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Description edit
When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself. Award-winning author Jennifer Haigh follows... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters edit
- Michael J. McGann: Youngest child of Mary and Ted McGann
- Sheila McGann: Narrator, middle child between Art and Mike.
- Aidan Andrew Conlon: Daughter of Fran Conlon, mother to Aiden Conlon.
- Aidan Conlon: Young boy who attends Sacred Heart School in the parish of Father Art Breen
- Abigail Nelson: Wife to Mike McGann
- Fran Conlon: Mother to Kath Conlon, works for the parish served by Father Art Breen
- Mary (Breen) McGann: Mother to Art, Sheila, and Mike, and mrried to her second husband Ted McGann after her first husband mysteriously disappeared and left her and her son.
- Grantham: Town where Mary and Ted McGann live and where Mike and Sheila grew up.
- Arthur Breen: a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston
- Leo McGann: Ted McGann's brother
- God Bless Ryan: Mike McGann's oldest son.
- Ted Mcgann: stepfather of Arthur; father of Sheila, and MIKE
- Rita Besson: Add a description of this character.
- Aunt Clare Boyle: A childhood friend of Mary McGann's, referred to as Aunt Clare sometimes.
- Norma McGann
- Kevin Vick: Drug addicted boyfriend of Kath Conlon
- Lisa Morrison: Former girlfriend of Mike McGann, Art's younger brother
- Father Fleury
- Michael
- Celeste
- Jamie
- Harry Breen: Art's father and Mary's first husband, who went out one night and never came back.
- Bishop Gilman
- Danny Yeager: Shiela's boyfriend and coworker
- Kathleen Conlon
- Donald Burke
- Dick Brady
- Ron Shapiro
- Clement Fleury
- Brian McGann: son of Michael and Abby
- Tim Morrison
- Dunster
- Gary Moriconi
- Father Dowd
- Marilyn Burke
- Julie Devine
- Ann Marie
- William Cardinal O'Connell
- Andy Stasko
- Father Koval
- Larry Person
- Chris Winter
- Father Fergus: priest who took a special interest
- Ma
- Dan Flanagan
- Cindy Clay
- Father Aloysius
- Richie McGann
- Kay Cleary
- Chuck Farrell
- Caitlin Burke
- Jordan Dailey
- Gail Hunter
- Tony Kelso
- St. Christopher
- Kelly
- Frank Lynch
- Joe Veltri
- Roncalli
- Father Cronin
- Phyllis Gruber
- Jackie Devine
- Robby
- Shorty
- Jack Strecker
- Mary McGann: mother of Art, Mickael and Sheila
- Dad
- Ray Cousins
- David Chilicki
- St. John
Quotes edit
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“It seemed an occupational hazard: priests were used to having an audience, unaccustomed to sharing the floor.”
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“As human connection went, he was a beggar at the banquet, unable to refuse love of any kind.”
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“Watching, I dread my own womanhood, the day when I too will follow along carrying bags of groceries, my mission wherever I go to feed other people who take actual part in life while I am simply the catering staff.”
Sheila -
“I watched him go. Without him, the energy in the room seemed to shift. Men did this: unconsciously perhaps, they drew the eye, directed all attention toward themselves. Was it just their size, their deep voices? I noticed that my chair, and my mother's, were tilted forty-five degrees to face Mike's.”
Sheila -
“It was a thing I'd always known but until recently had forgotten: that faith is a decision. In its most basic form, it is a choice.”
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“I stopped in mid-sentence to stare. On Teare Street, a Mercedes sedan was as exotic as a unicycle.”
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“Father Fleury gave me a look of gentle rebuke, and I thought of the generations of schoolboys shamed into learning by that look.”
Setting & Locations edit
- Boston
- Rome
- Sacred Heart
- Philadelphia: city where Sheila lives
- San Diego
- South Shore
- St. John: seminary in Boston where Art goes as a teenager to prepare for ordination and priesthood. He lives here for 12 years.
- Philly
- Dorchester
- Lake Street
- Massachusetts
- Brighton
- Bc High
- California
First Sentence edit
Here is a story my mother has never told me.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Kirkus Reviews: Best Fiction of 2011. (authoritative list)
This book is in 2011 Published Books. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Jennifer Haigh (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Harper
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-075580-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Harper
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-075580-5
Page Count: 304
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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