Ordinary Saints
As seen:
By Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin
avg rating
2 reviews
An unmissable, award-winning exploration of family, grief, queer identity, and the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
SELECTED AS A RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK
WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL PFD QUEER FICTION PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE DISCOVERIES AWARD
A BOOKSELLER PICK OF THE MONTH
‘Beautifully written and brilliant on grief, love and family expectations. Wonderful’ Daily Mail
‘A sparkling debut. Absolutely brilliant’ Sara Cox
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.
Brought up in a devout household in Ireland, Jay is now living in London with her girlfriend, determined to live day to day and not think too much about either the future or the past. But when she learns that her beloved older brother, who died in a terrible accident, may be made into a Catholic saint, she realises she must at last confront her family, her childhood and herself . . .
Inspired by the author’s own devout upbringing, Ordinary Saints is a brilliant debut novel from a fresh, exciting new voice which asks – who gets to decide how we are remembered – and who we will become?
More praise for Ordinary Saints:
‘Stunning. A beautiful story about the awkward, often painful silences around dinner tables. A fresh funny, honest portrayal of familial love. I adored it’ Louise Nealon, international bestselling author of Snowflake
‘The best debut novel I’ve read in a long time. Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin is a writer of immense delicacy, perception and heart, drilling deep into questions of faith, family and love. A beautiful novel and a huge talent’
Jessica Moor
‘Funny and deeply moving. I adored it’
Chloe Michelle Howarth, author of Sunburn
‘Mesmerising and original, Ordinary Saints is quite a novel: an empathetic, heart-felt and nuanced exploration of the Catholic church in modern Ireland, queer identity, family and so much more. I absolutely loved it’
Victoria MacKenzie, award-winning author of For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain
‘An engrossing and absorbing read . . . Uplifting and absolutely gripping’ Rachel Dawson, author of Neon Roses
‘Ní Mhaoileoin’s writing has a real magic to it that hits you right from the first sentence’
Okechukwu Nzelu
‘I both learnt – and felt – a lot reading Ordinary Saints. An intriguing, compelling and deeply original debut’
Roxy Dunn, author of As Young As This
‘An outstanding debut. Delicately woven through with the threads of modern Irishness. Emotionally intelligent, hilarious, superb’
Soula Emmanuel, author of Wild Geese
‘A clever, emotionally complex, and unfailingly generous debut, I found Ordinary Saints both deeply moving and utterly gripping’
Kate Young, author of Experienced
Reviews
Growing up and living in the shadow of a favored sibling is tricky enough but to do it whilst facing your own sexuality and it's 'conflict' with your family's religion is quite something else. I knew very little about the training of priests and the process of sainthood before reading this book so I found the details fascinating. The writing is light and easy to read whilst covering strong emotional subjects and not shying away from the reality of each situation. I enjoyed the way Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin developed the lead character Jay's struggles with finding her place in a family so heavily influenced by a faith that ultimately rejects who she is at her core, whilst dealing with her parents need to solidify her brother's memory very publicly at the highest level of their religion.
Recommended book, light enough for a holiday read yet deep enough to be thought provoking.
#Radio2BookClub @readingagency @bonnierbooks_uk @bbcradio
An intriguing debut novel, one I probably wouldn’t have picked myself but so glad my Reading
Group decided to give it a go.
Jay grew up in Ireland in a deeply religious family, their world torn apart by the sudden and tragic death of her older brother, Ferdia, who was training to be a priest.
Now living in London with her girlfriend, Jay’s world is again shaken to its core by the discovery that her parents are hoping Ferdia will become a Saint.
An easy but compelling read about the Catholic faith which I knew nothing about, and a deeply moving account of a family trying to come together after a devastating tragedy.
