I have just finished reading Anne Enright’s Booker winner “The Gathering”.
It had been given to me to review by WLR coincidentally just as it was given the prize.

I notice on the papers that it is not the most popular winner.
It is criticised as being dark and depressing.
I just cannot agree.
True it covers the usual modern Irish themes of abuse and dysfunctional families but it is always lifted by Enright’s humour.
Maybe one has to be ,as I am, a member of a large family to appreciate and like it.

Take this passage which I treasure, (Kitty, like me is the youngest child)

“Liam……..liked three Roman saints with funny names who were turned upside down and had milk and mustard put up their noses which killed them, apparently.
It didn’t seem to bother Kitty as I recall.”

Ok Enright does cover some dark (and important) aspects of family life but she is never defeated by what she witnesses and I found it an uplifting read.
Read it and judge for yourselves.