I find myself speechless and wary of any comment I might make on this wonderful book. I have devoured the first 300 pages but found myself slowing down at the last 100 because I knew something something unspeakable would happen in the end.
When it came, it wasn't how I expected it. I supposed because Doyler almost drowned, it made me think he was off the hook and that Jim would be the one to die. I didn't see that boy with the extraordinary blink to grow up, to move on if the other had died. So I hoped Jim would be the one, so Doyler might survived in body and soul. Of course, as a true tragedy, both died. Doyler in body, Jim in soul.
Throughout the book, many things were hinted towards this particular end, but the one that strikes me the most is the commander of boys that Jim and McMurrough admired from afar, and then Doyler musing that Jim would be a good commander and teacher of men, and then that becoming true by the end.

This was an extraordinary book, language and character-wise. The words flowed in the distinct consciousness of every character assuming the point of view at a particular moment, and even those were reactionary to the company. The first time McMurrough's point of view came into focus, i was confused with the many voices that populated his head. They were so rich they actually seemed alive. Scrotes' story and philosophy and how it made McMurrough's heart soften before the world and its beauty made an enticing contrast to the general cynical point of view before society and its actors.
His behaviour towards Jim and Doyler and the role he assumed in their relationship, serving as both a mentor and initiator, loving so deeply one of them and wishing the absolute happiness for both despite what it might mean for his own, make him the most interesting character I've had the pleasure to encounter in fiction. You never quite knew what to expect from him, but the surprise was always positive.

My heart is still broken over Jim and Doyler. Their love, especially when in juxtaposition to the attraction shared by the priest, and the boys in the alleys and soldiers by the pier, shone as pure and powerful as a blessing, a light in the grey revolutionary ireland. The consummation of their love in the rocks, in an island of their own, echoes what McMurrough later said, 'No man is an island, but two just might'. And indeed against the political backdrop, the social issues and the poverty and nationalism, there were, at swim, two boys.

devoured this book. truly couldn't put it down. would sneak in a few pages whenever i could just because i was so desperate to see where the story would go and because i fell in love with jim and doyle!!! even though it's an incredibly dense book, it's very easy to read, the rhythmic nature of the book making it such a page turner. at it's core, it's a love story, of two boys finding each other in the calamity of life, but it's also so much more than that and it pulls on all your heart strings, keeps you at the edge of your seat and ultimately leaves you aching for more, for better, at the end!! quite a difficult read in some places, as some of the topics it touches upon are incredibly harrowing, but they're worth it, and often make the characters more realistic and human. it's a tragic story, but there is hope and joy sprinkled so many times throughout!! read the final few pages on the train and had to bite my lip hard to stop myself from crying....well worth taking the time to read this lengthy novel, in my opinion, not one page was a waste of time!!