Jeannette Haien (1921–2008)

The All of It, is Enda's tale, told after the death of Kevin, her husband. She tells her and Kevin's story to the parish priest while Kevin lays dead. Her story is about two young people and love but not as you would expect. The priest is gripped by her story but struggles to know what to do, as it is also a story of sin. The next day he is fishing on a wet day and this gives him a chance to think. This novel, set in Ireland, spans the years from before motor cars to nearer the present day. It is a short novel and an enthralling read.… (meer)

The title refers to Enda Dennehy's "come clean" tale told to her priest Father Declan just after her husband's deathbed confession. While this sounds dramatic and sordid, it is more a story of love and devotion, though less in the traditional marital sense. It also reveals Fr. Declan's own character as he initially tries to treat this a case for the confessional and traditional absolution, but Enda isn't having it. He becomes enthralled by her story and manner of telling and has a bit of inner turmoil about upholding his priestly duties and decorum, but is so in need of honesty and the removal of the barriers that his cloth and collar create. Endorsed winningly with an introduction by Ann Patchett, this book is a nice find and the Irishness of it is engaging. "A quiet little stunner" was a good blurb of praise and piqued my interest.… (meer)