HISTORY OF THE RAIN

by Niall Williams

My husband Rufus and I just took an amazing trip to Ireland—a place I have wanted to visit my entire life.  Given how I fell in love with the country and my current fascination with Irish authors, it makes sense that I keep reading Irish books. Niall Williams’ This Is Happiness (read review here) and The Time of the Child are two of the best books I’ve read in the past few years.  So, I decided to dip into some of his earlier books.  History of the Rain (2014) is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read.

Williams immediately transported me into Ruth Swain’s life, spent predominantly in her bed at the top of her childhood home with the rain streaming down the windows.  She has suffered a collapse of some sort and spends her days reading and trying to find her father among the thousands of books he left her after his untimely death. Williams so magically evokes the sounds and smells and pace of life in Ruth’s house and Irish town that I felt I was there in Ireland with her.  His writing style doesn’t emphasize the plot so much as the characters and how they think and interact with each other.  As I got to know Ruth better, I shared her heartache as she struggled to find her father in the books and writing he left behind.

Other memorable characters are Mrs. Quinty who visits Ruth as a friend and tutor.  And Ruth’s twin Aeney who brings joy to everyone he encounters.  Her friend Vincent, her most loyal visitor, encourages her and loves her throughout her illness.  Williams includes one scene where Vincent carries Ruth to the sink and washes her hair for her. It is one of the most beautifully written love scenes I’ve ever read.

I can’t possibly recommend Niall Williams’ books enough.  Enjoy each of them like the treasure that it is. And History of the Rain might be the perfect place to start. (Liz)