Unique And Breathtakingly Beautiful
Alabama Irish by James Russell Lingerfelt is a sweet coming of age story where the ordinary is beautiful. It is a fabulous novel that really spoke to my heart.
In Alabama Irish Brian’s soul is laid bare. He is brutally honest about love and life and hopes and dreams. In its simplicity there is great beauty and I loved it.
There are many themes in Alabama Irish including that of grief and loss. “We don’t mourn the past. We mourn unlived tomorrows.” Death affects us all in different ways. However when we blame ourselves, we keep reliving the past and are unable to move forwards. This manifests itself as PTSD which left untreated means the person will suffer for years. The reader sees this played out in the novel. We cannot alter the past but we need to learn from it and move on. “We’re thankful for the lessons those experiences taught us.”
Linked to the theme of loss is that of a brotherly bond. Bonds formed in childhood may be severed by death but are never truly broken because the love remains.
The emotions are very honest within the novel. Brian realises a powerful truth early on. “No-one can make me angry. That’s a reaction I choose.” We need to master our emotions or our emotions will master us.
The novel deals with the theme of first love. It is beautifully written and explored. Love cannot be rushed. It needs to be nurtured like a precious flower. The love story in the novel is beautiful. It is gentle. And it is built on kindness.
Life is not always nice. “When people grow up in a safe environment where they’re loved a lot, they’re naive to how dark and manipulative other people can be.” Within the novel there are moments of unbelievable cruelty. “Outside their home they were the picture of the perfect family.” People may present one face to the world and quite another behind closed doors.
The novel shows the importance of being truthful. Living on lies just creates pressure on an individual as the lies can build up and in no time at all, the foundation of your life is a lie. The truth brings freedom. “It’s amazing how confessing something you’re hiding can bring healing and peace and freedom.”
The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of seventeen year old Brian. It is written as diary entries in a style reminiscent of Anne Frank. The reader is drawn into Brian’s world. We ‘feel’ what he feels and become intimately acquainted with him. Brian is a very likeable character who just settles into the readers heart.
I do enjoy James Russell Lingerfelt’s novels. I adore his style of writing. It is gentle and hauntingly beautiful. His books ‘speak’ to my soul and leave me feeling calm, peaceful and at one with the world.
I can highly recommend both The Mason Jar and Alabama Irish. They are both unique and breathtakingly beautiful. I am hoping for many more by him.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.Ā No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Nice review, Julia! š I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank as a child and loved it. Be blessed! š