About this deal
A gripping yarn: a Christian Castaway 2000; a Lord God Almighty of the Flies. Slowly, skilfully Donoghue builds a sense of brooding intensity ... what elevates her book above a theological thriller is the way she links Artt’s arrogance with the contemporary plundering of the Earth’s resources.' - The Big Issue
Haven by Emma Donoghue — island of doubts and demons Haven by Emma Donoghue — island of doubts and demons
Picture the scene: seventh-century Ireland, three men alone on an island off the west coast, winter coming in, rations depleted, birds gone south, no equipment to fish and constant hunger, which will bring, imminently, the promise of starvation and death.Her novel The Wonder was a finalist for the 2016 Scotiabank Giller Prize and more recently, The Pull of the Stars was longlisted for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize and shortlisted for the Trillium Book Award. I struggled to get into Haven. I requested this one based on the author. However, it is very different from her other books. While I enjoyed slower pace stories, I found it hard to stay focused on the story. I wanted to enjoy the themes explored here but lost interest because of the achingly slow pace. I kept thinking about all the other books I would rather be reading and gave up 50%.
Haven by Emma Donoghue review – religious zeal meets
Robust evidence of her vast imagination and continued efforts to explore human psychology in the strangest of circumstances.' - Reaction A guest arrives at an Irish monastery. His name is Artt and he is known as a blessed man and scholar. While visiting, he has a dream that he leaves this place with two of the brothers, one young one old, and they row on the river out to the sea and on south until they find an island, the right island, to found their community. He is granted his wish to follow this dream, ask these two brothers to pledge obedience to him and receives needed supplies. Artt will be the Prior with Cormac and Trian as the brothers who pledge fealty.Brownrigg, Sylvia (22 July 2007). "In-Flight Moves". The New York Times . Retrieved 5 October 2009.