Long Island
Long Island is a 2024 novel by Colm Tóibín, which serves as a continuation of his critically acclaimed novel Brooklyn. The story follows the life of Eilis Lacey, now in her 40s, living on Long Island with her husband Tony Fiorello and their two teenage children. Despite her years in America, Eilis has remained deeply connected to her Irish roots and has never returned to her homeland.
The novel is set in 1976, and the peaceful life Eilis has built in America is disrupted when a man from Ireland visits her and reveals that his wife is pregnant with Tony’s child. The man intends to abandon the child, leaving Eilis with a significant decision to make. Faced with her husband’s betrayal and the impending birth of a child, Eilis decides to return to Ireland before the child is born, seeking clarity and peace of mind.
Once in Enniscorthy, her hometown in Ireland, Eilis reconnects with old friends and encounters Jim Farrell, her former lover. Amidst the changing dynamics of her hometown and personal relationships, Eilis finds herself torn between rekindled love, family responsibilities, and personal choices. The story is a journey of self-discovery and emotional decisions.
Description
- Long Island by Colm Tóibín is a sequel to his 2009 novel Brooklyn, continuing the story of Eilis Lacey two decades later. Now settled in Long Island with her husband Tony and their children, Eilis faces personal upheaval when she discovers Tony has fathered a child with another woman. She returns to her hometown in Ireland, confronting past relationships and seeking solace. The novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of love and family across two countries.
FAQs
- What is “Long Island” by Colm Tóibín about?
- • “Long Island” follows Eilis Lacey, an Irish immigrant living in Long Island with her Italian-American husband Tony and their two children. The novel explores her confrontation with a visitor who claims Tony fathered a child with another woman, forcing Eilis to face betrayal, complex family dynamics, and her identity.
- Is “Long Island” connected to any of Colm Tóibín’s previous works?
- • Yes, “Long Island” is the sequel to Tóibín’s 2009 novel “Brooklyn,” which detailed Eilis’s original immigration to America. This novel picks up her story over 20 years later, reflecting on her life as a wife and mother in the 1970s.
- What themes does “Long Island” explore?
- • The novel delves into themes of immigration, identity, family loyalty, marital struggles, secrecy, betrayal, and the nuances of relationships set against the backdrop of Irish-American life in the 1970s.
- Who is the target audience for “Long Island”?
- • Readers interested in literary fiction, immigrant narratives, family dramas, and stories about personal and cultural identity will find “Long Island” engaging. Fans of Colm Tóibín’s previous work, especially “Brooklyn,” will appreciate the continuation of Eilis Lacey’s story.
- How does Colm Tóibín portray Eilis’s character in this novel?
- • Eilis is portrayed as a complex and resilient woman navigating the pressures of family and personal crisis. Tóibín’s writing highlights her internal struggles and the emotional weight of silence and unspoken conflicts throughout the story.
- When was “Long Island” published, and by whom?
- • “Long Island” was published on May 7, 2024, by Scribner.
- What is the historical setting of “Long Island” and how does it influence the story?
- • Set in the mid-1970s, the historical context shapes characters’ views on relationships, marriage, and societal expectations, adding depth to the immigrant experience and personal dilemmas faced by Eilis and those around her.
- How long is the book and what is the reading time?
- • The novel is approximately 304 pages long, with an estimated reading time of about 6 hours, suitable for reading in several sessions.
- Has “Long Island” received any notable critical attention?
- • While specific awards for “Long Island” are not yet mentioned, Colm Tóibín is an acclaimed author with prestigious awards like the International Dublin Literary Award and the Folio Prize, and his previous works have been widely praised.
- Are there discussion guides or book club questions available for “Long Island”?
- • Yes, several reading guides and book club discussion questions are available online to deepen understanding of the novel’s themes, character dynamics, and narrative style.
Quotes
- “His father had told him as soon as he was old enough to stand behind the bar and serve a customer that if he ever felt an urge to tell anybody anything, he should keep it to himself.” — Colm Tóibín, Long Island
- “Long Island is a gorgeous story about a woman thrashing against the constraints of fate, rich with yearning and the quiet ache of a life lived between two worlds.” — Maureen Corrigan (on Long Island by Colm Tóibín)
- “Toibín expertly describes how people keep each other in check and control each other while intending to be supportive. He shows how people want to protect but also impose limits on those they love.” — Summary insight on Long Island by Colm Tóibín
- “I see the town almost as a living thing, as though it can breathe and wake and sleep. And it is as if the people in Enniscorthy mix and mingle like elements in some natural cycle.” — Colm Tóibín on the Irish setting of Long Island
- “Some of our loves and attachments are elemental and beyond our choosing, and for that very reason they come spiced with pain and regret and need and hollowness and a feeling as close to anger as I will ever be able to imagine.” — Colm Tóibín (general thematic quote reflecting Long Island’s emotional landscape)
- “Ending a novel is almost like putting a child to sleep—it can’t be done abruptly.” — Colm Tóibín (on the art of storytelling, relevant to Long Island’s narrative style)
- “That husband of yours is a great talker. That’s how I know your name. He told my wife all about you.” — Excerpt from Long Island illustrating the social dynamics and intimacy of small communities.
- Part One:i 2,089 Words
- Part One:i 2,306 Words
- Part One:ii 2,148 Words
- Part One:ii 2,360 Words
- Part One:iii 2,069 Words
- Part One:iii 2,439 Words
- Part One:iv 2,227 Words
- Part One:iv 2,370 Words
- Part One:v 2,188 Words
- Part One:v 2,389 Words
- Part Two:i 2,369 Words
- Part Two:i 2,334 Words
- Part Two:ii 2,206 Words
- Part Two:ii 2,124 Words
- Part Two:iii 2,104 Words
- Part Two:iii 2,099 Words
- Part Three:i 2,208 Words
- Part Three:i 2,286 Words
- Part Three:ii 2,100 Words
- Part Three:iii 2,179 Words
- Part Four:i 2,261 Words
- Part Four:ii 2,062 Words
- Part Four:iii 2,127 Words
- Part Five:i 2,130 Words
- Part Five:ii 2,368 Words
- Part Five:iii 1,862 Words
- Part Six:i 2,266 Words
- Part Six:ii 2,561 Words
- Part Six:iii 2,256 Words
- Part Seven:i 2,342 Words
- Part Seven:ii 2,188 Words
- Part Seven:iii 2,214 Words
Quotes
“His father had told him as soon as he was old enough to stand behind the bar and serve a customer that if he ever felt an urge to tell anybody anything, he should keep it to himself.”
— Colm Tóibín, Long Island
“Long Island is a gorgeous story about a woman thrashing against the constraints of fate, rich with yearning and the quiet ache of a life lived between two worlds.”
— Maureen Corrigan (on Long Island by Colm Tóibín)
“Toibín expertly describes how people keep each other in check and control each other while intending to be supportive. He shows how people want to protect but also impose limits on those they love.”
— Summary insight on Long Island by Colm Tóibín
“I see the town almost as a living thing, as though it can breathe and wake and sleep. And it is as if the people in Enniscorthy mix and mingle like elements in some natural cycle.”
— Colm Tóibín on the Irish setting of Long Island
“Some of our loves and attachments are elemental and beyond our choosing, and for that very reason they come spiced with pain and regret and need and hollowness and a feeling as close to anger as I will ever be able to imagine.”
— Colm Tóibín (general thematic quote reflecting Long Island’s emotional landscape)
“Ending a novel is almost like putting a child to sleep
— it can’t be done abruptly.” — Colm Tóibín (on the art of storytelling, relevant to Long Island’s narrative style)
“That husband of yours is a great talker. That’s how I know your name. He told my wife all about you.”
— Excerpt from Long Island illustrating the social dynamics and intimacy of small communities.
FAQs
What is “Long Island” by Colm Tóibín about?
• “Long Island” follows Eilis Lacey, an Irish immigrant living in Long Island with her Italian-American husband Tony and their two children. The novel explores her confrontation with a visitor who claims Tony fathered a child with another woman, forcing Eilis to face betrayal, complex family dynamics, and her identity.
Is “Long Island” connected to any of Colm Tóibín’s previous works?
• Yes, “Long Island” is the sequel to Tóibín’s 2009 novel “Brooklyn,” which detailed Eilis’s original immigration to America. This novel picks up her story over 20 years later, reflecting on her life as a wife and mother in the 1970s.
What themes does “Long Island” explore?
• The novel delves into themes of immigration, identity, family loyalty, marital struggles, secrecy, betrayal, and the nuances of relationships set against the backdrop of Irish-American life in the 1970s.
Who is the target audience for “Long Island”?
• Readers interested in literary fiction, immigrant narratives, family dramas, and stories about personal and cultural identity will find “Long Island” engaging. Fans of Colm Tóibín’s previous work, especially “Brooklyn,” will appreciate the continuation of Eilis Lacey’s story.
How does Colm Tóibín portray Eilis’s character in this novel?
• Eilis is portrayed as a complex and resilient woman navigating the pressures of family and personal crisis. Tóibín’s writing highlights her internal struggles and the emotional weight of silence and unspoken conflicts throughout the story.
When was “Long Island” published, and by whom?
• “Long Island” was published on May 7, 2024, by Scribner.
What is the historical setting of “Long Island” and how does it influence the story?
• Set in the mid-1970s, the historical context shapes characters’ views on relationships, marriage, and societal expectations, adding depth to the immigrant experience and personal dilemmas faced by Eilis and those around her.