The promise of the War of Independence morphing into the destruction of the Civil War and the ensuring fallout. The tectonic societal changes to Irish society over the last 50 years. The transition from a vaguely neutral country into an EU superstate. The cowardice when it comes to the North. The Celtic Tiger and the two-decade long hangover. Mass immigration. Populism.
All too often, however, writers tend to focus on the young urban professionals who are nowhere near as interesting as they seem and put them in unexciting but relatable scenarios (living in a shit flat share, hating your job, lesbian/gay/straight relationships, dealing with the disapproval of your parents). The end result is usually a bland soup of nothingness
Sadly, this applies to In the Movie of Her Life.
Mainly known as an author of young adult fiction, Dublin based writer, and contributor to the Irish Times, Claire Hennessy makes her debut writing adult fiction with this collection of short stories. While there certainly are notable moments, most of the book is dreary and ridden with cliches.
Many of the aforementioned tropes can be found throughout the short stories and the end result is apathy. The characters are often unlikeable (even ones that are meant to be “good”), for the most part there are no real stakes at risk in the stories and some have the germ of an interesting scenario but aren’t developed any further.
And yet, there are moments that slap: ‘It Wasn’t the Suit’ details the pining’s a teacher nearing thirty has for a Leaving Cert pupil who has gotten his ginger girlfriend pregnant. This segment was heartwarming:
I’d stated going to Pilates…I wasn’t fat, but somehow in the last few years it had happened: everyone my age had started…I thought about the redhead every time I lifted a tired leg in the air or gracelessly rocked back and forth on the mat. I was supposed to be focusing on my breathing, but it did the job. Stretch. Hold. Up. Down. Out.
I love this paragraph because the vulnerability, the determination and the honesty from the narrator is all too evident. She’s in a situation that has rendered her a hopeless romantic. But she knows all too well that it’s a non-starter so there’s a stoicism in the writing.
Likewise, ‘Tonight’ is a moving tale about a single mother trying to have a good night out while struggling to come to terms that her daughter now identifies as a boy. Throughout, we feel Mia’s uneasiness at her unfamiliar late-night circumstances, how torn she is at trying to be a supportive parent but also not being convinced that this will end well. It’s quite moving.
More stories along these lines next time please.
Claire Hennessy, 2025, In the Movie of Her Life. Doire Press. ISBN-13: 978-1915877024
⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist and is the author of A Vortex of Securocrats and “dethrone god”.
Rare that we get a negative book review but not all books are good to the reader. Christopher does what he does best - brings a sharp critical eye to literature.
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