Tipperary

by Frank Delaney

It's a long way to Tipperary, and it took a long time to read this book!

This dense historical novel takes place in late 19th and early 20th century Ireland. Charles O'Brien is a gentleman and healer, and he is madly in love with two things: Tipperary Castle (and Ireland in general) and April Burke. When April Burke takes possession of the castle, Charles becomes even more obsessed and manages to help April restore the big house to its former glory. But that doesn't make her love him. Or even like him.

More than anything, this is a love story about O'Brien and Ireland and Tipperary Castle. It is told (mainly) from two points of view: O'Brien's and the present day narrator's. And our latter narrator becomes a part of the story as well.

This novel is dense and slow. I'm not sure how or why I finished it. But I did.

12/18/07