Wild Houses
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett is a debut novel published by Grove Atlantic in 2024, featuring 255 pages in English. The narrative follows two outsiders entangled in a small-town revenge kidnapping that spirals out of control, set against the backdrop of Ballina’s most significant weekend. The story centers on Dev, an introspective loner, who finds himself reluctantly involved in a chaotic plot orchestrated by his cousins, while Doll’s girlfriend, Nicky, embarks on a desperate mission to save him.
Readers will encounter a vivid portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, as Barrett explores themes of chaos and identity through his characters’ tumultuous experiences. The novel captures the grit and energy characteristic of Barrett’s acclaimed short stories, presenting a compelling narrative filled with tension and emotional depth. Wild Houses offers a unique glimpse into the lives of its characters as they navigate their intertwined fates amidst the unfolding drama.
Official synopsis Publisher
The riotous, raucous and deeply resonant debut novel from “one of the best story writers in the English language today” (Financial Times) Wild Houses follows two outsiders caught in the crosshairs of a small-town revenge kidnapping gone awry
With his acclaimed and award-winning collections Young Skins and Homesickness Colin Barrett cemented his reputation as one of contemporary Irish literature’s most daring stylists. Praised by the Oprah Daily as “a doyen of the sentence,” and by the Los Angeles Times as a writer of “unique genius,” Barrett now expands his canvas with a debut novel that contains as much grit, plot, and linguistic energy as any of his celebrated short stories.
As Ballina prepares for its biggest weekend of the year, introspective loner Dev answers his door on Friday night to find Doll English- younger brother of small-time local dealer Cillian English–bruised and in the clutches of Gabe and Sketch Ferdia, County Mayo’s fraternal enforcers and Dev’s cousins. Dev’s quiet homelife is upturned as he is quickly and unwillingly drawn headlong into the Ferdias’ frenetic revenge plot against Cillian. Meanwhile, Doll’s girlfriend, seventeen-year-old Nicky, reeling from a fractious Friday and plagued by ghosts and tragedy of her own, sets out on a feverish mission to save Doll, even as she questions her future in Ballina.
Set against Barrett’s trademark depictions of small town Irish life, Wild Houses is thrillingly-told story of two outsiders striving to find themselves as their worlds collapse in chaos and violence.
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