Book Description
When Brother Michael inherits a small legacy, he defies his elders and runs away from the Home, taking with him twelve-year-old Owen. Posing as father and son, they concentrate on discovering the happiness that is so unfamiliar to them both, but as the world closes in on them, Michael moves towards a solution that is as uncompromising as it is inspired by love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Secrets--How else can I describe it but "beautiful"
Bernard MacLaverty's prose is absorbing and breathtaking.His stories are beautifully woven to give the reader a glimpse into the lives of intriguing characters at their most intriguing moments.The stories focus on epiphanies, emotions, relationships, and are tender and moving while simoultaneously harsh and biting.I would reccomend this book to anyone who appreciates beautiful short prose.

Secrets
First published in 1983, this lyrical novel, superficially straightforward but full of stories within stories, first brought Bernard MacLaverty's work to public attention. In the novel, a young Irish Republican Army operative who wants to break the cycle of violence seeks out a woman whose Ulster policeman husband he helped to murder. As their relationship grows, so do Cal's guilt and sorrow, until, in the end, he is forced to make a sacrifice of himself in order to gain redemption. Rich in ideas and history, this book helps us understand the situation in Northern Ireland--which "is not just there,"MacLaverty has remarked, "as a colorful background." ... Read more