The Coast Road A Novel
The Coast Road A Novel by Alan Murrin is set to be published by HarperCollins Publishers on June 4, 2024. This 320-page novel explores the lives of women in a coastal town, focusing on their quest for independence within a society that imposes significant restrictions. The narrative unfolds in 1994 and centers on two women: Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet who has left her family for a new relationship. As Colette attempts to reconnect with her children, she relies on Izzy, who is also navigating her own troubled marriage.
Readers will find a poignant examination of family life, marriage, and the societal pressures faced by women in post-World War II Ireland. The story delves into themes of friendship and the struggle for self-expression, highlighting the emotional complexities that arise from their intertwined lives. Murrin’s debut novel presents a vivid portrayal of the limits placed on women and the sacrifices they make in their pursuit of freedom, offering insights into the historical context of women’s roles in society.
Official synopsis Publisher
Winner of the Irish Book Awards Newcomer of the Year 2024
Shortlisted for the John McGahern Annual Book Prize
A poignant debut novel about the lives of women in a claustrophobic coast town and the search for independence in a society that seeks to limit it.
“Murrin powerfully renders the ways that women’s freedom, individuality, and self-expression are stifled by religion, custom, and gossip.”–The New Yorker
“A painful, gorgeous debut.”–Elle
Set in 1994, The Coast Road tells the story of two women–Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. Colette has left her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin. When she returns to her home in County Donegal to try to pick up the pieces of her old life, her husband, Shaun, a successful businessman, denies her access to her children.
The only way she can see them is with the help of neighbour Izzy, acting as a go-between. Izzy also feels caught in a troubled marriage. The friendship that develops between them will ultimately lead to tragedy for one, and freedom for the other.
Addictive as Big Little Lies with a depth and compassion that rivals the works of Claire Keegan, Elizabeth Strout, and Colm Tóibín, The Coast Road is a story about the limits placed on women’s lives in Ireland only a generation ago, and the consequences women have suffered trying to gain independence. Award-winning Irish author Alan Murrin reminds us of the price we are forced to pay to find freedom.
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