Ethel Rohan

Big Billy Brennan and his wife Tricia are devastated by the loss of their 17 year old son Michael who one night with no warning, cut down their clothesline and used it to end his life. They have spoken to his friends, heard the crazy rumors, but never found a reason that may have led Michael to suicide.
As Billy tries to come to terms with what has happened, to find a way to make Michael's life and death count for something, his family becomes more angry and embarrassed by it all, and by Billy himself and his crusade to lose weight to raise money for suicide awareness and prevention. This was an emotional read. Though at times the pace was a bit slow, I could not help but admire Billy, and his courage and determination to never give up even when his own family did not support his efforts.
I received an advance copy for review.… (meer)

In the Event of Contact by Ethel Rohan is a very highly recommended collection of fourteen short stories. All of the stories focus on Irish characters who are lonely, vulnerable, different, and feel isolated and disassociated from other people. The writing captures the insecurity and alienation of the characters and their struggles with an ordinary life, in all of its complications and uncertainties. Rohan's stories also explore interpersonal and familiar relationships that can be fraught with emotions and repressed sentiments. The tone is quiet and somber in these short stories. The writing is exceptional and beautifully captures the story of these lives in all their subtleties and complexities.

contents include:
In the Event of Contact: A girl has a disorder where she experiences seizures if anyone accidentally touches her.
Into the West: A man, who is following the example of unfaithfulness his father set, has his complaining mother visit.
Everywhere She Went: A woman is still affected by the disappearance of her best friend when they were children.
Rare, But Not Impossible: A visit home for a friend's wedding stresses out a woman who does not want children.
UNWANTED: A teen who loves to read wants to be the next Sherlock Holmes.
Collisions: Two long time female friends have a night out.
At the Side of the Road: A young woman sells produce at a stand for the summer and wonders what she will do next.
Blindsided: A grouchy male crossing guard gets hit by a truck and hires a woman to help his recovery at home.
Before Storms Had Names: A farm family takes in a lodger and the son, Rory, is smitten.
Blue Hot: A 17 year-old young woman dates an 18 year-old man who beat up some other teens on their first date.
Wilde: A woman has Oscar Wilde become her invisible companion.
F Is for Something: A priest with dementia is being forced to retire.
Any Wonder Left: Sister's clean out their father's house after his death and one of them finds help getting trash to the dump.
The Great Blue Open: A woman is experiencing a woman's health problem and needs a medical diagnoses.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Dzanc Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/04/in-event-of-contact.html

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3971372726… (meer)

In the Event of Contact is a collection of 14 short stories and the winner of the Dzanc Short Story Collection Prize. My favorite short stories in the collection were: Rare, But Not Impossible & At the Side of the Road

I found a collection of short stories as a perfect in between read to my current novel. For example, it was great to read a short story during my lunch break at work.

I recommend this collection to anyone who loves to read, but strongly recommend it to readers of Irish descent or simply people who love Ireland, as all the Irish connections will be much appreciated. The characters in these stories are searching for a connection...they seek fulfillment in that search, as many of us are, and I think that goal of getting the reader to recognize that search was entirely met by the author!… (meer)

One night while the family was sleeping Billy’s oldest son, Michael, walked out of the house and hung himself in a tree. His suicide took the family by complete surprise and seeing as how he didn’t leave a note, no one really knows why he did it. One thing Billy does know is that he doesn’t want Michael’s death to be for nothing. He is determined to bring attention to suicide in the hopes of preventing others from taking their own lives. He decided to accept pledges/donations to a charity for him to loose half his weight (he is truly obese), to create a walk in the town to bring awareness, and create a documentary to share the story of Michael and others affected by suicide. If Michael’s death can stop someone else from dying, then it will all be worth it. But what about the rest of the family…..is it worth it to them?

The idea behind this story is a good one. There are too many suicides in the world, especially teens. I love the fact that Billy takes this on as his new life mission, which helps him to heal as well, but I feel like the story is missing a lot that could have made it a better book. I think Michael’s character needed more development and back story and truly, so did the rest of the family. For example, Billy has a daughter that you know almost nothing about and therefore, I’m not even sure why she’s a character in the book at all. I also found the storyline to be quite slow. It took me longer than it should have to read this book simply because there was nothing drawing me back to pick it up and read more. I did feel for Billy though – he had a very tough time with Michael’s death and had to work through surviving it without any true help from his own family.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.… (meer)