Jennifer Johnston Book order

"Naming the stars -- Flora's father has been killed in the Battle of El Alamein, one of the many victims of the Second World War. For Flora and her mother, life will never be the same again. Now, it's just Flora - and Nellie, the family's life-long housekeeper - left; to reminisce in old age, and what really happened between Flora and her brother, Eddie, at the end of that long Irish summer. Two moons -- In a house overlooking Dublin Bay, Mimi and her daughter Grace are disturbed by the unexpected arrival of Grace's daughter and her boyfriend. While Grace's visitors focus her attention on an uncertain future, Mimi must begin to set herself to rights with the betrayals and disappointments of the past."--Provided by publisher

"Annie's father is dead. She isn't sorry. A rich and domineering man, his chief passion was money and, long ago, when his lovely, fragile wife died suddenly, he set Annie to school in England and insisted that her mother was never mentioned again. But now his tyranny is over. And so Annie returns to Dublin, to the family house she hates, and discovers that, just when she thought she was free of her father, he has left her the house and intends her to live as he would have wished. Does she dare to defy him one more time? And whom can she trust to tell her the truth about her mother's life, and death".

The explosive new novel by a master of Irish fiction

A new masterpiece by one of Ireland's greatest living writers

Festive family life can be a disaster... FOOLISH MORTALS is a witty yet subtle novel from the celebrated, prize-winning Irish writer, Jennifer Johnston

Renowned for their exceptional storytelling, the author captivates readers with a narrative that explores profound themes and complex characters. The book delves into the intricacies of human experience, weaving together emotional depth and vivid imagery. With a unique perspective and masterful prose, it promises to leave a lasting impression on those who engage with its pages.

The narrative follows a woman's journey as she grapples with her aspirations of balancing a successful career and family life. Initially envisioning herself as a confident member of the empowered female workforce, she faces unexpected challenges like narcolepsy and nausea that lead her to reconsider her path. Choosing to become a Full-Time Mom, she humorously discovers that the reality of motherhood is far from the orderly life she anticipated, revealing the complexities and sacrifices involved in her decision.

An acute study of a family with a dark secret at its heart.

Johnny, an outstanding young swimmer, went missing nearly thirty years ago: drowned, or so everyone except his sister Imogen believes. How could this have happened? Encouraged, pushed even, from a child by his father, Johnny could have made the Olympic team, couldn't he? As Imogen gradually pieces together bits of her family history, we hear the tragic echoes that connect her with the Great War and Ireland in the nineteen-twenties.

A lyrical, gritty and poignant story of a boy crossing the line between childhood and adulthood.