In the Season of the Daisies

By Tom Phelan

Book Overview

One night in 1921 an IRA action went wrong. A young boy, Willie Doolin, was violently murdered before his twin brother's eyes. The story of that night unfolds like a mystery, revealing the sins of the past and the legacy left for the surviving twin, Seanie Doolin - a man-child tortured and insane with grief - and the upstanding citizens involved: a butcher, a schoolteacher, a doctor, a shopkeeper, and a priest. With the passage of time, the buried past resurfaces. Seanie Doolin roams the shadowy streets serving as a constant reminder of that fateful night. Doctor McKenna slides into an alcoholic stupor; merchant Peetie Mahon, an ominous force, continues to torment the crazed Seanie. John Cashin hides his guilt behind a wall of sanctity; and Father Quinn remains oblivious to the town's unraveling and greedily hordes his parishioners' tithes to build a monument to the church and to himself.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568581084
• ISBN13: 9781568581088
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Four Walls Eight Windows
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Great symbolism, Lyrical and Powerful

A wonderful and provocative book although some may find the subject matter a bit too rough for light reading. The book combines a graceful lyricism with a whole variety of interesting symbolism that demonstrates a depth of human understanding. One curious example would be the character of Ms. Bevan who connotes pure compassion and understanding; a true Madonna figure. She is modern, monied, dignified and thought to be Protestant by everyone in town, which she is not. This subtle reflection of Irish self-loathing and the fact that Mr. Sheehan, a suffering moral hero, is the only one capable of even speaking to her makes an interesting commentary. Also of note is the book's ambiguous treatment of Irish Republicanism. IRA members are all damaged characters suffering from their involvement and regretful, neurotic or base and ruthless in the extreme. It is fundamentally a romantic novel whereby the enviable qualities are of a personal nature and "collective" ideals are misguided and taken-up by unfortunate rabble and impetuous youth. Who is responsible for Willie's death? The English, the IRA, all who where present, only those in favour of the killing, the village that reared the killers? The verdict seems to be that all are guilty, the pain is real and the living suffer most.

This book was a little hard but overall great !!

I think this book started out a little hard to understand and take in, but once you got down and started reading it, it grabbed you and sucked you in. It was well written and it gave you an idea of grief and love. I think anyone who hasn't read the book should.

Touching and provocative

Being somewhat of an "Americanized" European expatriate, I've always had trouble understanding the passion and connections inherent to that mysteriously unique Irish sensibility. Perhaps it has something to do with the vast ocean separating the U.S. and Europe. Mr. Phelan's book is so touching, so powerful, I was moved to tears at one point. It's a deeply emotional account of one boy's personal tragedy... and coming out of it feels like coming off a long and painful relationship gone wrong. I'm grateful for having read it, and even more grateful to Mr. Phelan for writing it, but I hope I never suffer as much in my lifetime as little Seanie Doolin.A great read, and suprising page-turner .. an absolutely unforgettable narrative. At times it reminded me (vaguely) of William Faulkner.

Chosen for "Discover Great New Writers"

Barnes & Noble selected IN THE SEASON OF THE DAISIES for its "Discover Great New Writers" program. Publisher's Weekly (1996) called IN THE SEASON... a "powerful novel" and awarded it a starred review. Library Journal (1993) said "This first novel, an unforgettable exploration of the shattering effects of violence, belongs in most fiction collections." The Irish Times (1993) said "Phelan has taken a...theme, the slaughter of innocence, and turned it into something you won't forget for a very long time." Books Ireland said "This is a work of such might and muscle....Buy it."

One of the most powerful books I have ever read.

One of the most powerful books I have ever read. Irish novelist and former priest Tom Phelan has had two novels published in Ireland, and IN THE SEASON OF THE DAISIES, first published in Dublin in '93, has finally made it to U.S. bookshelves. Run, don't walk, to your bookstore. A brilliant work by an immense talent