"clipping each word so it faced the world alone"
May 17, 2022 6:01 PM Subscribe
"I’ve no fixed place on account of I’m often late from my shift." "Churched" by Maria Farrell is a short story that is about, among other things, "the marooned generations of Irish in London – people who came over from the 1950s onward, pushed out by economic and social stagnation, and who rarely got home again." And resolving a little mystery about a man who starts acting oddly in church.
Farrell previously, previously, previously, previously.
Farrell previously, previously, previously, previously.
Well, that was just wonderful.
There are some absolutely perfect turns of phrase:
"Kind of fella you never think’s tall till you see him again."
"I was in no mind to be whooshed up the side aisle onto a stranger’s pew like a bit of baggage stuffed in the first cupboard you see."
And the end is so slow and strong and pure.
I love characters like Bridget, who can see a step or two ahead and uses that to - take care of things? take care of others, deserving or no? like her admonition to Smiley to get Peter a coat when it becomes likely the police will be called.
Farrell has such an extraordinarily clear and individual voice, her mind both quick and leisurely.
I loved reading this, and I love knowing I can come back to it and read it again.
This was a wonderful gift this evening. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, brainwane. I am filled with gratitude.
posted by kristi at 9:57 PM on May 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
There are some absolutely perfect turns of phrase:
"Kind of fella you never think’s tall till you see him again."
"I was in no mind to be whooshed up the side aisle onto a stranger’s pew like a bit of baggage stuffed in the first cupboard you see."
And the end is so slow and strong and pure.
I love characters like Bridget, who can see a step or two ahead and uses that to - take care of things? take care of others, deserving or no? like her admonition to Smiley to get Peter a coat when it becomes likely the police will be called.
Farrell has such an extraordinarily clear and individual voice, her mind both quick and leisurely.
I loved reading this, and I love knowing I can come back to it and read it again.
This was a wonderful gift this evening. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, brainwane. I am filled with gratitude.
posted by kristi at 9:57 PM on May 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
I enjoyed this, thank you.
posted by paduasoy at 11:14 PM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by paduasoy at 11:14 PM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
The speech patterns are very well captured.
My family has this background, except that they tended to do a bit better for themselves and so could afford to go home for two weeks each year I remember them talking about friends and acquaintances who never returned to Ireland to visit. No one I know of that generation particularly integrated into English life, they were very definitely economic migrants first and foremost.
posted by plonkee at 4:46 AM on May 18, 2022
My family has this background, except that they tended to do a bit better for themselves and so could afford to go home for two weeks each year I remember them talking about friends and acquaintances who never returned to Ireland to visit. No one I know of that generation particularly integrated into English life, they were very definitely economic migrants first and foremost.
posted by plonkee at 4:46 AM on May 18, 2022
I enjoyed this. Thanks!
posted by praemunire at 6:21 PM on May 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 6:21 PM on May 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by drowsy at 8:28 PM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]