The Island of Longing

Reviews / Votes

Her most emotionally complex book yet . . . Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break -- Edel Coffey * Irish Times * One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are * Irish Sunday Times Culture * Exquisite -- Woman's Own This beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance. -- Good Housekeeping An agonising but hauntingly beautiful tale * Sunday Post * An elegant and moving account of family loss and reconnection, this is Anne Griffin's best novel yet. -- John Boyne An immensely powerful novel by a storyteller of rare gifts -- Joseph O'Connor Anne takes a deep dive into the soul of the mother of a missing child and the result is a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Beautifully written and sensitive without ever being sentimental, this is a stunning portrait by a master craftswoman. I loved it. -- Liz Nugent A beautiful, emotive, heartbreaking mystery. The Island of Longing takes a quietly powerful, yet deeply hopeful, humorous and compassionate look at loss, and belonging, and the absolute agony of the unknown. -- Chris Whitaker Anne Griffin is a lovely writer, and this is a lovely book . . . Oiled by the sturdy little ferry that ploughs the sea between the novel's West Cork island setting and the mainland, Griffin's story is tender and wise and ultimately life-affirming. -- Kathleen MacMahon Anne Griffin's central character Rosie Driscoll will pitch your heart into a stormy sea. You'll feel as if you're right beside her in the waves of love and loss as she strikes out for safe harbour. A beautiful story, steeped in Irish brine -- Tish Delaney Gripping, heart-wrenching and acutely human novel that offers a deeply empathetic view of suffering and resilience - and the many shapes that survival can take. Read this book! -- Alice Ryan A powerful novel that is full of grace, this latest work of beauty proves once again that Griffin is a gorgeous storyteller full of empathy and wisdom -- Helen Cullen Griffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive. -- Danielle McLaughlin A compelling, cleverly structured novel about loss, legacy and the healing power of community -- Sarah Gilmartin With a great ear for dialogue and eye for setting, Griffin builds a real sense of what loss can do to a family. * The Style List * A beautiful novel, heartbreaking, thoroughly moving and impossible to put down, The Island of Longing further enhances Anne Griffin's standing as one of our very best writers. A sheer joy to read, and a book that deserves to hit every height -- Billy O'Callaghan What do you think when the unthinkable happens? The Island of Longing transported me to West Cork to ask that very question in a moving story of family, loss and hope. It's the little details-dialogue, street names and details on the ferryboat-that made me feel at home with heroine, Rosie . . . Griffin perfectly captures the stifling isolation of grief, how claustrophobic tragedy can feel and how, sometimes, only the sea can offer relief. -- Freya Bromley I sympathised with Rosie on every page . . . a suspenseful and deeply satisfying novel -- Margot Livesey I absolutely loved this novel. Incredibly moving, beautifully observed, with characters so well-drawn that I felt I'd known them my whole life. Although the subject matter is achingly sad, the warmth and humanity that shines through Anne's writing makes it a total joy to read. A bittersweet story of love and loss, deftly and sensitively told, that will stick with me for a long time to come. -- Rebecca Pert The Island of Longing is a moving unforgettable novel, about the burden of loss and grieving, told through Griffin's vivid prose and characteristic gentle humour. This book consumed me -- Disha Bose A beautifully written tale of love, loss and human endurance, with an emotional depth that rings true. -- Madeleine D'Arcy PRAISE FOR ANNE GRIFFIN: There are deep thoughts sown beneath the light and charming surfaces of Griffin's novels. Her books are fable-like, deep musings on life, mortality, and what makes a life worth living, philosophy for everyday readers, cleverly disguised as a good old-fashioned story * Irish Times * The next big name to emerge from the Irish writing scene. -- John Boyne Ireland's long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin, who follows her poignant debut When All is Said with another outstanding read * Sunday Express *