Why read History of the Rain?

Book cover of History of the Rain

Book description

Longlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize

We are our stories. We tell them to stay alive or keep alive those who only live now in the telling. That's how it seems to me, being alive for a little while, the teller and the told.

So says Ruthie Swain. The…

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Literary fiction

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Why read it?

3 authors picked History of the Rain as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Rick Stepp-Bolling

Author

I’m a poet of sorts, so when I read Niall Williams’ History of the Rain, I felt immersed in Irish prose-poetry. This is a writer who knows his language. It’s not often that I read Irish authors, but Williams’ word crafting creates such a wonderful world, I was totally absorbed.

From Rick's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Mary Hoffman

Author

I was in troduced to Niall Williams when my book club chose his This is Happiness, something I would never have picked up because of the wishy-washy title. I now want to read everything by him. I liked this one even better.

From Mary's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Catherine Ann Jones

Author

Niall Williams writes poetic prose about an Irish family in County Clare, Ireland.

A bedridden daughter seeks to know her deceased father by exploring past generations of family history. This novel is more than a family story. It is a love letter to Ireland itself. By exploring the past, the protagonist discovers herself and experiences a healing experience by this discovery.

From Catherine's 3 favorite reads in 2023.