Reading guide for midwinter break by bernard maclaverty. Sep 15, 2017 midwinter break, by bernard maclaverty, cape, rrp. Midwinter break is one of the uks mostloved novels in recent years. It takes a brilliant writer indeed to spin the straw of everyday life into gold, and bernard maclaverty is such a writer. It is also a profound examination of human love and how we live together a chamber piece of resonance and power. With the ability to reveal whole lives in a short time period, bernard maclavertys wise.
Shortlisted for the 2019 international dublin literary award a wrenchingly intimate depiction of a couple in the chilly. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. In midwinter break, a novel about a longmarried couple in their twilight years, bernard maclaverty presents a world of both extreme intensity and profound silence. Different kinds of barriers are a recurring theme in midwinter break. Winner bord gais energy irish novel of the year 2018. It is about a married retired couple named gerry and stella. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty financial times. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty dutch courage a wry account of a married couples trip to amsterdam reveals a subtle feel for the ordinary share on twitter opens new window. John crowley to direct midwinter break for film4, shoebox. Sixteen years on from his last novel, bernard maclaverty reminds u. Gerry and stella escaped northern ireland decades ago by moving, like maclaverty, to scotland, but over the.
Midwinter break, by bernard maclaverty the scotsman. Through accurate, compassionate observation and effortlessly elegant writing, maclaverty reveals the longunspoken insecurities that exist between gerry and stella over their fourday holiday in. Midwinter break reads as both a summation of his themes and a remarkable late flowering. And, in that time, it could be argued that irish writers have moved. Through accurate, compassionate observation and effortlessly elegant writing, maclaverty reveals the longunspoken insecurities that exist between gerry and stella over their fourday holiday in amsterdam, crafting a profound examination of human love. Peter kemp the sunday times 16 july 2017 maclaverty makes an impressive return with midwinter break. After reading his latest, midwinter break, you wont wonder why he was shortlisted for the man booker prize for his 1997 novel, grace notes. Whats on arts and entertainment bernard maclaverty on the story behind his new novel, midwinter break it was in january 2001 that bernard maclaverty, on a city break in amsterdam with his wife. With midwinter break, a moving portrait of retired couple gerry and stella gilmores marriage in crisis, bernard maclaverty reminds us why he is regarded as one of. When the author writes that his ageing pair make love and ends the. The belfastborn writer etches an affecting portrait of a couple more than 40 years married as they confront the idea that one of them is thinking of leaving.
Midwinter break winner of novel of the year at the irish book awards 2017. His novels include lamb, cal, grace notes shortlisted for the 1997 booker prize and the anatomy school. He has been a medical laboratory technician, a mature student, a teacher of english and, for two years in the mid eighties, writerinresidence at the university of aberdeen. Bernard maclaverty is a master storyteller, and midwinter break is the essential maclaverty novel. In the case of the gilmores, the key people in bernard maclavertys midwinter break, it seems only one of the duo has this insight. Bernard maclaverty is an unshowy writer, giving us everyday life on the page.
The financial times and its journalism are subject to a selfregulation regime under the ft editorial code of. A guardian sunday times irish times herald scotland mail on sunday book of the year winner of the bord gais novel of the year midwinter break is a work of extraordinary emotional precision and sympathy, about coming to terms to an honest reckoning with love and the loss of love, with memory and pain. Forty years on from his first book, bernard maclaverty has written his masterpiece. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty miracles come in all sizes in this intense exploration of love and uncertainty during a midwinter break in amsterdam 03 january 2018. Bernard maclaverty dissects a couples relationship during a trip to amsterdam. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty librarything. At 100,000, the award is one of the richest literary prizes in the world. Meet stella and gerry gilmore, the couple at the center of bernard maclaverty s new novel, midwinter break.
Bernard maclaverty on belfasts scars and his first new. It was selected for one of the book clubs ive joined. Bernard maclaverty born 14 september 1942 is an irish writer of fiction. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty penguin books.
Maclaverty is a master storyteller, and midwinter break is the essential maclaverty novel. What are they, and how do they define the characters. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In his new novel midwinter break, the retired irish architect and lapsed catholic gerry gilmore recalls walking home with his wife, stella, the previous christmas after she had served as a eucharistic minister. Bernard maclaverty on the story behind his new novel. From the first sentences of midwinter break you know youre in the hands of a master. Shortlisted saltire scottish book of the year 2018. Film4 has acquired rights to bernard maclaverty s justpublished novel midwinter break with brooklyn helmer john crowley set to direct. It promotes excellence in world literature and is solely sponsored by dublin city council, ireland. Bernard maclaverty was born on september 14, 1942 in belfast, ireland.
Through accurate, compassionate observation and effortlessly elegant writing, maclaverty reveals the longunspoken insecurities that exist. Maclaverty is a sweetly astute writer, a master of fine detail, compassing the quotidian, the intimate and the sacred. Jul 28, 2017 midwinter break reads as both a summation of his themes and a remarkable late flowering. In bernard maclavertys novel, midwinter break, stella is intrigued by the beguines, a lay catholic sisterhood, and while she and her husband are on vacation in amsterdam she meets with a spiritual director at the begijnhof to investigate how she might become more involved. With midwinter break, a moving portrait of retired couple gerry and stella gilmores marriage in crisis, bernard maclaverty reminds us why he is regarded as one of the greatest living irish writers. I have great respect for bernard maclaverty as a writer, having read and loved cal many years ago.
Sep 07, 2017 an elderly married couple eat, drink, bicker and tease in amsterdam on a january weekend break in bernard mclavertys fluent and absorbing tale, the authors first novel in sixteen years. The awardwinning irish novelist bernard maclaverty is a master at revealing a universe in just a few words. In his jacket endorsement for bernard maclavertys midwinter break, the celebrated american novelist richard ford describes the new book as muchanticipated. Bernard maclaverty is an unshowy writer, giving us. Bernard maclaverty is a master storyteller, and midwinter break is the essential maclaverty novel accurate, compassionate observation, effortlessly elegant writing and a tender, intimate, heartrending story but it is also a profound examination of human love and how we live together, a chamber piece of real resonance and power. Midwinter break is the awardwinning, booker prizenominated maclaverty s first novel for 16 years.
I have great respect for bernard maclaverty as a writer. Gerry and stella gilmore are taking a short trip to amsterdam. If you could sum up midwinter break in three words, what would they. Jul 31, 2017 midwinter break by bernard maclaverty will be published by jonathan cape on 3 august. There is a lot of peace and tranquility in terms of the way bernard maclaverty has written this lovely novel. On bernard maclavertys midwinter break the quietus. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty overdrive rakuten.
He has been writing for 40 years and has produced five collections of chekhovian short stories. Midwinter break is his fifth novel in 40 years, and his first in 16. Midwinter break is a fine novel from mclaverty who came to attention with the novels cal and lamb, but it has its flaws. May 04, 2018 theres an oftquoted comment that only the people involved really know what is going in any relationship. Midwinter break international dublin literary award. Aug 23, 2017 meet stella and gerry gilmore, the couple at the center of bernard maclaverty s new novel, midwinter break. A wry account of a married couples trip to amsterdam reveals a subtle feel for the. Jan 29, 2018 bernard maclaverty shows a couple out of their element, so everything they see is something to note and enjoy maclaverty may be one of the last writers who can tell us what it is like to be a true catholic midwinter break is a touching, hopeful portrait of loves complexity, written by a master craftsman, from the fullness of his. Richard ford, author of the sportswriter and independence day maclaverty is a sweetly astute writer, a master of fine detail, compassing the quotidian, the intimate, and the sacred. His novels include lamb, cal, grace notes and the anatomy school. He has been a medical laboratory technician, a mature student, a teacher of english and, for two years in the mid eighties, writerin. As their midwinter break comes to an end, we understand how far apart they are. Originally from the north of ireland, they have lived much of their adult lives in.
Anne enright this warm, intimate portrait of ageing love is one of the wittiest, wisest novels of. As their midwinter break comes to an end, we understand how far apart they are and can only watch as they struggle to save themselves. Reading guide for midwinter break by bernard maclaverty discussion guide for book clubs. He is a writer and director, known for byechild 2003, cal 1984 and midwinter break. A novel hardcover august 22, 2017 by bernard maclaverty author. Browse bernard maclaverty s bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Bernard maclaverty audio books, best sellers, author bio. This tender, affecting novel takes place over several days when gerry and stella gilmore fly. An elderly married couple eat, drink, bicker and tease in amsterdam on a january weekend break in bernard mclavertys fluent and absorbing tale, the authors first novel in sixteen years, now out. Stella looks at her reflection close up, her selfimage shaped by the way her husband has left the mirror.
An elderly couple remember their past and face up to the. Aug 16, 2017 bernard maclaverty on the story behind his new novel, midwinter break bernard maclaverty moved from northern ireland to scotland in 1975 and thetroubles lie behind all of his novels. Exploring the mystery of a long, challenged marriage the. Midwinter break is a touching, hopeful portrait of loves complexity, written by a master craftsman, from the fullness of his heart. This ostensibly simplystructured story takes place between gerry and stella over a long weekend trip to amsterdam. It won novel of the year at the irish book awards in 2017 and last month maclaverty was voted writer of the year at the scottish culture awards he lives in glasgow but hes from northern ireland. Bernard maclaverty on the story behind his new novel, midwinter break bernard maclaverty moved from northern ireland to scotland in 1975. Seamus heaney recorded ulsters tribal butchery in great poetry. This tale of two ordinary pensioners satisfies in ways that a really good book should. Midwinter break shows us how ordinary and immense love can be. Hes not what youd call prolific, bernard maclaverty. An intense exploration of love and uncertainty when a longmarried couple take a midwinter break in amsterdam 5. Midwinter break by bernard maclaverty penguin books new zealand. Bernard maclaverty is a master storyteller, and this is the essential maclaverty novel.
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