Reading
in the Dark by Seamus Deane
Carol Gallagher
Loreto CS, Milford
As story lines go, this has
got to be one of the most emotive and enticing ever written by Seamus
Deane, which makes it almost impossible to put down. It is set in Derry
in the 1940's and 50's, and deals with issues like political violence
in Northern Ireland and the divisions within communities, but it mainly
deals with family relationships and the grief they cause. This narrative
piece has two faces, one that is of everyday life and another that explores
secrets between family members. This novel will interest a wide range
of readers, as the characters are easy to relate to which makes it an
unforgettable read and leaves you wanting more.
This novel is based on a child
growing up in a divided community and a family who can't communicate with
one another. Throughout the novel the child’s innocence can be seen in
his description of events and his attention to small irrelevant details
that only a child would notice. The first few chapters are snap shots
of his family life and we are given a small insight into his love for
reading. His mother is a very religious woman who has strong beliefs in
spiritual happenings. It is in the first few chapters that we are given
the first hint of a family secret involving Uncle Eddie, who is no longer
living in Northern Ireland. Throughout the novel the boy tries to piece
together the information he has heard about his Uncle Eddie from different
people in the community.
The boy is sent to look after
his grandfather - his mother’s father - for a period of time. It is during
this stay that the grandfather tells him the full story about Eddie. Up
until now the story was that Eddie was an informer and he had to leave
the country as a consequence. The boy's father was ashamed of Eddie. The
boys Aunt Katie - his mother’s sister - was only just married to McIlhenny
when he left her and their child and immigrated to America. Eddie was
in fact innocent and it was McIlhenny who was the real informer. The boy
is shocked by this revelation and he realises that he shares this secret
with only his mother. He is unable to talk to his mother or father, as
he is not even supposed to know about it.
It is at this stage that we
see just how weak the relationship is between the boy’s parents. His mother
won't even tell her husband the truth about Eddie; she just lets him believe
that he was an informer. After the mother realises her son knows this
secret too, she becomes seriously ill from all the worry and stress. She
cuts herself off from her family and refuses to talk to anyone. The young
boy is left feeling guilty that his mother is ill, he has no one to talk
to about this, which makes the reader have great pity for him.
The boy’s mother treats him
differently to her other children, she excludes him from family chores
and she won't talk to him. The boy’s father is worried about the effect
this will have on him so he spends a lot of time with him and as a result
of this the relationship between the father and son becomes stronger and
they become very close.
Towards the end of the novel
the mother’s health does improve slightly and she asks her son, who is
now grown up, to leave home and not come back.
She is honest and tells him
that she can't live a normal life when he is there to constantly remind
her of the secret she is keeping from his father.
The boy leaves for university
in Belfast but he does return home to visit. He is deeply saddened to
see his mother so upset and still living with this guilt. The boy wishes
that they could love each other like they used to but he knows that is
not possible. On the night his father dies the boy hears his mother sigh
in her sleep, he hopes that she finally can relax and be relieved of all
this worry.
I personally think this is
a beautifully structured piece of work. It is heartbreaking story about
a child with an almost tragic upbringing and yet it manages to make you
laugh with its humorous little happenings from everyday life. In my opinion
nothing else matches this deeply moving and realistic portrayal of a child
growing up in Northern Ireland. I would recommend everyone to go out and
buy this book - it is a magnificent read for all ages!!!
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