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sohara6's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in a while. Depressing, bleak, unsparing, yes, but so well written, paced, and structured.
eleganthedgehogs's review against another edition
2nd of 3 lonely spinster books. Very sad. Not loved. Brilliant characterisation thought some. Why do men think they can write about lonely women. Who writes about lonely men. 3@5 1@ 6.5 (S) 1@ 6 - or 9 depending on how Heatherbell viewed it 3@8 1 DNR
elbarton312's review against another edition
5.0
Depressing as all out, but what a story teller! Brian Moore is fantastic.
kboubel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ingridostby's review against another edition
5.0
This book is at times darkly humorous, and other times so damn sad I could hardly believe I was interested. Depressing books that are depressing for no good reason, I hate. But this, this book presented a character with whom I had nearly nothing in common and, despite that, I felt for her, I loved her, even though I knew she was hopeless. Even when I found her mishaps excruciatingly sad and humiliating. It's hard to put into words how this book immerses you without completely draining you. It has something to do with the richness of each character (especially Ms. Hearne, of course) and the depth and detail and personality of the story telling. You definitely become part of Judith Hearne's world, every bit of it. You practically feel like a gossipy citizen of the small Irish town by the time you're through.
With that said, I'm going to quote the best damn review of this book that ever existed (by Goodreads member Hannah Messler):
"Oh sweet lord if there is a more excruciatingly, exquisitely, exactingly, deliriously wretched little book out there, I don't think I could even handle it.
What an absolute motherfucking masterpiece."
With that said, I'm going to quote the best damn review of this book that ever existed (by Goodreads member Hannah Messler):
"Oh sweet lord if there is a more excruciatingly, exquisitely, exactingly, deliriously wretched little book out there, I don't think I could even handle it.
What an absolute motherfucking masterpiece."
onion_budgie's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
macwoods's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Pretty damn depressing. Follows the tragic life of a single woman in her forties in Belfast. Not sure of the era, but maybe the 50s? She's trapped in class and religious expectations. <Spoiler> Ends up also being a drunk. </Spoiler> Very well written, from different perspectives, with different voices, but just a dismal story. Reminds me of the impression I got in reading the Overcoat.
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
4.0
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The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne is about Judith Hearne, an unmarried woman in her early forties who had just spent the last two decades caring for her infirmed aunt. Now that her aunt has passed away, she’s ready to carve out a path for herself. This should have been the beginning of the rest of her life — or at least that was the plan. Without education and a promising suitor, Hearne is left with just the straws she grasps in her hands.
This book resonated because I have been thinking a lot about the multiple identities we take on as individuals. It’s fine if you identify the most with your job or being a spouse, but what happens if you lose your job? What happens if the marriage fails? When so much of who you are is dependent on those identities, what happens when they are suddenly stripped away?
For decades, Hearne too had two identities: a caregiver and a Catholic. This book is about what happens when these identities are taken away, what happens when you attempt to fill the hole with alcohol, as well as what happens when even your faith — the one thing that should remain steadfast — is shaken by doubt.
I also love Moore’s criticism of the treatment of women at the time, how little education they were afforded, since they were meant for marriage anyway. Moore also has scathing things to say about the Catholic Church, not as a religion per se, but as an institution, and how prayer was the end-all-be-all cure for mental health issues.
I didn’t quite expect this book to take the turns that it did, but I am glad where it ended up. It’s not the most uplifting book, but it has such an important, potent message to say.
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne is about Judith Hearne, an unmarried woman in her early forties who had just spent the last two decades caring for her infirmed aunt. Now that her aunt has passed away, she’s ready to carve out a path for herself. This should have been the beginning of the rest of her life — or at least that was the plan. Without education and a promising suitor, Hearne is left with just the straws she grasps in her hands.
This book resonated because I have been thinking a lot about the multiple identities we take on as individuals. It’s fine if you identify the most with your job or being a spouse, but what happens if you lose your job? What happens if the marriage fails? When so much of who you are is dependent on those identities, what happens when they are suddenly stripped away?
For decades, Hearne too had two identities: a caregiver and a Catholic. This book is about what happens when these identities are taken away, what happens when you attempt to fill the hole with alcohol, as well as what happens when even your faith — the one thing that should remain steadfast — is shaken by doubt.
I also love Moore’s criticism of the treatment of women at the time, how little education they were afforded, since they were meant for marriage anyway. Moore also has scathing things to say about the Catholic Church, not as a religion per se, but as an institution, and how prayer was the end-all-be-all cure for mental health issues.
I didn’t quite expect this book to take the turns that it did, but I am glad where it ended up. It’s not the most uplifting book, but it has such an important, potent message to say.