The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually: 'A moving and powerful novel from one of Ireland's finest new writers' John Boyne

Most of our members thought this to be a beautifully written, sensitive portrayal of mental ill health and the aftermath of a suicide. The storyline was interesting and all the characters were well portrayed and developed. The difference between the treatment of depression then and now was noted. The one quibble most had was that the ending seemed a little too neat but apart from that the book was thoroughly enjoyed by most. Our average mark was 6 out of 10

Thank you to the Reading Agency and Penguin Random House for providing Macclesfield Library Reading Group with copies of “The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually” the group really enjoyed this book. In our discussion we talked about the themes of motherhood, depression, the truth, and the metaphor of Kintsugi for emotional damage.

“I thought the book was well written and painted a vivid picture of the characters and the locations involved.
For me there was a little too much description, this is a personal preference.
I found the account of Maeve’s story the most captivating element of the book. I loved the parts of the book about how Maeve and Murtagh met as younger people, and how things unfolded. I suppose I felt more connected to her than to the others. The letter, when eventually seen, later in the book was the climax of the book for me, and I was less engaged in the content which followed. “

“I enjoyed this fairly “easy read” and found myself wondering why the author had chosen this topic for a novel the experience seemed personal to her. I found myself empathising with the reaction of Murtagh and of the children to the loss of Maeve but felt disconnected from the ending which felt a little too neat. However, there is the enduring power of love which does come out well in this book. Love is endless and is everlasting and although the life of someone we dearly love is lost, love is never lost because of its enduring quality.”

“I found this book very touching and emotionally moving. The death of Maeve in the first chapter creates ripples throughout the book. The full picture of their mother and her legacy is only discovered gradually as her family find a way to share their grief and move forward with their lives in the light of their mother’s love. Maeve’s post humus letters final words of love to her children are her way of letting them know that she went tot her death at peace by “explanation kind” Only later in the story do all the children realise that their mother had been set in her decision to end her life when they realise she had shared a moment with each of them to tell them she loved them for the last time. Because “The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually.”

'Beautifully written book following the life, difficulties and family bond of one family living in a remote island. I couldn't put the book down and enjoyed reading about the beautiful island they live on. The characters were fascinating and I enjoyed following the story of a mothers love for her family. Wonderful book that I will recommend to family and friends'

'Easy and enjoyable read shines a realistic light on mental illness. nicely observed'

'the story kept my interest and I really liked the characters. Life on the island was interesting and i was not surprised by the twist in the story. I found the language very lyrical'

'beautiful book. very descriptive, lovely, charming and utterly stunning. Loved it'

'Lovely, emotional story. Enjoyed all the characters and had huge empathy for Maeve. So tragic but so difficult to live with mental illness. The love they had for each other shone throughout the book.'

'Great book, took me on an emotional journey with Maeve and her family. Beautifully written and love all the details about the island'

This is a five star book. From the first page I was gripped by the beauty of the writing and the realism of the characters. While this book tackles big issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicide, I never felt like these issues overshadowed the characters. They were real people, with real flaws and desires, not simply caricatures defined by the issues that consumed their lives.

Unfortunately, the ending spoiled the book for me. While a quick skim of other reviews shows that I'm in the minority, I found that the ending seemed incongruous with the rest of the book. It wrapped up an incredibly beautiful and nuanced story with a rather neat bow, and simultaneously make a sort of Me-Before-You statement that it was actually a good thing for someone with a disability to kill themselves so that the people they love can move on without them. Coming at the end of a novel where the characters weren't defined by their illness, this ending felt rather troubling.

Other than the ending, however, the book is absolutely stunning. The characters are fascinating, the relationship is painfully realistic, and the family dynamics are all too familiar. I cried multiple times at this novel, not just little happy tears, but proper sobs. Most significantly, Cullen sets scenes of beauty and happiness against the more depressing scenes, which only deepens the emotional punch of the difficult scenes.

Overall, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book. Most people probably won't mind the ending the way I did, and the first 2/3rds are so brilliant it's well worth the time.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3826271762

This is such a beautifully written book. It dealt with the issues of living with mental health in a really sensitive way, and I found myself totally engaged in this story and its characters from start to finish. I would happily read anything by this author.

Maeve and Murtagh live on an island off the West coast of Ireland and seem to be the ideal couple, both very much in love with each other and devoted to their four children. But Maeve has been battling with depression her whole life. During the good patches (and there are good patches) she is a wonderful wife and mother and a vivacious member of the community, loved by all. During her darker times things are very different and Murtagh and the family rally round to protect her from her demons to the best of their abilities. And then tragedy strikes and the effects on the troubled family are far-reaching.

This is a wonderful book and not at all what I expected from the title. To be honest I didn’t really know what to expect but I thought that whatever it was would be flowery, lyrical, wordy and full of the kind of unnecessary descriptions that I find so irritating. I could not have been more wrong. The book is down-to-earth, wonderfully written and is basically a great story, very well told. Set primarily in the present day, the past is filled in with alternating chapters which fill in the gaps in our knowledge and explain how all the main characters have arrived at where they are today. The book is written with sensitivity, compassion and intuition as it tackles the delicate issue of depression. But the book offers far more than that. Ultimately it is about love, complex family dynamics, growing up, coping with loss and grief and learning to move on when the time is right. The characters are wonderfully developed and I felt as though I knew them all quite intimately by the time I reached the end. Maeve and Murtagh in particular felt like friends who I didn’t want to lose touch with. And then there is a twist in the tale which I didn’t see coming at all. I suspect that very few people could read this book without a tear in their eye or a lump in their throat as it reaches its conclusion.

My only criticism is that I felt Fionn as an older man was not portrayed in as favourable a light as Fionn the younger man. I can’t put my finger on what the problem was exactly but I wasn’t drawn to his older character in the way that I wanted to be. My only other slightly negative comment is that I don’t think the title does the book justice (although I do understand how it fits in with the content). For a start, it is very unmemorable. Even having finished the book and written this review, I still can’t remember what it is called. This, combined with the fact that the title does not leap out of the cover and say “read me”, is problematic (for me anyway) and may have an adverse effect on the sales and marketing.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a really good read. Definitely, and with no hesitation whatsoever. As I have already said, it is a wonderful book and deserves a wide audience. I will certainly be on the look out for her previous novel and any subsequent ones which she writes. Well done Helen.

Mental health issues are a delicate subject. It's often difficult for someone who has never known someone who struggles or has never experienced the dysphora themselves to understand what it is, what it's like and what effect it has on everyone. This book is a very sensitive and descriptive telling of the story of one family and their extended group and their capacity to grapple with severe depression and it's ramifications for generations. It is also the story of love of all sorts and trying to find balance, peace and goodness.

A beautiful book. Dealing with mental health issues and the love of a mother for her children, this book is a gem.

A totally wonderful book that is beautifully written. The story captures true love and the sacrifice of a mother for her children and her husband. The topic of mental health is covered with such sophistication. I would happily read this book again, it was so absorbing I couldn’t put it down. It will leave you in tears.