The Spinning Heart

Donal Ryan's wonderful first novel is set in Ireland after the crash of 2008 and is a story told by 21 different voices and perspectives. With each monologue we share the confusion and uncertainty that has come about in response to the recession. At the same time you are also given a new angle of perspective on the other characters. It is a wry, sad, darkly comedic and moving novel which managed to elicit empathy from me, even for those characters who appeared to have so little to redeem them.