Liam's Going: A Novel (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Joyce's new print novel, following many acclaimed hypertext works, addresses with powerful lyricism two parents' psychological adjustments to their son's departure for college, but despite an ear attuned (as in past efforts) to the workings of families, its framework and tone do not always harmonize. As Cathleen, a poet, drives her son, Liam, to school in upstate New York, her husband, Noah, a lawyer, stays behind; in his wife's absence, he helps an 80-year-old dowager administer her estate. While briefly separated, both Cathleen and Noah revel in memories of thrilling illicit dalliance, their last moments of youth Cathleen's an affair she had during the year following her marriage, Noah's a series of intense encounters with a French poet during his 19th summer. Constructed much like a poem, the novel is composed of artfully juxtaposed lines of dialogue, details and descriptive phrases; its narrative jumps among present, past and beyond convince us that the present is only a thin netting tossed over the past. Joyce's characters are distinct Cathleen is Oberlin educated and sensitive, Noah is materialistic but soulful and Liam is sullen but capable of articulate outbursts yet they move in too soft a focus to be entirely believable. Despite a few embarrassingly human moments, such as when Cathleen feels sexual longing for her son or 18-year-old Noah finds himself frightened by the beauty of the French poet whom he has seen only in the dark, these characters rarely reveal imperfections that might make them convincingly human. Still, Joyce's language is often gorgeously musical, and the novel has numerous quiet pleasures to impart. (Sept. 9)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Liam's Going is an introspective, thoughtful, and ultimately emotionally rewarding story. -- Midwest Book Review(five stars)

Liam's Going is an introspective, thoughtful, and ultimately emotionally rewarding story. -- Midwest Book Review(five stars)<br /><br />The attentive reader is guaranteed several worthwhile epiphanies per chapter. --ForeWord Magazine

The attentive reader is guaranteed several worthwhile epiphanies per chapter. -- ForeWord Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 207 pages
• Publisher: McPherson; 1 edition (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929701666
• ISBN-13: 978-0929701660
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,562,582 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, October 31, 2008

By	Read More Books - See all my reviews

This review is from: Liam's Going (Paperback)

One can tell that Michael Joyce is a seasoned writer, who takes his craft quite seriously. His writing is beautiful, and in my opinion, unusual. In "Liam's Going" he creates a memorable story about love and loss, about a family trying to come to peace with the past and present. On the surface this novel tells the simple tale of a son going to college--but meaningful musings lay within this fine work.

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful, and ultimately emotionally rewarding story, November 9, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Liam's Going by Michael Joyce is a deftly written novel about a young man named Liam who is about to go off to college. Yet his departure has repercussions on the strained marriage of his parents, each of whom must confront different pulls and separate loves in their lives. Liam's Going is a introspective, thoughtful, and ultimately emotionally rewarding story. Also highly recommended is Michael Joyce's early novel, The War Outside Ireland (Tinkers Dam Press, 0943608015, [$$$]).

5.0 out of 5 stars Fluid, warm and intelligent writing from a master., October 6, 2002

By	Jenny A. Kalahar "the_story_shop" (Elwood, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mr. Joyce's latest work flows like our thoughts, back and forth through time and experience, shuffling seamlessly as past events and the present weave together as smooth as a dream. A son's departure for a first term at college revives old emotions and creates new. Current relationships shift in meaning and old relationships resettle. Joyce's style is flawless and true. You will be drawn in and held by his voice.