Items related to In the Forest
Synopsis
IN THE FOREST, set in the west of Ireland, is the story of a young man who shoots dead three people in a forest glade. The young man, Mich O'Kane, is 'not all there in the head' as one character puts it. By puberty he is already committing petty crimes, ending up in borstal. By the time he is back home he has also served time in a British jail and is an institutionalised criminal. His sexual fantasies - revolving around women in the village - eventually centre on Eily, an artist and single mother, who lives with her son Maddie. One day Mich pounces, and orders Eily to drive them to the woods nearby...
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Review
In the best of Edna O'Brien's novels, there is a lawless element, a violence, that springs up to satisfy some primal urge: revenge, desire, thwarted love, or even the seemingly contrasting need of a community for balance and order. In the Forest is based on a true story of a local terror, a murderer sprung from the fertile soil of the west Ireland countryside. Michen O'Kane is a loving boy gone bad. His father beat his mother, and his mother died young, leaving 10-year-old Michen to the indifferent care of relatives and teachers. A rich fantasy life and little outside guidance quickly lead to a detention center, where Michen is the prey of bullies, as well as of a kindly priest with an unfortunate use for small boys. But none of these factors fully explains Michen's transformation into a killer. It is one of the strengths of this difficult and beautifully written novel that the lyrical fragments of Michen's tale--told from various points of view--do not completely add up. The dark mysteries of psychosis are left intact. We have only evocative glimpses of Michen's inner world and a crystal-clear image of the ruin he left behind. --Regina Marler
About the Author
Edna O'Brien is the author of 19 books. She was the winner of the 1993 Writers Guild Prize for Fiction. Her biography of James Joyce was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in June 1999. Her recent fiction has been about Irish topics - religion, politics, property. In 2001 her documentary novel, In the Forest - about a brutal murder on the west coast - caused a furore in her native Ireland. It was the subject of a BBC Omnibus film.
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- PublisherPhoenix Paperbacks
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 0753816857
- ISBN 13 9780753816851
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages224
- Rating
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In the Forest
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001330080
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In the Forest
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In the Forest
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In the Forest
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Condition: Very Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # wbs5027706846
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In the Forest
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Acceptable. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. The book is perfectly readable and fit for use, although it shows signs of previous ownership. The spine is likely creased and the cover scuffed or slightly torn. Textbooks will typically have an amount of underlining and/or highlighting, as well as notes. If this book is over 5 years old, then please expect the pages to be yellowing or to have age spots. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages. Inscription on the first page, typically just a name but may include a dedication or a brief personal message. Seller Inventory # CHL9987690
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In the Forest
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Seller Inventory # CHL7505169
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In the Forest
Published by
Phoenix, London, 2003
ISBN 10: 0753816857
ISBN 13: 9780753816851
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Colour Illustrated Paperback
First Edition
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Colour Illustrated Paperback. Condition: Near Fine (NEAR NEW). No Jacket. Not Illustrated (illustrator). This is a First Edition of This Edition. .Please e-mail for further details. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾". Not Signed or Inscribed. PAPERBACK. Seller Inventory # 1001512
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In the Forest
Seller: Barclay Books, York, WA, Australia
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. JUN03. A moving and compelling novel from the acclaimed Edna O'Brien, inspired by a notorious and tragic triple murder. In the Forest, set in the west of Ireland, is the story of a young man who shoots three people dead in a forest glade. The young man, Mich O'Kane, is 'not all there in the head', as one character puts it. By puberty he is already committing petty crimes, ending up in borstal. By the time he is back home he has also served time in a British jail and is an institutionalised criminal.His sexual fantasies - revolving around women in the village - eventually centre on Eily, an artist and single mother, who lives with her son Maddie. One day Mich pounces, and orders Eily to drive them to the woods nearby. 2003. A fine, unmarked and unread copy. Seller Inventory # 21436110
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In The Forest
Published by
Phoenix/Orion Books Ltd, UK, 2002
ISBN 10: 0753816857
ISBN 13: 9780753816851
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Soft cover
Seller: Books@Ruawai, Kaipara District, New Zealand
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Good - Some Wear - Marks. Seller Inventory # 069262
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