Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan

What a beautiful book, and a wonderful change of pace from what other books I've been reading recently. At the beginning, I was slightly confused, not yet able to see how these three separate stories would intertwine and connect: Ruth migrating to Ireland in the early 20th century, Shem, a young Jewish man sent to an asylum for being mute, and, finally, Aisling, an Irish emigrant to modern-day London. The end, however, left me utterly overwhelmed, as Gilligan's overriding plan became clear. Three different lives spanning multiple generations are linked together on multiple levels as explorations of both Jewish and Irish cultures equally, and dealing with issues surrounding identity, belonging, family and religious intolerance. Each story was fantastic on its own, moving due to the hardships and choices faced by the protagonists, and impressive in terms of character growth. Together the stories become something even more special and satisfying, when, at the book's end, the puzzle comes together and the whole picture is revealed. A thoughtful and poignant novel, and one that I believe will remain memorable.