Cal

By: Bernard MacLaverty

Narrated by: David Threlfall

For Cal, some of the choices are devastatingly simple.... He can work in an abattoir that nauseates him or join the dole queue; he can brood on his past or plan a future with Marcella. Springing out of the fear and violence of Ulster, Cal is a haunting love story in a land were tenderness and innocence can only flicker briefly in the dark.

©2011 Bernard MacLaverty (P)2011 Random House Audio Go

Read for school

Was Cal worth the listening time?

Because it was a book I read for school I had to read it...

Any additional comments?

It was an ok book that brought in the catholic and protestant feud in Ireland. It was exciting in one way because of the romeo and Juliet love in the story and the hidden secrets.

Retribution vs Restitution

it's unusual when an author describes situations that are personal to you and when you think that sharing it would make you a weirdo. That's what made this book great for me.
I see it as a love story that could be set anywhere in any time period because there's always going to be negative interference somewhere along the way.
From a feminine perspective, she was desperate for a shag, ignoring red flags. Stooping to conquer her urges.
I liked the ending because it ended with hope for a future where we all pay the price for retribution

Sad but Lovely Story

McLaverty's novel of "the troubles" in Northern Ireland, first published in 1983, has become a classic. Young Cal McCluskey is haunted by the role he played in the murder of a policeman yet struggles to detach from the IRA. Matters get worse when Cal falls for the local librarian who, he later learns, is the policeman's widow. As their romance heats up, he is saddened by the knowledge that their relationship is doomed: both of them have stated their belief in 100% honesty between partners, but Cal knows that 100% honesty will destroy them.

'Cal' depicts the horrors of the continuing conflict betwen Catholics and Protestants: beatings, fire-bombings, land minds, shattered families and shattered psyches. Overall, a finely written and very moving novel. David Threlfall is a very reader.