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The Wild Laughter

Winner of the 2021 Encore Award
By Caoilinn Hughes
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3.82 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,185 ratings, 194 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Wild Laughter by Caoilinn Hughes is a heart-wrenching story set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis in rural Ireland. It follows brothers Hart and Cormac Black as they grapple with their father's terminal illness and the family's subsequent financial decline. The novel explores themes of loyalty, love, and the struggle to navigate personal and economic turmoil.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate dark humour intertwined with poignant storytelling, set against the backdrop of Ireland's economic downturn. The narrative offers a compelling exploration of family dynamics, personal sacrifice, and the struggle to reconcile generational conflicts, making it an intriguing read for those drawn to character-driven plots with emotional depth.

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An exhilarating, anarchic look at contemporary Ireland, from one of the country's most exciting new voices

An exhilarating, anarchic look at contemporary Ireland, from one of the country's most exciting new voices

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED TITLE FOR 2020 BY THE FINANCIAL TIMES, THE IRISH TIMES, THE MILLIONS & RTÉ

'Extraordinary... A book of wicked intelligence and tender heart.' - Max Porter, author of Lanny

It's 2008, and the Celtic Tiger has left devastation in its wake. Brothers Hart and Cormac Black are waking up to a very different Ireland – one that widens the chasm between them and brings their beloved father to his knees. Facing a devastating choice that risks their livelihood, if not their lives, their biggest danger comes when there is nothing to lose.

A sharp snapshot of a family and a nation suddenly unmoored, this epic-in-miniature explores cowardice and sacrifice, faith rewarded and abandoned, the stories we tell ourselves and the ones we resist. Hilarious, poignant and utterly fresh, The Wild Laughter cements Caoilinn Hughes' position as one of Ireland's most audacious, nuanced and insightful young writers.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Wild Laughter by Caoilinn Hughes has received widespread praise for its dark humour and sharp wit. Critics admire its innovative language and insightful portrayal of a family grappling with financial and emotional turmoil. The novel is lauded for its compelling narrative voice, blending humour with profound emotional depth, and is considered a significant contribution to contemporary Irish fiction.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786078599

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 May 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 208

Collections

Caoilinn Hughes Fiction General Fiction Health & Wellness Literary Fiction Self-Help & Personal Development Women's Health

About the Author

Caoilinn Hughes is the author of Orchid & the Wasp (Oneworld 2018), which won the Collyer Bristow Prize, was shortlisted for the Hearst Big Book Awards, the Butler Literary Award and longlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. Her poetry collection, Gathering Evidence (Carcanet 2014), won the Shine/Strong Award and was shortlisted for four other prizes. Her work has appeared in Granta, POETRY, Tin House, Best British Poetry, BBC Radio 3 and elsewhere. She has a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and she was recently Visiting Writer at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. For her short fiction, she won The Moth International Short Story Prize 2018 and an O.Henry Prize in 2019.

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