An Irish tale A recent novel by Walter Keady, author of Celibates and Other Lovers, is certainly worth investigating. Keady grew up in Ireland, and his story of Irish Mary McGreevy (MacMurray ∧ Beck, $24, 1878448838) resonates with authentic details of place, people, and language. Readers will add quite a saucy repertoire of 1950’s Irish slang to their vocabulary.
When Mary McGreevy abandons her convent to run the family farm, the village is scandalized. Village wags soon have even more to talk about when the former nun purposely becomes pregnant and will not name the father. The ensuing brou-ha-ha is explored with warmth, compassionate humor, and piercing insight.