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This thread is for discussion of Part I, Leaving. In this part, each kid gets their own chapter, and we move forward in time, looking at the kids' lives after they leave home.

The first chapter is about Hannah. It starts out, "Later, after Hanna made some cheese on toast, her mother came into the kitchen . . . ." The opening struck me as odd. Later than what? After I finished the chapter I assumed it was (view spoiler)[ after Dan announced he was going to be a priest and the mother took to her bed. (hide spoiler)] But I had to reread the chapter to realize that the beginning of the chapter, and the end of the chapter were the same scene--Hannah and her mother in the kitchen, when Hannah is sent to the uncle's store for Solpadeine. "After" means after everything that happens in the chapter. I found this an interesting approach for a beginning of a book. Looking back on the book as a whole, I think the author may have played other tricks with time, and I want to reread it to see.

Feel free to add any comments about anything in this section. I used a spoiler tag above, in case anyone reading my comment had not actually started reading the book. If your comment is about something that could be a spoiler, please use spoiler tags.

I completely missed that this was the same scene, although I do remember thinking: Didn't they already have this conversation?
Not pausing to think about it, I thought it was maybe a scene that frequently played out with them. But since you've brought this up, I've tried to look for other examples of time manipulation/playfulness in the book. Haven't noticed any so far.

I'm still on the Emmett chapter, but these chapters almost feel like little short stories. Each character, and even the writing style, seems so different and there are so many wonderful little details and peculiarities to their stories. Looking forward to when they're all back together.

Is this changing of styles and points of view pretty common to the way Enright writes or particular to this book?

This is the first book of Enright's that I have read, so I don't know how it compares to the rest of her writing, except that I get the impression from reviews that this is her best work. I'm rereading the Green Road, looking for what else I may have missed the first time. I keep getting sidetracked by other books, however.

I can live with starting out with her best. :D

I've had trouble lately getting sidetracked, too.

I'm new to this list and joined because I want to read/explore 21st century fiction now that we have over 17 years of it and much to read.

I read The gathering and was quite impressed and then read about The Green Road. I've just finished the first part and really enjoy Enright's writing. I find her so absorbing.

What struck me in the first part is that nearly all the characters are ill or somehow connected to illness. Even in the first chapter, young Hannah, although not ill, is sent out to get medication for her mother. In the chapter on Emmett, both he and his girlfriend seem to be connected with medicine although it's the dog that is sick. Anyone care to comment on this? Why is everyone ill? Is it a result of their unhappiness, or neglect?

Elaine, I had not made that connection. What struck me about the Emmett chapter was that the villagers poisoned the dog, in part, because they resented the fact that the dog was well fed while children were starving. I think there was also some religious component--a belief that dogs were unclean.

I wonder if part of the connection between the illness in these chapters relates to how people care for the sick or infirm or less fortunate. In the chapter about Dan, so many people were sick or dying, and who showed up to help and support them seemed very important. Dan seemed to be someone who could not be counted on to show up.

Well, in the first chapter, the mother is in bed and sends Hannah out for medication. Then we have Dan in New York and the AIDS epidemic, followed by Constance being checked out for breast cancer and no one supporting her. In the chapter with Emmett, he seems to be involved with some kind of aid. The dog has a bad eye and Mali is a muslim country where they apparently don't like dogs, as they find them unclean, which is why he's poisoned when the two are away. I haven't finished the last chapter that goes back to the mother. I wondered why there was so much sickness.

Elaine wrote: "Anyone care to comment on this? Why is everyone ill? Is it a result of their unhappiness, or neglect? .."

Could it be that the physical ailments represent some sort of psychological dysfunction? I think there is a connection, especially in the case of the mother.

I also think you are on to something when you asked if the preponderance of illness is a result of unhappiness or neglect. Can it be both? Can it be they are unhappy because each in his/her own way feels neglected/unappreciated?

Yes, I think that's it, Tamara. It goes even further than the family. Alice's mother breaks down every spring. If I recall correctly, Emmett also suffered some kind of breakdown, so patterns are repeated and those with similar dysfunction are drawn in.

Even in The Gathering alcoholism took its toll on the family, and alcoholism also qualifies as a disease.

Tamara wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Anyone care to comment on this? Why is everyone ill? Is it a result of their unhappiness, or neglect? .."

Could it be that the physical ailments represent some sort of psychological..."

That's a good point Tamara. The physical illness may well be a metaphor for mental problems. The Green Road does paint an intriguing multifaceted picture of a family.