The History Of Rain by Niall Williams

 

Ruth Swain lies in her bed in her attic room on the family's farm in Ireland.  She has a mysterious ailment that no doctors can diagnose but that made it impossible for her to stay in university or to leave her room.  She spends her time reading and fending off romantic gestures from her childhood friend who has always been in love with her.

Her mission in life is to figure out her father, Virgil.  He had come to the village after fleeing the disapproving house and his stern minister father that he had grown up with.  In between, he spent years on ships traveling the world.  When he came to the village, no one could believe that he won the heart of the village beauty, Ann, but he did and they married.  After years of trying and finally giving up the couple had twins, Ruth and her brother.

Ruth has decided that the way to discover her father is to read the over three thousand books he has left her.  She does that and reminisces about him, her mother, their courtship and love over the years and his poetry, for outside of farming and reading, he was a poet although no one was ever allowed to see his poems.  

This novel was written in 2014 and nominated for the Booker Prize in that year.  It is an exploration of character and family relationships, of love and others' expectations.  Ruth is most like her father and finding the secrets of his character is her life's mission.  Although she seems to have buried herself in her room, the reader is left with the hope that she finds a way forward, to accept love and a way to have a life while honoring the memory of her parents. Her memories are lyrical and hopeful and make this novel a joy to read.   This book is recommended for literary fiction readers.