Absolutely MAGNIFICENT: dark, witty, charming. I LOVED it * MARIAN KEYES *
Heart-rending, hilarious . . . It's a belter. * LOUISE KENNEDY *
An
Agatha Christie-esque whodunnit, a dark supernatural mystery and an account of mass trauma. Carson forges these parts into a tragicomedy in which fantastic elements slot almost seamlessly alongside kitchen-sink realism...
compassionate and meticulously observed.' * GUARDIAN *
Original and vivid, The Raptures is its own beautiful, unique thing * IRISH TIMES *
The book's beauty comes from its hilarious depiction of claustrophobic small-town life * Sunday Times *
An
utterly compulsive and gripping portrayal of the brilliance of children, the power of intergenerational relationships, and the certainty of our human desire to belong. An utterly engrossing read - one that confronts the trauma of loss and the dangers of religious zealotry through powerful narrative, compelling characters and sharp wit.
Jan Carson is a true original. An absolute must read. Outstanding. * ELAINE FEENEY *
The Raptures is a
wonderful piece of fiction. It engages the reader with a
clever plot and with its
perfect portrayal of parochial life in Northern Ireland imploded by tragedy told in
prose that shimmers with empathy, warmth and humanity. * IRISH INDEPENDENT *
A fascinating tale of trauma, fury and panic. * INDEPENDENT *
I
gobbled up The Raptures. It's a delightful read - sharp,
packed with wit and heart, and always
utterly absorbing.
And it's got that perfectly Irish mix of darkness and humour, the smartarsed wink into the void. * LISA MCINERNEY *
A
blistering account of small-town Ulster life,
The Raptures is unflinching in its exploration of the corrosive effects of fear and small-mindedness on a community, and the trauma wreaked by uncompromising religious fundamentalism on a young and tender soul. Rich in a
glorious colloquial idiom, rich with Jan Carson's
sharp, sardonic wit, it is ultimately a hopeful read, too, about the ways - whether we like it or not - we are all connected. This is a book
written from the guts and from the heart. * LUCY CALDWELL *
An original and exciting work that's equal parts terrifying, hilarious and memorable... It is truly one of those books in which every piece fits together like the cogs of a watch. * SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND *
Hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure
, The Raptures is a very special novel. Jan Carson is
a writer of astounding empathy, giving every character - alive or dead -
a voice that rings brilliantly true. A real gem. * RUTH GILLIGAN *
This superb book deserves all the plaudits and praise going. * SUNDAY INDEPENDENT, IRELAND *
I laughed, cried, was enraptured. * SAGA, BOOK OF THE MONTH *
Jan has such a singular voice; she is somehow able to write gently and playfully about the largest, most timely and tragic of topics. Here she has conjured a scenario that feels both very true and very mysterious. I adored it.
* SARA BAUME *
The Raptures is
perfect and generous and beautifully crafted and everything I demand from a book. And Hannah, brave and brilliant Hannah -- I've made up a room for her in my heart forever.
I'll be putting it in every hand this Christmas. * KARL GEARY *
An
instantly compelling and novel take on a fractured society,
The Raptures is a
captivating, clever book by a truly original writer * Sarah Gilmartin *
