
Days Without End
“A man’s memory might have only a hundred clear days in it and he has lived thousands. Can’t do much about that. We have our store of days and we spend them like forgetful drunkards.” ― Sebastian Barry, Days Without End
The interwoven lives of Irish immigrant Thomas McNulty and his devoted friend John Cole are followed as they traverse the harsh realities of 19th-century America in this stirring and poetic book. Young Thomas, who is fleeing the Great Famine, meets John right away after arriving in America. They spend their formative years in a gritty mining town as cross-dressing dancers. They later join the American Army and fight in both the Civil War and the Indian Wars. Their intense love for one another and their adopted Sioux daughter, Winona, shines through the violence and adversity as a source of strength and hope. The book, which is told in Thomas's unique and moving voice, examines themes of love, loss, identity, and the terrible effects of prejudice and war.
I enjoyed Barry's exceptional writing style, finding it both poetic and visceral. The narration had a unique blend of wit, innocence, and profound wisdom. The novel is an unflinching portrayal of the Indian Wars and the Civil War, offering a fresh perspective on these tumultuous periods through the eyes of an Irish immigrant. But it is also a powerful love story: the deep and unconventional love between Thomas and John is a central element, one I found sincere in its tenderness and strength in the face of adversity.