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Stunning, atmospheric, and captivating: The Coast Road

In 1994 Ireland, Alan Murrin's novel, The Coast Road, spins a tale filled with tension, animosity, and longing.

Coastal Route: rugged, dramatic, and charming
Coastal Route: rugged, dramatic, and charming

Stunning, atmospheric, and captivating: The Coast Road

In the windswept Irish village of County Donegal, set against the backdrop of the Irish referendum on the legalization of divorce in 1994, Alan Murrin's novel "The Coast Road" unfolds. This compelling and suspenseful work, penned by the Irish author who resides in Berlin, delves into the intricate web of resentments, repressed desires, friendships, and faltering marriages.

The story revolves around Colette Crowley, a poet and bohemian who abandoned her family to pursue a relationship with a married man in Dublin. Her return to her hometown, however, is met with resistance, particularly from her estranged husband who denies her access to their children.

Colette's quest to reclaim her life and connection with her children leads to a complex friendship with Izzy, a local housewife and mother. This friendship unfolds into a journey of self-discovery and tragedy, as both women navigate the social constraints within their closed community and the consequences of going against societal norms.

"The Coast Road" was released in May 2024 and has been praised for its sharp literary observations. It has gained popularity on social media platforms like Instagram, where it has been recommended as a contemporary novel that underscores the costs of seeking freedom. The book is published by Bloomsbury and is priced at approximately €15.99.

In essence, "The Coast Road" is a novel that offers a personal and political perspective, using the intimate experiences of women in a small Irish town to reflect on broader social changes around divorce and women's autonomy in mid-1990s Ireland. The prose of the novel is moody, striking, and lovely, mirroring the rugged Atlantic coast of County Donegal.

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