Days Without End

Barry effortlessly constructs a beautiful epic war narrative in Days Without End. The harsh and destructive nature of war is beautifully interwoven with glimmers of camaraderie and humanity. The peppering of the beautiful relationship between John Coles and Thomas McNulty is subtle and adds to the complexity of the war narrative and war trauma on the human psyche. This novel seems to me to have glimmers of Steinbeck's great American narrative within it. I felt a connection with the characters and a connection to the wider narrative. I really enjoyed Barry's Irish dialogue in the novel. I loved the depth of the novel and the conflicted characters of McNulty and Cole. I respected the true and harsh depictions of Americans brutality to the native Indian community at this time as well as the truthful depiction of the American civil war. A very strong and impressive war narrative. Upon reflection a now 5 star read. A must read for fans of war narratives and deep books that conflict and move you. Not a book for the faint hearted.

A personal narrative told by a young Irish man who joins the US Army mid 19th century, and lives through the war on Indians and the American Civil War. There's adventures, acts of immense cruelty, grappling with consequences and authority, yet foremost there's a lot of heart, friendship and loyalty.

The writing style is unique, it's conversational, as spoken out loud without proper grammar, and it's lyrical and simple. Somehow the style made me drift off often, and then when I went, more attentively, to reread passages I had missed, I often discovered the beauty in the detail. There's something in the simplicity of the words and expressions used, that puts more weight on the sentiments the narrator communicates.

I was very moved by the bond between the main characters and their little make-shift family, and definitely would have liked to spend more time with them.