Solar Bones

By: Mike McCormack

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

A vital, tender, death-haunted work by one of Ireland's most important contemporary writers, Solar Bones is a celebration of the unexpected beauty of life and of language and our inescapable nearness to our last end.

It is All Souls Day, and the spirit of Marcus Conway sits at his kitchen table and remembers. In flowing, relentless prose, Conway recalls his life in rural Ireland: as a boy and man, father, husband, citizen. His ruminations move from childhood memories of his father's deftness with machines to his own work as a civil engineer, from transformations in the local economy to the tidal wave of global financial collapse. Conway's thoughts go still further, outward to the vast systems of time and history that hold us all. He stares down through the "vortex of his being", surveying all the linked circumstances that combined to bring him into this single moment, and he makes us feel, if only for an instant, all the terror and gratitude that existence inspires.

Solar Bones is a masterwork that builds its own style and language one broken line at a time; the result is a visionary accounting of the now.

©2016 Mike McCormack (P)2017 Recorded Books

You ether love it or hate it

Steam of consciousness story that jumps around. Still easy enough to follow the life of a man and his family in Modern Ireland. But not for everyone. If you like Joyce you probably like this. Even if you don't you may discover a style that works for you. Give it a try..

OMG! Raw

Bought this book as a daily deal. I was lured by the narration which I must say kept me engaged. The story, although not my usual genre, was raw and not at all what I expected. I was not sure I would make it. When I got to the end though, I kept saying OMG! over and over.

Life's reflection of an ordinary man

I had my reservation at the beginning, it felt scattered and a little disorienting. Once I got a grasp of the writing style the novel came to life.
I was compelled to continue and I'm grateful I did.
Marcus the main character comes across as simple man but once your drawn into his stream of consciousness he becomes memorable. You journey along side him as he reflects on life.
We are witness to his relationships as father, son, partner, citizen, employee and discover how they shape him into the man he has become. A beauty story that made an impact on my soul.

Super

First time I’ve been moved to write a review; I’ll keep it short. Simply superb book, that draws you in through an overlapping series of banal anecdote and conversation until you unwittingly find yourself wholly inhabiting the main character. A great achievement which is only added to by an exceptional narrative performance in this edition. Can’t recommend enough.

Great listen!

I don't write many reviews, but felt compelled by this book. Writer has captured the heart and soul of an engineer perfect. The flow of the story takes reader ( listener) into seamless flow . Enthralling comes to mind. Narrator is perfect for character. Can't wait for more by this writer!!