As It Is in Heaven

A novel by an Irish writer, which warms my Celtic heart. It's sad in places, but I mostly found it honest and hopeful. Deep, subtly spiritual, good characters and skillful use of language; I may have found a new favourite author.

Time has already stopped for Stephen Griffin when he moves into the little house by the sea. Twenty-eight years old and haunted by death, the tall, awkward, shy schoolteacher is content to care for his father in Dublin and let life pass him by. Then a miracle appears: a string ensemble from Venice and, with it, a violinist named Gabriella Castoldi. (This synopsis stolen from http://www.niallwilliams.com cos it's late and I'm lazy)

It was a season of love in the afternoon; of slow time and long caresses, of strawberries...passing from mouth to mouth like the wet, ripe and softly bruised essence of pleasure itself...