Land by Maggie O'Farrell
In one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Land tells the story of a peninsula on the western edge of Ireland in the aftermath of the great famine. In her first book following the breakout novel Hamnet, author Maggie O’Farrell combines gripping generational drama with fabled mysteries of an untamed land. A young man works with his father to create a map of the region that portrays the true devastation of the recent crisis. As they investigate, record and chronicle the land and its people, they uncover a number of ancient secrets.
Folklore and a Changing Landscape
In the year 1865, Tomás and son Liam take on the difficult task of documenting how the Great Famine of Ireland has changed the land, decimating villages, erasing the lives of millions, and leaving survivors to grieve their loved ones. Land opens with a brief account of this tragedy and the resilience of the Irish people. When father and son encounter an undocumented stream and the source thereof, they stumble upon a spring rising from the land that changes all who drink its waters. Maggie O’Farrell seamlessly blends realism with a supernatural element as the consequences for partaking of the water are revealed. The local population suspects that the man has been turned or possessed by an ancient spirit. Aided by a widow in the nearby village, the boy must grow up quickly as he cares for his father, a man forever changed by his experiences on the peninsula.
Through it all, the landscape itself becomes another character in this magical book. Rocks, trees and hills take on a sense of life with moody descriptions and vivid details. The sea and every element of this land have unique color, texture and personality.
While Land begins in a small, isolated community, the story eventually expands to far-flung corners of the globe as characters escape the peninsula in search of something greater. We are introduced to the wife of the mapmaker and their other young children as they face immense challenges in surviving the land, building a future and grieving the loss of loved ones. The plot of this book is fascinating and entertaining, but the characters bring it all to life. Readers will cheer for this family in their best moments and grieve with them in their losses.
An Epic Family Saga with Global Reach
Maggie O’Farrell moves seamlessly between characters and several fascinating plotlines that diverge then recombine throughout the novel. Readers will be captivated by the author’s ability to create suspense both through an exciting plot and with endearing characters. Land is truly like a ride on a rollercoaster, with measured sections of interesting historical accounts, family drama and several moments of quick, climactic action. There are love stories, ocean voyages, coming of age moments, births, deaths, crimes and mythical creatures interspersed and interwoven throughout this single, brilliant novel.
Fans of O’Farrell’s previous novel Hamnet will indulge in the immersive story and masterful use of language. This book, however, stands apart thematically and is most certainly an original and unique literary work. Very few novels address so many topics and explore the world in such a meaningful way; Land will leave readers with a lot to think about. Surpassing the very high expectations for its release, Land could be the most talked about book of this season. One that will be treasured for many years to come.
About Maggie O’Farrell:
Maggie O’Farrell was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1972. Her novels include Hamnet (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Women’s Prize for Fiction), The Marriage Portrait, After You’d Gone, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, The Hand That First Held Mine (winner of the Costa Novel Award), and Instructions for a Heatwave. She has also written a memoir, I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death. She lives in Edinburgh.
