Long Island by Colm Toibin

I loved this book so much, and I want everyone to read it so we can talk about it. "Long Island" by Colm Toibin is the story of Ellis Lacey, the main character in Toibin's best selling novel and later movie, "Brooklyn." It would be helpful before reading this book, to either read "Brooklyn" or see the glorious movie starring Saoirse Ronan as Ellis. "Long Island" opens 20 years after "Brooklyn," where we find Ellis now married to plumber Tony Fiorello, with two children. They live alongside his parents, brothers and extended family in a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island. The year is 1976, and Ellis is in her 40s, and has not returned to her homeland of Ireland in decades. Suddenly one day a stranger comes to her door, and tells Ellis that his wife is pregnant with Tony's baby. The man says that when the baby is born, he will place it on Ellis and Tony's doorstep, for them to raise the child. Thus begins a series of events that make Ellis decide to take a trip with her children back to Ireland. She returns to the town where her mother and brother still live, as well as the boyfriend she has left behind. I have never been to Ireland, but Toibin writes beautifully about Ellis and her trip back to her birth place. I loved seeing the modern woman she had become, return to a town where things are more antiquated. The writing is haunting, and the characters are rich. I was only sad when the book had to end, because I loved following Ellis on her journey. I do hope they make this one into a movie as well, as the story would be wonderful to watch played out on the big screen, too. To buy this book on Amazon click here.