Land, is a historical novel by Maggie O’Farrell (author of Hamnet) of a family and their struggles while living in Ireland in 1865.

The book had a slow start and then had a dramatic turn, which hooked me. British soldiers hire land surveyor Tomas who enlists the help of his ten-year-old son, Liam. Tomas sends Liam into a copse to discover the source of a river. When Liam is spooked by the woods and runs out, losing his boot in the process, Tomas goes into the copse to retrieve the boot and disappears.

What I liked about Land

I liked the history of the land through the eyes of the people who lived there hundreds of years prior to the main characters.

Regarding the main characters, I was invested in the children’s, Liam, Enda, Rose, and Eugene’s, stories and was eager to discover how their tales ended (SMALL SPOILERS here). Liam, in defiance of his father, enters the priesthood under the tutelage of a questionable priest. Enda frustrated with being pigeon-holed into woman’s roles, leaves for the new land. Rose holds the remaining family together until she comes across the path of the villainous count. And Eugene, mute since birth, has the same magical qualities as the land.

I read this for my book club but didn’t finish it in time for our meeting. I finished it a few days later because I was so invested in the story.

What I didn’t like about the novel

The characters’ stories drew me in, but their selfishness was off-putting. For instance, Tomas moves his family near the copse and becomes obsessed with mapping the area (SPOILER – his obsession is never explained or resolved), making their lives so much harder.

Additionally, the writing was tedious at times. Things were often described three times or more in varying ways as if the reader needed clarification. As an example, here’s a passage from page 255 of Land:

Her head is like that, these days. It cannot hold an idea or a notion for long. She has become a leaky vessel, a frayed garment, a bucket with a hole, a sack eaten away by mice, and everything trickles out of her, gone for ever.

This type of description once or twice in a novel can make a powerful point, but O’Farrell uses this technique so many times reading it is tedious.

I wanted more (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing)

I wanted more magical realism. There are hints of it throughout, but (SPOILER) they don’t amount to anything.

I also wanted more of a feel for Ireland. I had to keep reminding myself that this story takes place there. In contrast, Tana French’s trilogy The Searcher, The Hunter, and The Keeper uses local colloquialisms, customs, and music. I’m transported to Ireland in French’s books, while in O’Farrell’s novel, I could have been anywhere.

Land gets 👍🏻  👍🏻 👍🏻  for interesting historical storylines.