'Memoir' by John McGahern

«My father's world went inwards to darkness and violence, lies and supression: the school, the library, the river, the Church, all went outwards, to light and understanding, freedom and joy.
In the beginning was my mother. The only way that life could be continued with her was through prayer. When I slipped into the empty church to pray for her, images of our life together kept returning to displace the words of prayer (...).
(...)
She never really left us. In the worst years, I believe we would have been broken but for the different life we had known with her and the love she gave that was there like hidden strength.»

Comprei este livro na "Kenny's Bookshop", uma bonita livraria de Galway, na primeira vez que fui à Irlanda.  E foi preciso regressar, 13 anos depois, para o conseguir ler. A "Kenny's" que ficava na High Street já não existe.