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Peeling Oranges tells the story of how Derek Foley, while sifting through his late father’s diaries and his mother’s correspondence with an IRA man, discovers that Patrick Foley, a diplomat in Franco’s Spain, was not really his father. Derek’s mother, who is ailing, is unwilling to discuss the past, forcing her son on a quest that will plunge him into the early history of Irish diplomacy, taking him to Spain and later to Northern Ireland, until he discovers who his real father was — with tragic consequences. Peeling Oranges is a novel full of personal and political intrigue, fraught with ideology, as it intersects the histories of two emergent nations — Ireland and Spain. It is also a beautiful and lyrically written love story of childhood sweethearts — the apolitical Derek and the passionate nationalist, Sinéad Ní Shúilleabháin.
Some reviews of Peeling Oranges:
“A book to lose oneself in. I highly recommend it.”
Gabriel Byrne
“This is a well written novel which manages not just to tell its own story but also to weave together different strands of Spanish and Irish politics.”
Books Ireland
“Lawless has a way with language.”
Daily Mail
“This is a wonderful, involving story of high-quality prose fiction.”
Hot Press magazine
Reviews from Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Trying to find your roots.,January 3, 2013
By
Crystal Lanham – See all my reviews
This review is from: Peeling Oranges (Kindle Edition)
Peeling Oranges is a mystery, about a man who is trying to figure out where he comes from.
The book follows Derek Foley, whose life is turned to shambles when his diplomat father dies and he learns that he is not really his son. The discovery is made when Derek is left to go through his Patrick Foleys possessions. Although Derek keeps trying to acquire information from his mother that could lead him to finding the identity of his father, she refuses to help him. The story takes place in Spain and Northern Ireland, and Lawless really did impressive work touching on these historical aspects in his story. There is much more travel involved as well!
I really enjoyed this book. I can understand how a man would feel so drawn to need to know where he comes from, and who he really is. This book is a page turner! I love a good mystery and Lawless delivered!
5.0 out of 5 stars A mystery from the past,December 30, 2012
By benq123 – See all my reviews
This review is from: Peeling Oranges (Kindle Edition)
Can you forget your past? Well, one may try, but it can haunt you until your very end. Events we think long forgotten never actually disappear but lie buried deep down till one day they can resurface. This classic masterpiece takes us on a journey through a woman’s life, backwards. She is the mother of the leading character of the story, Mr. Derek Foley. The events that take place reveal some dark secrets; secrets which are best kept well hidden from the present.
Derek Foley’s organized life style collapses when he discovers that his beloved diplomat father, Patrick Foley, is not actually his real father. This discovery leaves an empty space in his life and heart, a space he feels must be filled. So he begins a search for his real father. His mother refuses to provide straight forward answers to his questions about his father, preferring to keep the truth about him hidden.
And so the quest to uncover the truth about his father begins, and this is where this story really begins. Derek Foley faces all sorts of difficulties while trying to uncover the hidden past, but he is unrelenting in his pursuit for the truth about the past, where ever it may take him. And so he finds himself travelling to many a location to find out more.
The events in this novel are excellently interconnected with historic events that took place in Spain and Northern Ireland. It this, it is a great period novel.
But I say this is so much more that just another historic novel; it contains great intrigue and mystery, keeping you involved throughout. The story grips you and never lets the reader want to put down the book till the mystery is finally resolved.
The novel also contains two underlying themes. One is a passionate love story between Derek and his childhood sweetheart. And the other is a mystery that is full of intrigue between the good and the bad leading to a dramatic end.
I enjoyed the way the author effortlessly interlinks these two stories together successfully.
Anyone who loves a good read should adore this novel.
5.0 out of 5 stars Peeling Oranges,December 22, 2012
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Peeling Oranges (Kindle Edition)
Peeling Oranges tells the story of how Derek Foley, while sifting through his late father’s diaries and his mother’s correspondence with an IRA man, discovers that Patrick Foley, a diplomat in Franco’s Spain, was not really his father. Derek’s mother who is ailing is unwilling to discuss the past, forcing her son on a search for paternity through a web of Spanish and Irish history, providing the text with a strong narrative drive and focus. The author’s extensive knowledge of Irish and Spanish history is evident as he creates fascinating parallels between Irish and Spanish upheaval, submerging the reader into a very real past in the company of highly credible, complex and interesting characters. The ruminations for instance of the Bible-quoting career diplomat Patrick Foley on impotence and early experiments with artificial insemination, and his Thursday visits to his young female `friend’ in the barrio chino of Barcelona, provide a fascinating study of a complex man. His wife Martha, on the other hand, divides her time between Madrid and the tenements of Dublin, where she helps the nationalist cause and does social work. Her garrulous accounts to Patrick of old Liberties’ characters, with their mixture of sadness and humour, jump off the page in their authenticity. This former loquaciousness of his mother puzzles Derek as she is always reticent towards him. She tries to deny her nationalist involvement to him. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the clipped and spare non-connecting dialogue between herself and her son, as she is determined to keep the secret of her past from him.
This personal history is interwoven almost seamlessly with the histories of the two emergent states of Spain and Ireland, in prose that is lyrical at times, reminding one of an Ondaatje novel.
The manner, in which Derek is torn by his own apolitical, universal views and his growing fondness for the passionate nationalist Sinéad with whom he grew up, is delicately handled. Also, the tension is palpable as he is drawn into the conflict in the North, and the anger that drives him, having been lied to, is convincingly portrayed. The journey north provides a nerve-tingling, final resolution of Derek’s quest for paternity.
5.0 out of 5 stars Full value once again from James Lawless,January 7, 2013
By
This review is from: Peeling Oranges (Kindle Edition)
If you love books that provide more than a simple story line then have a read of this excellent piece of work by James Lawless. I had read three other novels by this guy and he never disappoints, he really does have a gift in coming up with solid ideas and story lines, mixed in with exceptional writing skills that keep the reader engaged.
The theme, I guess, is perhaps quite common, as a young man (Derek) discovers the person he believed to be his father actually was not and his mother’s stubbornness to give him answers in relation to the identity or whereabouts of his real father leaves him looking for alternatives to find out the truth.
The revelation comes about following his “step-father’s” death and some of the personal possessions reveal an unexpected discovery. It is not unreasonable therefore that Derek wants to know who is father so his search begins. The novel spans across Spain and Northern Ireland and dives in to historical and political aspects of the two countries.
As mysteries go, it is as good as they get, with lots of questions introduced early in the story and a plot and sub-plots that generate more questions as the story progresses. Step by step you are drawn further in to mystery and the eventual outcome and it looks like it was written quite effortlessly but is of a very high quality, which is probably true given the experience of the author. Keep them coming James; you are providing full value to everything you write.
Reviews Written by Ester
Masterly; a novel I loved from start to finish,
January 8, 2013
This review is from: Peeling Oranges (Kindle Edition)
From the early pages when James Lawless is describing the early years of Derek Foley and his evolving relationship with his mother, and the reading of his father’s dairies, and the big discovery that follows, I was enamored with this novel.
The story and the characters are so interesting that it is almost Dickensian, involving you in the story and getting you to become really fascinated in each of the characters, and what happens next.
I could go more into the plot, but I think the joy of this novel is in the discovery. The less you know about the book, the more you will probably enjoy it.
You won’t be disappointed in this one.
I consider this as one of my favorite books in a long time. James Lawless, you have found yourself a new fan. I’m out to read your next novel. Great stuff.
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging. An extremely well written novel,January 10, 2013
By
Jan Heart – See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Peeling Oranges (Kindle Edition)
An extremely well written novel revealing a world I never knew anything about…. until this book.
I was not surprised to see that the book has won a number of awards (Scintilla award and others), such is the style and originality of this story.
The period covered by James Lawless is quite fascinating covering Ireland before the IRA, and the time of Spain under the dictatorship of Franco. I knew nothing about the relationship that existed between the two countries at that time. Yes, famous novelists such as George Orwell left to fight in the Spanish Civil War, but this book really opens up this period in history in a way I never knew before.
The book also has many other interesting parts to it. It shows what life in Ireland was like at the time (very poor in parts) and has some very interesting characters in it. The book starts well with the main character discovering he is not who he thinks he is, with the true identity of his real father being a mystery. From there, it just gets better. Truly engaging book. Highly recommended.
Genre: FICTION / HistoricalPaperback selling steadily particularly on Amazon and in the US and as an ebook. I gained access to the recently opened national archives and discovered previously censored and censured material on the Irish civil war and the Irish involvement in the Spanish civil war - the protagonist's putative father was a diplomat in Franco's spain. This novel marks the first time that early Irish diplomay has been treated as a motif in fiction.
Beginning extract from Peeling Oranges by James Lawless
As a kid I kept thinking the insurance man was my father. Not that I knew him mind (I only met him the once), but I heard him often enough. I can remember my mother’s voice pleading with him. Was it over money? We weren’t poor, although my father – my real father that is – was dead. He had been a diplomat, so he didn’t exactly leave us destitute. But I got it into my head that my mother hadn’t the money to pay the insurance man and he sought payment in other ways. I should say at this stage that my mother was an uncommonly beautiful woman. Everyone’s mother is beautiful I know in the eyes of her offspring, but Mam’s beauty was universally acknowledged. When in her prime, her bright blue eyes and svelte figure attracted many suitors which, apart from the insurance man, included medical students, members of the corps diplomatique and even an IRA man. The last mentioned was a friend of her older brother, Tomás.
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French
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Translation in progress.
Translated by Ionica Monticelli
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German
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Already translated.
Translated by Udo Fischer
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Author review: A meticulous translator and a joy to work with. |
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Martina Divisoli
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Author review: I worked with Martina on the translation of my novel Peeling Oranges into Italian. The quality of her translated work is excellent, sticking close to the original text. She is prompt and thorough in delivery, is easy to communicate with and is enthusiastic and diligent in the promotion of the work. I highly recommend her. |
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Isabel M.
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Author review: Isabel is brilliant, thorough and meticulous translator whom I highly recommend. |
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by R. Paula Sánchez
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Author review: Paula is an enthusiastic and meticulous translator across cultures and is brilliant at research and promotion. I highly recommend her. |
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Swedish
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Already translated.
Translated by Jenny Wemlert Tacchino
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Author review: I had the pleasure of working with Jenny when she translated my novel Peeling Oranges. She is very thorough; her annotations are flawless. She goes to great pains to find the mot juste. I highly recommend her as a translator. |
