Our book group choice for May 2019 is Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan. In the aftermath of Ireland’s financial collapse, dangerous tensions surface in an Irish town.
The Spinning Heart is a novel by Donal Ryan that tells the story of a small rural community in Ireland in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008. The novel is narrated by 21 different characters, each of whom offers their own unique perspective on the events that have unfolded.
The novel opens with the collapse of the local building firm, Pokey Burke Construction. Pokey Burke, the owner of the firm, has absconded with the company’s assets, leaving his employees unpaid and his creditors unpaid. This event has a devastating impact on the community, as many of the people who worked for Pokey Burke Construction are now unemployed and facing financial ruin.
The novel follows the lives of the people in the community as they try to cope with the aftermath of the financial crisis. Some of the characters are forced to leave the community in search of work, while others try to make a new life for themselves in the town. The novel explores the themes of loss, hope, and resilience in the face of adversity.
One of the central themes of the novel is the idea of the “spinning heart.” The spinning heart is a metal heart that is set in the gate of a local house. The heart is always spinning, but it never goes anywhere. This symbolizes the sense of stagnation and hopelessness that many of the characters in the novel feel.
Another central theme of the novel is the idea of community. The people in the community are all interconnected, and they rely on each other for support. Even though the financial crisis has divided the community, the characters ultimately come together to help each other through difficult times.
The Spinning Heart is a powerful and moving novel that explores the human cost of the financial crisis. The novel is beautifully written, and the characters are all well-developed and relatable. The novel is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the impact of the financial crisis on rural Ireland.
Here are some additional details about the novel that you may want to include in your synopsis:
- The novel is set in the fictional town of Newmarket, County Clare, Ireland.
- The novel is told in a non-chronological order, with each chapter narrated by a different character.
- The novel explores a wide range of themes, including the financial crisis, immigration, unemployment, marriage, despair, and democracy.
- The novel was a critical and commercial success, winning the 2012 Irish Book Award for Newcomer of the Year and Book of the Year.
Discussion Questions for Spinning Heart
- Did you like the book?
- What is the significance of the spinning heart decoration on Frank’s gate? What does it symbolize?
- Consider how each story is told from a different point of view. What effect does this have on the overall reading of the novel in relation to the central theme?
- Much of the novel focuses on unhealthy relationships between parents and their children. Choose two parent/child relationships and explore the cyclic nature of this tension.
- Explain the significance of the term “blow-in.”
- What is Bobby’s significance in the town? How do the other characters view him?
- Would you recommend the book? To whom? And what are the reasons for doing so?
Individual Ratings
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Jo's Rating
Catherine's Rating
Anthony's Rating
Baljit's Rating
DKB's Rating