Ten Days
Published on 28. January 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-78378-630-5 (ISBN)
Description
'Austin Duffy's uniquely dry, laconic style adds a subversive and compelling charge to this moving and intense story of the relationship between a father and daughter. A terrific novel' - William Boyd
When Wolf's recently-estranged wife Miriam dies from cancer, his entire world is turned upside down. Wolf and his daughter, Ruth, travel to New York from London to scatter Miriam's ashes in the Hudson River. During the ten High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur they connect up with Miriam's conservative Jewish family, who are adamantly against Miriam's choice of burial. Battling the antagonism of Miriam's Orthodox family, Wolf is also coming to terms with his own hopes to put right wrongs before it's too late.
A tenderly written story of time, grief and memory, Ten Days delves deep into the complicated love between a father and daughter and the bonds of marriage over older family ties.
When Wolf's recently-estranged wife Miriam dies from cancer, his entire world is turned upside down. Wolf and his daughter, Ruth, travel to New York from London to scatter Miriam's ashes in the Hudson River. During the ten High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur they connect up with Miriam's conservative Jewish family, who are adamantly against Miriam's choice of burial. Battling the antagonism of Miriam's Orthodox family, Wolf is also coming to terms with his own hopes to put right wrongs before it's too late.
A tenderly written story of time, grief and memory, Ten Days delves deep into the complicated love between a father and daughter and the bonds of marriage over older family ties.
Reviews / Votes
Austin Duffy's uniquely dry, laconic style adds a subversive and compelling charge to this moving and intense story of the relationship between a father and daughter. A terrific novel -- William Boyd A family epic that eddies in the wider current of history, and an incrementally devastating story of grief, guilt and memory -- Gavin Corbett, author of * This is the Way * The moral propulsion behind this sad, bittersweet tale, and its sheer cleverness, had me reading into the early hours... Duffy displays enormous skill and subtlety... [he] can delineate character well... [and] he can write beautifully too... This is a quietly wonderful novel, full of resonance yet unforgiving in its gaze, and one where, the more you look into it, the more you will find -- Sunday Times This novel is rooted in sadness... What this novel shows however is that no matter how unfair the world can be, life and love continues.... The writing in this book is so exquisite it helps the reader navigate the emotion and brings us to a deep understanding of Wolf's world and its challenges. Other characters too are sympathetically drawn. This is neither an easy nor a comforting read but it is thoughtful, gentle and beautifully crafted -- RTE guide A beautifully wrought, deeply affecting novel -- Anne Cunningham * Connaught Telegraph * Piercing... an endearingly plaintive novel that strikes a chord it knows well how to play * Big Issue *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
295 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78378-630-5 (9781783786305)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
AUSTIN DUFFY's debut novel This Living and Immortal Thing was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year, was Runner-Up for the McKitterick Prize and was highly commended for the BMA Medical Books Awards. He grew up in Ireland, studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and is a practising medical oncologist. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.