The Temporary Gentleman

by Sebastian Barry | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0571276970 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingDelphi_Readerwing of Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on 6/11/2018
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingDelphi_Readerwing from Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on Monday, June 11, 2018
This book starts its BookCrossing life from Delphi, Greece .
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" Jack McNulty is a 'temporary gentleman', an Irishman whose commission in the British army in the Second World War was never permanent. In 1957, sitting in his lodgings in Accra, he urgently sets out to write his story. He feels he cannot take one step further, or even hardly a breath, without looking back at all that has befallen him.

He is an ordinary man, both petty and heroic, but he has seen extraordinary things. He has worked
and wandered around the world - as a soldier, an engineer, a UN observer - trying to follow his childhood ambition to better himself. And he has had a strange and tumultuous marriage. Mai Kirwan was a great beauty of Sligo in the 1920s, a vivid mind, but an elusive and mysterious figure too. Jack married her, and shared his life with her, but in time she slipped from his grasp.

A heart-breaking portrait of one man's life - of his demons and his lost love - The Temporary Gentleman is, ultimately, a novel about Jack's last bid for freedom, from the savage realities of the past and from himself. "



~~~~~~To the person who found this book:~~~~~~

Welcome to BookCrossing.com, where we are trying to make the whole world a library!

If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home. Drop a few lines on where and how you found this book and what you thought of it. You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, I encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun and free, and your personal information will never be shared or sold.

This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, although I would love you to read and then share it. You can pass it on someone you know or release it once again in the wild, leaving it on a park bench, a phone booth, a hostel lobby...wherever you think it's suitable for the book to continue it's journey. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it.

I hope you enjoy the book!


Journal Entry 2 by wingDelphi_Readerwing at Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on Monday, June 11, 2018
Sebastian Barry is certainly a unique author. He has a very special way of describing scenes, emotions and events, writing on a poetic, beautiful language. His novels aren’t light reads, one needs to allow time and effort to really appreciate them, treating them as small works of art.

The Temporary Gentleman is a fine stand-alone book, linked though with at least two others of the author. It’s a first person narration of the adventurous and mostly sad life of Jack McNulty and of his huge and weird love for his wife, Mai. Two sensitive, talented, charismatic people who are self-destroyable and frivolous too.
This novel is many more things too, as the story touches on many diverse themes. As it happens with all Barry’s novels, the main plot is very “personal” and “specific”, watching the heroes’ choices and conditions, but in the meantime, while the author doesn’t quite focus there, the reader can see how History may influence and often destroy families, personalities, lives, humans…

A very moving story, although it gets a bit exaggerated at times and somehow predictable, especially towards the very end. Even though the protagonists are not always likeable, they are deeply human and the book will leave you full of emotion and with lots of things to contemplate.

It’s wiser to pick this up when in a relaxed mood, although it’s not a relaxed read at all. Be prepared for a demanding, beautiful, bittersweet book that will evoke lots of feeling and lots of thinking…

Released 5 yrs ago (7/13/2018 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now traveling on a mini book ray.

Participants:

mcsar (Canada) - prefers US shipping, but can ship international
valpete (USA) - can ship anywhere
Arvores (Portugal) - would like to ship withing Europe
grovalskii (Germany) - can ship anywhere

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 4 by mcsar at Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Friday, September 14, 2018
Yay. The book has safely arrived. Thank you for sharing this as a bookray. I will start reading soon and keep the ray going.

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Updated Sept 28, 2018

I do not have much to add as I agree with everything Delphi_Reader said. This is a heartbreaking tale that is beautifully written. It is very sad and very moving. I do not want to give any spoilers. This is definitely a book to read when you can spare the time and energy. A very worthwhile read. Thanks for offering this as a bookray.

Journal Entry 5 by mcsar at Next Reader, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Friday, October 5, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (10/5/2018 UTC) at Next Reader, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is traveling to its next reader. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 6 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Received today. I do have a few before this one. Please let me know if I'm taking too long.

Journal Entry 7 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Saturday, December 15, 2018
I, also, don't have very much to add to the other readers' comments. This is my second book by Sebastian Barry, and I must say I am captivated by his writing. Pure poetry! Although the story is very dark in nature, I was fascinated by all the details he includes. You do feel as if you are there...either in Ireland or Africa.

Journal Entry 8 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Thursday, December 20, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (12/27/2018 UTC) at Walnut Creek, California USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

It's off to the next reader. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 9 by Arvores at Porto Santo (ilha), Madeira Portugal on Thursday, January 10, 2019
The book arrived today, safe and sound.
I have a couple of books to read before this one. But it shouldn't take long to get there.
Thank you so much for sharing.

Journal Entry 10 by Arvores at Porto Santo (ilha), Madeira Portugal on Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Melancholic. A long love letter, I would say. Yet, not my favourite book by Sebastian Barry.

It will be sent to grovalskii as soon as I have her address.
Thank you so much for sharing

Journal Entry 11 by Arvores at Porto Santo (ilha), Madeira Portugal on Thursday, February 14, 2019
Sent to grovalskii today.
Enjoy! :-)

Journal Entry 12 by grovalskii at Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Book received today. Thanks Avores! Looking forward to reading this.

Journal Entry 13 by grovalskii at Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Sunday, June 16, 2019
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. On the one hand, it was a very depressing story. On the other hand, I like the maybe old-fashioned language and particularities of Irish writing. Maybe this won't be my last book by this author.

Thanks again for sharing, Arvores! I'll be looking for a new reader soon.

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