Ordinary Saints, Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin
Can you imagine it? I'd say to them. Can you imagine me there in the front row in Saint Peter's Square? The lesbian sister of a literal saint.
Ordinary Saints is a truly extraordinary exploration of relationships, grief, queerness, and its relationship with the Catholic church in Ireland. It follows the story of Jay, a lesbian who is now living in London discovering her brother may become a saint. It is a novel fuelled by such complex emotions which are unpicked so delicately and fully. It explores difficult parental topics, such as Jay’s mother’s depression, as well as navigating her feelings towards her brother alongside her separation from the Church. It is a heavy book, but one so deeply worth reading and impossible to not feel some emotional connection towards.
This novel has an undercurrent of rage flowing through its pages and yet, it is generous in the way it unpacks every character – particularly Jay’s parents – giving you time to sit with them and try to understand them. It provoked a vast variety of feelings in me, from anger to deep sadness, and was totally absorbing. The writing of Jay’s deceased brother, Ferdia, is so tender and beautifully written, despite the novel not shying away from detailing the more distressing elements of the Catholic church. Ní Mhaoileoin heavily details the canonisation process, a multifaceted topic, in a way that is so compelling and brings you so much closer to the main characters.
Ní Mhaoileoin has managed to create stunningly multidimensional characters with an array of flaws, yet you cannot help but wish the best for them and learn to care for them the more you read. Her writing and characterisation are truly a marvel. This is not necessarily a novel to fly through in one sitting: instead, it’s one to spend time with and to carefully unravel. As someone who grew up atheist, this book was incredibly enlightening to read considering how vastly the experiences differed from my own, and a new favourite that I cannot wait to continue recommending.
For fans of queer fiction, the unpacking of religion, incredibly in-depth character studies and absorbing writing, go and grab yourself a copy of Ordinary Saints.
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