway. You can only know it from what you sense about a person, and not just their deeds.”

And I was moved by the raw truth of this: “You can’t just go about your business as before when someone you love departs: the dead take something of the world with them, something of your being, because they were part of your being.”

It’s a novel that would benefit from a binge read, rather than savouring small snippets, to make it easier to keep track of the narrative and interwoven characters. Kudos to Donal Ryan for a brilliantly written book that worms its way into the heart. Grateful thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC.

Heart Be At Peace - Donal Ryan

The inhabitants of a small town in rural Ireland have recovered from the financial crash and subsequent fallout by and large, but now face another huge challenge. Through 21 characters we see how drugs have taken hold in the local area and the ripple effect of this throughout the entire community.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, but a bit nervous too because I loved The Spinning Heart SO much... I needn't have worried, this one is every bit as wonderful! Donal Ryan has such a gift with characters, but also writing evocative almost poetic prose which manages to be spare, not a single word wasted, and yet take your breath away at regular intervals. Fabulous, writer, fabulous book - very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.