Spill Simmer Falter Wither

"The Irish Times has called Sara Baume a writer who “is touched by greatness.” That is a lot to live up to in a country that’s famous for its writers, so let’s just say she has a way with words. The book is divided into four sections, each one a different season, named to reflect what the main character, Ray, is going through. He’s a misfit in a small Irish town by the sea, but his life changes when he adopts a dog who is loving but has a vicious streak. In order to protect the dog, Ray is forced to leave his hometown, a journey that both frees him and destroys him. As you sink into the rhythms of Baume’s prose, you can almost smell the salt air and feel the sting of a small town that can be unforgiving to those who are different."