Waiting on Wednesday: On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry

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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine to highlight an upcoming release we can't wait to read.
On Canaan's Side: A Novel
My pick this week is On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry. I was already eagerly awaiting its publication, but when the Booker longlist was announced yesterday, this novel jumped to the top of my pre-publication wishlist. Before yesterday, I didn't know much about it. I knew it was set in twentieth-century America and spanned a lifetime. The details make it sound even more enthralling:

"Told in the first person, as a narrative of Lilly Bere's life over seventeen days, On Canaan's Side opens as she mourns the loss of her grandson, Bill. Lilly revisits her past, going back to the moment she was forced to flee Ireland, at the end of the First World War, and continues her tale in America, a world filled with both hope and danger. At once epic and intimate, Lilly's story unfolds as she tries to make sense of the sorrows and troubles of her life and of the people whose lives she has touched. Spanning nearly seven decades, from the Great Depression to World War II and the Vietnam War, it is the heartbreaking story of a woman whose capability to love is enormous, and whose compassion, even for those who have wronged her, is astonishing."
Doesn't it sound amazing? Viking won't publish it until September 8, 2011, but you can pre-order it from Amazon now in hardback or for the Kindle.

As an affiliate, I receive a very, very small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

Comments

  1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJuly 27, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    This does sound like a terrific pick Carrie!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laurel-Rain SnowJuly 27, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    Great pick, Carrie! It looks awesome....

    Here's MY WOW POST

    ReplyDelete
  3. ZibileeJuly 27, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    This does sound like an excellent pick for you...and for me too! Thanks for sharing it with us today!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AudraJuly 27, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    You always highlight the most fascinating sounding books -- and I love this cover!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kate @Midnight Book GirlJuly 27, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Very interesting pick, and such a great blog! I'm happy to call myself a new follower.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Grace FonsecaJuly 27, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    Interesting choice. We have very different tastes, but that's okay.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dani @ Refracted LightJuly 28, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    This sounds really interesting. I love stories that explore the past especially those that center around either of the World Wars. Thank you for stopping by the blog! :)

    ReplyDelete

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