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The Amusements
In the seaside town of Tramore, County Waterford, visitors arrive in waves with the tourist season, reliving the best days of their childhoods in its caravan parks, chippers and amusement arcades.
Local teenager Helen Grant is indifferent to the charm of her surroundings; she dreams of escaping to art college with her glamorous classmate Stella Swaine and, from there, taking on the world. But leaving Tramore is easier said than done. Though they don't yet know it, Helen and Stella's lives are pulled by tides beyond their control.
Following the Grant and Swaine families and their neighbours over three decades, The Amusements is a luminous and unforgettable story about roads taken and not taken - and a brilliantly observed portrait of a small-town community.
Local teenager Helen Grant is indifferent to the charm of her surroundings; she dreams of escaping to art college with her glamorous classmate Stella Swaine and, from there, taking on the world. But leaving Tramore is easier said than done. Though they don't yet know it, Helen and Stella's lives are pulled by tides beyond their control.
Following the Grant and Swaine families and their neighbours over three decades, The Amusements is a luminous and unforgettable story about roads taken and not taken - and a brilliantly observed portrait of a small-town community.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
January 16, 2023
Flannery's writing is strong and has potential. But I really don't think this should be marketed as a novel (it is in the new paperback edition, at least).
It's very much a collection of stories set around the same town. True, some characters do pop up several times, but there isn't enough of a strong single thread to pull it all through. If you compare it to Olive Kitteridge or Rebecca Kauffman's Chorus - those books are also essentially novels-as-stories and they are much more effective.
Still, I do think she's one to watch. The tone of her writing voice is delicious and she writes convincing characters. I just wish those characters would do more on the page.
It's very much a collection of stories set around the same town. True, some characters do pop up several times, but there isn't enough of a strong single thread to pull it all through. If you compare it to Olive Kitteridge or Rebecca Kauffman's Chorus - those books are also essentially novels-as-stories and they are much more effective.
Still, I do think she's one to watch. The tone of her writing voice is delicious and she writes convincing characters. I just wish those characters would do more on the page.
March 5, 2023
Set in Tramore, Co Waterford, The Amusements is a series of loosely connected stories, charting the charms, shortcomings and in some cases, downright misery of everyday, small-town Irish life.
It’s wry, observant, poignant and so funny - I kept stopping to write down little quotes that made me laugh. Dark humour and deliciously vivid characters make for a compelling read.
The writing is extraordinarily good - think Elizabeth Strout or Anne Tyler, but make it Irish. Genuinely can’t wait to see what Flannery writes next. 4/5 ⭐️
It’s wry, observant, poignant and so funny - I kept stopping to write down little quotes that made me laugh. Dark humour and deliciously vivid characters make for a compelling read.
The writing is extraordinarily good - think Elizabeth Strout or Anne Tyler, but make it Irish. Genuinely can’t wait to see what Flannery writes next. 4/5 ⭐️
October 16, 2022
VIgnettes.Starts well,interesting characters,then it loses steam and spark
September 2, 2022
The Amusements is a collection of short stories that all link together and overlap to give a sense of a small town community. I did like the idea of this and thought some parts were done well. However, I went into this expecting something different and felt slightly disappointed. I just felt like I couldn’t connect to any of the characters because I was just getting into their story and then it changed to another story and set of characters. Overall, it was a good story but wish I’d known more about it before starting so that I didn’t have preconceived ideas of what I wanted it to be.
May 21, 2023
Aingeala Flannery’s The Amusements is a collection of loosely connected short stories set in Tramore, a traditional seaside town in County Waterford, on the southeast coast of Ireland, famed for its fairground and long beach.
There’s a distinct William Trevor “vibe” about the tales of small-town lives depicted here, so I felt validated to discover, via the author’s Acknowledgements, that she was inspired by Trevor’s work, explaining that his story Honeymoon in Tramore “set me off on a flight of fancy”.
The way Flannery explores the interconnectedness of people living in the same small community, where everyone knows everyone else, where people bear grudges and are suspicious of “blow-ins”, comes right out of Trevor’s “school of writing”. Even her characters — life-like, flawed and shaped by their local community — could have stepped out of his pages.
But that’s not to say her work is derivative; it’s not. The Amusements is a highly original, closely observed portrait of a town and its residents, both permanent and fleeting, and the ways in which their lives intersect over the course of 30 or so years.
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog.
There’s a distinct William Trevor “vibe” about the tales of small-town lives depicted here, so I felt validated to discover, via the author’s Acknowledgements, that she was inspired by Trevor’s work, explaining that his story Honeymoon in Tramore “set me off on a flight of fancy”.
The way Flannery explores the interconnectedness of people living in the same small community, where everyone knows everyone else, where people bear grudges and are suspicious of “blow-ins”, comes right out of Trevor’s “school of writing”. Even her characters — life-like, flawed and shaped by their local community — could have stepped out of his pages.
But that’s not to say her work is derivative; it’s not. The Amusements is a highly original, closely observed portrait of a town and its residents, both permanent and fleeting, and the ways in which their lives intersect over the course of 30 or so years.
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog.
July 25, 2023
Napatila me ova knjiga više nego što sam mislila. I ne, nemam mnogo toga da prigovorim samom pisanju, ono je daleko od nečeg lošeg, ali knjiga prosto nije imala snagu da me uvuče u svoj svijet. Knjiga je zamišljenja kao niz epizoda posvećenih različitim stanovnicima ili posjetiocima malog mjesta Tramore u Irskoj, počinje prijateljstvom koje se rađa između Stele i Helen, dviju djevojaka koje imaju svoje snove, a njihovo ostvarenje podrazumijevaće odlazak iz tog malog mjesta. Taman kad se zainteresujemo za njihovu priču, slijedi novo poglavlje, s potpuno novim likovima, kojima je upravo Tramore tačka presjeka, a na priču Steline i Helenine porodice, autorka se povremeno i ovlaš vraća, da bi knjigu završila onako kako je i započela - s njima dvjema. Ima među ovim pričama jako dirljivih i tužnih, ima onih manje upečatljivih kojih se vjerovatno neću sjećati za koji mjesec, i fino oslikavaju atmosferu života u jednom malom mjestu, sve u svemu, ali osjetno mi je nedostajala neka jaka glavna nit koja bi sve ove perspektive i epizode uvezala u neku jasniju cjelinu, zbog čega je finalni utisak neka magličasta bljedunjavost.
March 18, 2023
really wanted to like this one :/ the mfa short story writer’s first novel curse strikes again……..
writing was pretty good but as a “novel” (which it should not be marketed as since it’s actually vignettes with a pretty random cast of characters) just felt unfocused and underdeveloped. i think i mostly just felt betrayed by the back cover summary since it wasn’t what it said it was lol
also just depressing and not in the way i like. should’ve stuck with the lesbians they were the only interesting part
writing was pretty good but as a “novel” (which it should not be marketed as since it’s actually vignettes with a pretty random cast of characters) just felt unfocused and underdeveloped. i think i mostly just felt betrayed by the back cover summary since it wasn’t what it said it was lol
also just depressing and not in the way i like. should’ve stuck with the lesbians they were the only interesting part
June 18, 2023
I expected more amusement from a book called The Amusements. Sadly, I did not get it.
This novel is Aingeala Flannery's debut and was published by Sandycove in the summer of 2022. The publication, set in the summer, was an appropriate season since the story is set in Tramore, a small town in Ireland known for its seaside character, caravan parks and amusement arcades. Since tourism in there is high during the summer months, this is an appropriate summer read. Flannery paints a portrait of a small town by focusing on a different character in each chapter over a span of thirty years. She gives us an insight into the lives of the locals rather than the tourists, and by finding out how differently each person experiences small-town life, a sense of authenticity for the reader is created. So, the novel is aimed at Irish people who have spent summers in, or actually live in, places like Tramore.
The story revolves around the friendship between Helen Grant and Stella Swaine. They come from different parts of the city and have different economic backgrounds; however, they attend the same school for a short time. It is during this time that Helen realises not only that she is falling in love with Stella, but also that she wants to escape Tramore. She wants to move to Dublin to attend art college, a wish she is unsure will ever be fulfilled. All the characters who are given a voice in the novel come from one of these two families or have some connection to them.
This friendship was definitely the most interesting part of the story and also the part that attracted me to read the novel. That being said, I soon lost interest in the work. I felt no connection to the characters as they kept changing. It became very difficult to keep track of which character was which, how they were connected to each other and why I should care about them. While this may was done as a purpose, to show how the villagers also only know some snapshots from each other’s lives, for me it meant as a result that I was not able to be a part of the story and could easily put the novel down at any point. It felt like each chapter or short story ended just a little too soon without leaving me wanting more. It would have helped to cut some of the characters to give others more of the spotlight. As there is no real plot to progress, this could have been easily done. Another difficulty with the story was that the time span was unclear. There is no real mention of time, just a clear sense that time is passing quickly, and I would have liked Flannery to have at least given us the corresponding year for each story. Also, most of the characters were unlikable, which usually does not bother me as I know that these flaws are given with a clear intention. However, it robbed the reader of the only other way to empathise with the characters. My lack of empathy came from a place of utter confusion.
However, I have to mention, my personal favourite story in the novel: Helen's. She wants to escape small-town life by moving to Dublin and studying art. This dream intensifies when she discovers her feelings for Stella and her sexuality in general. But Helen has to contend with her mother's pressure to stay in Tramore and live a conventional life. A sick grandmother, an alcoholic father and an overwhelmed mother make for an interesting family dynamic. Helen hints at the growing complexity of this dynamic at the beginning by saying: "But back then I didn’t understand how families worked, how a malfunction in one part could banjax the whole apparatus" (Flannery, 28). Helen's story contrasts sharply with Stella's. While Stella talks less about her grand plans, she achieves her dream of getting out. She moves first to America and later to London, and although her life is not always great, she is able to see the world. Broadening her own horizons makes her hate her own identity. Waiting at the airport for her flight to Ireland, she describes the other Irish passengers in less than favourable terms and then concludes: "I find it hard to look at them without feeling something that borders on shame" (Flannery, 160). These two stories alone show that every path taken has its own problems.
My expectations were not fulfilled. I thought that the friendship between the two girls would be at the centre of the book and would be the reference point for all the other characters. At least that is what I got from the following synopsis written on the back of the book: "Local teenager Helen Grant is indifferent to the charms of her surroundings; she dreams of escaping to art college with her glamorous classmate Stella Swaine and, from there taking on the world. But leaving Tramore is easier said than done." As I read, I found myself wishing for a clearer plot and something to tie the chapters together. Something to show the connection between the people.
Perhaps if I had known beforehand that the book reads more like a collection of short stories, my review would have been more positive. The actual novel gives us snapshots into different lives to build up the small-town feeling, which is actually a clever concept that I would have liked to have seen executed differently. I did, however, appreciate how this theme was taken up literally in the book itself: Helen is planning an art project called 'Greetings from Tramore', in which she will photograph people in the town and then paint them to accurately represent Tramore. Creating this collage feels exactly like what Flannery was trying to do with this novel.
Although this review may sound like I hated the book, I gave it three stars. Although the book was very confusing due to the plethora of characters, the individual chapters are fun and the language makes it an easy and enjoyable read. I thoroughly enjoyed the actual writing style. The descriptions are very visual, making it simple to picture the places that are being described. So it was a shame that the snapshots were so short and kept taking me out of the story!
Although I was not the biggest fan of the book, I am fully aware that I am not the target audience. I think this book is better suited to an Irish audience who can relate to the experiences and have a better picture of small Irish towns. This book might even bring back memories of summer holidays at the seaside for some. To conclude: my main problems with the book were structural and not with the writing itself.
This novel is Aingeala Flannery's debut and was published by Sandycove in the summer of 2022. The publication, set in the summer, was an appropriate season since the story is set in Tramore, a small town in Ireland known for its seaside character, caravan parks and amusement arcades. Since tourism in there is high during the summer months, this is an appropriate summer read. Flannery paints a portrait of a small town by focusing on a different character in each chapter over a span of thirty years. She gives us an insight into the lives of the locals rather than the tourists, and by finding out how differently each person experiences small-town life, a sense of authenticity for the reader is created. So, the novel is aimed at Irish people who have spent summers in, or actually live in, places like Tramore.
The story revolves around the friendship between Helen Grant and Stella Swaine. They come from different parts of the city and have different economic backgrounds; however, they attend the same school for a short time. It is during this time that Helen realises not only that she is falling in love with Stella, but also that she wants to escape Tramore. She wants to move to Dublin to attend art college, a wish she is unsure will ever be fulfilled. All the characters who are given a voice in the novel come from one of these two families or have some connection to them.
This friendship was definitely the most interesting part of the story and also the part that attracted me to read the novel. That being said, I soon lost interest in the work. I felt no connection to the characters as they kept changing. It became very difficult to keep track of which character was which, how they were connected to each other and why I should care about them. While this may was done as a purpose, to show how the villagers also only know some snapshots from each other’s lives, for me it meant as a result that I was not able to be a part of the story and could easily put the novel down at any point. It felt like each chapter or short story ended just a little too soon without leaving me wanting more. It would have helped to cut some of the characters to give others more of the spotlight. As there is no real plot to progress, this could have been easily done. Another difficulty with the story was that the time span was unclear. There is no real mention of time, just a clear sense that time is passing quickly, and I would have liked Flannery to have at least given us the corresponding year for each story. Also, most of the characters were unlikable, which usually does not bother me as I know that these flaws are given with a clear intention. However, it robbed the reader of the only other way to empathise with the characters. My lack of empathy came from a place of utter confusion.
However, I have to mention, my personal favourite story in the novel: Helen's. She wants to escape small-town life by moving to Dublin and studying art. This dream intensifies when she discovers her feelings for Stella and her sexuality in general. But Helen has to contend with her mother's pressure to stay in Tramore and live a conventional life. A sick grandmother, an alcoholic father and an overwhelmed mother make for an interesting family dynamic. Helen hints at the growing complexity of this dynamic at the beginning by saying: "But back then I didn’t understand how families worked, how a malfunction in one part could banjax the whole apparatus" (Flannery, 28). Helen's story contrasts sharply with Stella's. While Stella talks less about her grand plans, she achieves her dream of getting out. She moves first to America and later to London, and although her life is not always great, she is able to see the world. Broadening her own horizons makes her hate her own identity. Waiting at the airport for her flight to Ireland, she describes the other Irish passengers in less than favourable terms and then concludes: "I find it hard to look at them without feeling something that borders on shame" (Flannery, 160). These two stories alone show that every path taken has its own problems.
My expectations were not fulfilled. I thought that the friendship between the two girls would be at the centre of the book and would be the reference point for all the other characters. At least that is what I got from the following synopsis written on the back of the book: "Local teenager Helen Grant is indifferent to the charms of her surroundings; she dreams of escaping to art college with her glamorous classmate Stella Swaine and, from there taking on the world. But leaving Tramore is easier said than done." As I read, I found myself wishing for a clearer plot and something to tie the chapters together. Something to show the connection between the people.
Perhaps if I had known beforehand that the book reads more like a collection of short stories, my review would have been more positive. The actual novel gives us snapshots into different lives to build up the small-town feeling, which is actually a clever concept that I would have liked to have seen executed differently. I did, however, appreciate how this theme was taken up literally in the book itself: Helen is planning an art project called 'Greetings from Tramore', in which she will photograph people in the town and then paint them to accurately represent Tramore. Creating this collage feels exactly like what Flannery was trying to do with this novel.
Although this review may sound like I hated the book, I gave it three stars. Although the book was very confusing due to the plethora of characters, the individual chapters are fun and the language makes it an easy and enjoyable read. I thoroughly enjoyed the actual writing style. The descriptions are very visual, making it simple to picture the places that are being described. So it was a shame that the snapshots were so short and kept taking me out of the story!
Although I was not the biggest fan of the book, I am fully aware that I am not the target audience. I think this book is better suited to an Irish audience who can relate to the experiences and have a better picture of small Irish towns. This book might even bring back memories of summer holidays at the seaside for some. To conclude: my main problems with the book were structural and not with the writing itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2023
The Amusements by Aingeala Flannery is a collection of linked vignettes concerning the residents of Tramore, Co. Waterford. The characters are connected by the tiny threads that can only materialise from living in a small town; the butcher is in love with the neighbour of the mother of the town’s most rebellious young girl, among other minor connections. Flannery illustrates the nature of small-town Irish life through the myriad of different characters present in the story, and their opposing views of their hometown. This novel reads like a connect-the-dots puzzle, but more complex. For any reader who enjoys short story collections, it is a very enjoyable novel, but some readers could be put off by the relative lack of an overarching plotline. However, as a character study, these fictionalised residents of Tramore feel alive on the page.
Tramore is a tourist trap, and each character has a complex relationship with the tiny beach town. Central to the story are Stella Swaine, a charismatic and unruly young girl with a wish to escape Tramore, and Helen Grant, her best friend who realises that she is in love with her. Every other character in the story can be linked in some way back to one of the two girls. Throughout the novel, the reader watches each of these girls grow up, whether it be through their own eyes or through the eyes of another resident of the town. Apart from Stella and Helen, each character only has one dedicated chapter, yet Flannery manages to make each character feel fully developed.
Flannery excels in creating a different voice in her writing for each individual character. Each chapter is different: people like Helen and Stella tell their stories in the first-person perspective, reflecting their inflated teenage sense of self, while older people like Nancy Swaine and Muriel Power’s stories are told in the third-person, with their judgemental inner thoughts formatted as interjections. Jenny the Public Health Nurse’s story is told in the past tense, to reflect how she is hung up on her ex-husband, while the tourist Joanne’s story is told in the present tense, so the reader can understand how quickly the suspicion of her husband cheating on her overwhelms her. Flannery evidently thought very deeply about how things like tense and perspective could affect each character’s story, and her careful attention to these details helps drive home the differing tones of each chapter.
When reading a book of short stories, it is rare that every single story in a collection will appeal to each individual reader. There will always be hits and misses, and even if a collection is enjoyable overall, the less interesting stories will always leave a smidge of dissatisfaction. Despite being a novel, The Amusements suffered from this same problem. For example, after finishing the chapter about the deeply sympathetic Helen’s coming-of-age and wish to go to art college, the next chapter is about Nancy Swaine, the sour woman who cost Helen her job at the grocery store and hurt Helen’s chances of following her dream to move to Dublin. The jump from a likeable young character to a malicious middle-aged mother can leave the reader feeling less enthusiastic about continuing the book. Flannery does have the ability to transition between characters smoothly: the link between Helen and Nancy provided a nice segue between their two points of view, however, the pacing suffers a bit due to the abrupt switch in narration. Despite being a relatively short book, the switches from character to character could be a bit jarring. Since the start of each new chapter was the start of a new storyline, it meant that the pace could feel a bit slow overall. While it is an enjoyable book, it is not necessarily much of a page-turner.
While it can be difficult to get into the chapters about some of the more unlikeable characters after reading about sympathetic characters, the unlikeable characters are still enjoyable, and often comical, to read about. Each character feels real, like a person you’ve met before. Nancy Swaine’s inner thoughts illustrate her sanctimonious nature:
Michael’s wife Winona was some piece of work. She exposed her breasts at every opportunity, inviting the child, even though it had teeth and was able to walk, to climb up onto her lap and gorge on her. It was obscene the way she’d spread herself across the sofa and smirked at Nancy, daring her to say something.
It is interesting to read how this uptight woman views the world. From her judgemental thoughts about others, the reader can glean that she is deeply insecure, despite her pearls and her blonde hair and the way she turns up her nose at others. Flannery makes the character study of unlikeable characters enjoyable to read because it provides a realistic glimpse into a uniquely fragile mindset.
Other chapters showcase characters that the reader can’t help but love. One chapter follows Muriel Power, an old woman who owns a guest house in Tramore. She is charmingly nosy and grumpy, simultaneously ruing the tourists who come and judge her hometown, while also relying on them for her income:
“You’ll take a fry?”
“I will,’ he said, ‘and a pot of tea if you have it, missus.”
Missus! if you don’t mind. She’d three rashers that were on the turn, but they’d do for him. The ignoramus.
Muriel’s chapter is both funny and heartfelt, because although her insults toward her guests are harsh and creative, her chapter also reflects upon the ongoing struggle of being a local in a small town with a tourism-based economy. Tramore’s “depression,” as Muriel puts it, is central within the book. People like Muriel want to feel proud of where they are from, but it is difficult when so many people, such as Helen and Stella, want nothing more than to escape.
Although some chapters are more enjoyable than others, ultimately this book is a satisfying read. From the beginning, Flannery creates a mystique around the character of Stella Swaine, making the reader want to learn more about her. The links that connect the residents of Tramore are compelling for the reader to figure out. These connections, while adding an air of mystery, also help to create the small-town feel that is at the core of the novel.
Tramore is a tourist trap, and each character has a complex relationship with the tiny beach town. Central to the story are Stella Swaine, a charismatic and unruly young girl with a wish to escape Tramore, and Helen Grant, her best friend who realises that she is in love with her. Every other character in the story can be linked in some way back to one of the two girls. Throughout the novel, the reader watches each of these girls grow up, whether it be through their own eyes or through the eyes of another resident of the town. Apart from Stella and Helen, each character only has one dedicated chapter, yet Flannery manages to make each character feel fully developed.
Flannery excels in creating a different voice in her writing for each individual character. Each chapter is different: people like Helen and Stella tell their stories in the first-person perspective, reflecting their inflated teenage sense of self, while older people like Nancy Swaine and Muriel Power’s stories are told in the third-person, with their judgemental inner thoughts formatted as interjections. Jenny the Public Health Nurse’s story is told in the past tense, to reflect how she is hung up on her ex-husband, while the tourist Joanne’s story is told in the present tense, so the reader can understand how quickly the suspicion of her husband cheating on her overwhelms her. Flannery evidently thought very deeply about how things like tense and perspective could affect each character’s story, and her careful attention to these details helps drive home the differing tones of each chapter.
When reading a book of short stories, it is rare that every single story in a collection will appeal to each individual reader. There will always be hits and misses, and even if a collection is enjoyable overall, the less interesting stories will always leave a smidge of dissatisfaction. Despite being a novel, The Amusements suffered from this same problem. For example, after finishing the chapter about the deeply sympathetic Helen’s coming-of-age and wish to go to art college, the next chapter is about Nancy Swaine, the sour woman who cost Helen her job at the grocery store and hurt Helen’s chances of following her dream to move to Dublin. The jump from a likeable young character to a malicious middle-aged mother can leave the reader feeling less enthusiastic about continuing the book. Flannery does have the ability to transition between characters smoothly: the link between Helen and Nancy provided a nice segue between their two points of view, however, the pacing suffers a bit due to the abrupt switch in narration. Despite being a relatively short book, the switches from character to character could be a bit jarring. Since the start of each new chapter was the start of a new storyline, it meant that the pace could feel a bit slow overall. While it is an enjoyable book, it is not necessarily much of a page-turner.
While it can be difficult to get into the chapters about some of the more unlikeable characters after reading about sympathetic characters, the unlikeable characters are still enjoyable, and often comical, to read about. Each character feels real, like a person you’ve met before. Nancy Swaine’s inner thoughts illustrate her sanctimonious nature:
Michael’s wife Winona was some piece of work. She exposed her breasts at every opportunity, inviting the child, even though it had teeth and was able to walk, to climb up onto her lap and gorge on her. It was obscene the way she’d spread herself across the sofa and smirked at Nancy, daring her to say something.
It is interesting to read how this uptight woman views the world. From her judgemental thoughts about others, the reader can glean that she is deeply insecure, despite her pearls and her blonde hair and the way she turns up her nose at others. Flannery makes the character study of unlikeable characters enjoyable to read because it provides a realistic glimpse into a uniquely fragile mindset.
Other chapters showcase characters that the reader can’t help but love. One chapter follows Muriel Power, an old woman who owns a guest house in Tramore. She is charmingly nosy and grumpy, simultaneously ruing the tourists who come and judge her hometown, while also relying on them for her income:
“You’ll take a fry?”
“I will,’ he said, ‘and a pot of tea if you have it, missus.”
Missus! if you don’t mind. She’d three rashers that were on the turn, but they’d do for him. The ignoramus.
Muriel’s chapter is both funny and heartfelt, because although her insults toward her guests are harsh and creative, her chapter also reflects upon the ongoing struggle of being a local in a small town with a tourism-based economy. Tramore’s “depression,” as Muriel puts it, is central within the book. People like Muriel want to feel proud of where they are from, but it is difficult when so many people, such as Helen and Stella, want nothing more than to escape.
Although some chapters are more enjoyable than others, ultimately this book is a satisfying read. From the beginning, Flannery creates a mystique around the character of Stella Swaine, making the reader want to learn more about her. The links that connect the residents of Tramore are compelling for the reader to figure out. These connections, while adding an air of mystery, also help to create the small-town feel that is at the core of the novel.
February 25, 2024
Several short stories about characters that live in tramore county Waterford. They are all linked in some way. I liked the style of writing and each story was interesting. It would have been better to have linked them together in a novel style. Still a nice read.
June 26, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
June 3, 2023
an ode to all those whose youth lies in the dredges of their small hometowns, the amusements is a searing novel of familiarity and nostalgia. flannery’s debut is funny and moving, with prose that cultivates the stifling atmosphere of home in a society where opportunities are few and the future seems bleak.
in many ways, I feel the premise of the amusements is almost misleading. the amusements is touted as a story of friendship between two young women, helen and stella, as they come of age in the sleepy, seaside town of tramore. helen is meek and soft-spoken, often fantasising about escaping her provincial life for the alluring promise of art college. stella is hardened to the mundane, cloying ways of the town and the people within, including helen herself. both girls have big dreams, but leaving all they’ve ever known is more difficult than expected.
written in a series of short, direct chapters, the amusements is less about the characters of stella and helen, and more about the setting and characterisation of the town and those who inhabit it. in fact, there are many chapters where we don’t encounter stella, helen, or their families at all. instead, flannery turns her attention to those on the fringes of the town - the undesirables, the impoverished, those who have “notions” about their place within this enclosed society. she allows us into their worlds, inviting us into the often unseen monologues of those outrageous, regular characters that create space in every local town. I enjoyed her caustic wit, satirical approach and unexpected humour when it came to these characters, and how they become recognisable pillars of society.
the amusements is full of gossip, scandal and tragedy - no small town would be the same without those three pillars upon which to roost themselves. but flannery’s voice is also warm and full of ambition, light and authenticity. her characters are undoubtedly flawed, but they are familiar to us all and we cannot help but sympathise with them. the novel is engrossing and truly delightful to read, and bathed me in a nostalgia for my own upbringing and the importance of holding onto our memories. a wonderful book of family, the desire for more and the ever-present yearning for something we can call home.
in many ways, I feel the premise of the amusements is almost misleading. the amusements is touted as a story of friendship between two young women, helen and stella, as they come of age in the sleepy, seaside town of tramore. helen is meek and soft-spoken, often fantasising about escaping her provincial life for the alluring promise of art college. stella is hardened to the mundane, cloying ways of the town and the people within, including helen herself. both girls have big dreams, but leaving all they’ve ever known is more difficult than expected.
written in a series of short, direct chapters, the amusements is less about the characters of stella and helen, and more about the setting and characterisation of the town and those who inhabit it. in fact, there are many chapters where we don’t encounter stella, helen, or their families at all. instead, flannery turns her attention to those on the fringes of the town - the undesirables, the impoverished, those who have “notions” about their place within this enclosed society. she allows us into their worlds, inviting us into the often unseen monologues of those outrageous, regular characters that create space in every local town. I enjoyed her caustic wit, satirical approach and unexpected humour when it came to these characters, and how they become recognisable pillars of society.
the amusements is full of gossip, scandal and tragedy - no small town would be the same without those three pillars upon which to roost themselves. but flannery’s voice is also warm and full of ambition, light and authenticity. her characters are undoubtedly flawed, but they are familiar to us all and we cannot help but sympathise with them. the novel is engrossing and truly delightful to read, and bathed me in a nostalgia for my own upbringing and the importance of holding onto our memories. a wonderful book of family, the desire for more and the ever-present yearning for something we can call home.
August 23, 2023
The Amusements by Aingeala Flannery is an innovative and unique book, however I believe the synopsis is a tad misleading. It is not obvious from reading the blurb that this is essentially a collection of short stories. Although they are connected to one another, the fact remains. This is a short story collection about a number of vaguely connected people. One would think this would have been an important thing to mention in the book’s description. Short stories are not for everyone and while I did enjoy this book, the vignette quality of storytelling is not what I usually gravitate towards. Despite this, the ambiguous blurb successfully allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone, so I am thankful for that. However, as someone who is an avid user of Goodreads and Storygraph, I have observed that such an omission in the blurb has caused upset amongst some readers. While I too was initially discombobulated, I found this to be an enthralling read overall.
From a readability standpoint, this was a breeze to get through. The language has an undeniable Irish feel to it, dotted with various colloquialisms and phrases. The writing is witty, the tangible Irish humour vibrating off the page. The narrative switches between first and third person, which allows the reader to experience the characters from different vantage points. As it is a collection of stories, portraying many different characters and circumstances, the mood of the book ebbs and flows. While I was on the verge of tears after finishing Mizaru and The Fear, I was filled with hope upon finishing The Machine. The most memorable story in this book is Making Friends. The ending of that story took me completely by surprise, leaving me in a state of shock. Needless to say, The Amusements is an emotional roller-coaster. The quick pace in which the stories change perspective makes for a continuously exciting read. However, it also caused me some confusion. It was difficult at times to keep all the different characters and storylines in mind, especially considering how little time the reader gets to spend with a character, before their perspective ends. This is why many people dislike short stories. The reader is afforded less time with the character. You are finally settling into the character’s mind when it changes story. It is harder to forge a connection with them and often the fate of the character is left to the imagination of the reader. As expected, I was intrigued and captivated by some storylines more than others. I think Flannery could have done a better job at solidifying the characters more, so the reader is not scrambling to keep up. Perhaps referring to characters more throughout each story or recapping slightly when a past character is integrated into another story. There were characters I wished I could have had more of, such as Helen and the exploration of her sexuality, while I did not care much for Mackey. Such is the pitfall of short stories.
On the other hand, short story collections allow the reader to experience a broad cast of characters in a way that they would not otherwise be able to interact with. The Amusements is effectively a character study of Helena, Stella and their broader community. It is fascinating to see everyone intermingle, even if it was confusing at times. Reading about the messiness of human relationships, filled with betrayal and infidelity is exhilarating. Flannery explores the interconnected nature of small-town life. Everyone knows everyone else's business, whether they like it or not. This is highlighted through the friendship formed, however short lived, between Nancy Swaine and Vonnie Jacob. Equally, these characters ranged from lovable to despicable. I despised Nancy Swaine for how she derailed the lives of the Grant family. The grocery store incident also showcases the prevalence of class difference in Irish society. Nancy’s judgment of the Grant family is clouded by self-importance. Not to mention the fact she essentially murdered someone. Nonetheless, I empathised with her, especially as I witnessed Nancy become more and more cantankerous in her old age. This raises the important question of to what extent we hold people accountable when they become unwell. When reading, I knew deep down that Nancy’s actions should not be excused on account of her ailing health, yet I could not help but offer her some forgiveness. As The Amusements spans three decades, the cast of characters cover all stages of life and age. There is something for everyone in this book. If a character does not remind you of yourself in some way, you will most certainly find someone you know represented in this book. Stella’s urgency to leave the small village life in pursuit of something bigger and better, is something experienced by many young people. On the opposite side, many families are carers for elderly relatives with dementia, Tish Grant represents these people. While the characterisation could have been more fleshed out in some cases, I applaud Flannery for providing the reader with a piece of fiction to immerse themselves in and hear their own experiences echoing back.
This is a low four-star book for me. I appreciate the cleverness and planning involved in arranging the many characters and their lives in such a way that everything connects in a relatively comprehensive manner. It captures the small-town atmosphere perfectly; the gossip, the drama, the tragedies. The palpable Irish wit that exudes from the writing is delicious. Yet, it fell short in some areas. Stella and Helen both have important, compelling stories to tell. I looked forward to reading them. However, the book strays far from these two characters, which is not obviously indicated in the blurb. The sheer volume of characters caused confusion, as it became difficult to remember how everyone was related to one another. Again, the wide cast of characters is something I appreciate, even if some were a little lost on me. While this is not the perfect book by any means, Flannery’s writing shows promise. I look forward to reading whatever she publishes next.
From a readability standpoint, this was a breeze to get through. The language has an undeniable Irish feel to it, dotted with various colloquialisms and phrases. The writing is witty, the tangible Irish humour vibrating off the page. The narrative switches between first and third person, which allows the reader to experience the characters from different vantage points. As it is a collection of stories, portraying many different characters and circumstances, the mood of the book ebbs and flows. While I was on the verge of tears after finishing Mizaru and The Fear, I was filled with hope upon finishing The Machine. The most memorable story in this book is Making Friends. The ending of that story took me completely by surprise, leaving me in a state of shock. Needless to say, The Amusements is an emotional roller-coaster. The quick pace in which the stories change perspective makes for a continuously exciting read. However, it also caused me some confusion. It was difficult at times to keep all the different characters and storylines in mind, especially considering how little time the reader gets to spend with a character, before their perspective ends. This is why many people dislike short stories. The reader is afforded less time with the character. You are finally settling into the character’s mind when it changes story. It is harder to forge a connection with them and often the fate of the character is left to the imagination of the reader. As expected, I was intrigued and captivated by some storylines more than others. I think Flannery could have done a better job at solidifying the characters more, so the reader is not scrambling to keep up. Perhaps referring to characters more throughout each story or recapping slightly when a past character is integrated into another story. There were characters I wished I could have had more of, such as Helen and the exploration of her sexuality, while I did not care much for Mackey. Such is the pitfall of short stories.
On the other hand, short story collections allow the reader to experience a broad cast of characters in a way that they would not otherwise be able to interact with. The Amusements is effectively a character study of Helena, Stella and their broader community. It is fascinating to see everyone intermingle, even if it was confusing at times. Reading about the messiness of human relationships, filled with betrayal and infidelity is exhilarating. Flannery explores the interconnected nature of small-town life. Everyone knows everyone else's business, whether they like it or not. This is highlighted through the friendship formed, however short lived, between Nancy Swaine and Vonnie Jacob. Equally, these characters ranged from lovable to despicable. I despised Nancy Swaine for how she derailed the lives of the Grant family. The grocery store incident also showcases the prevalence of class difference in Irish society. Nancy’s judgment of the Grant family is clouded by self-importance. Not to mention the fact she essentially murdered someone. Nonetheless, I empathised with her, especially as I witnessed Nancy become more and more cantankerous in her old age. This raises the important question of to what extent we hold people accountable when they become unwell. When reading, I knew deep down that Nancy’s actions should not be excused on account of her ailing health, yet I could not help but offer her some forgiveness. As The Amusements spans three decades, the cast of characters cover all stages of life and age. There is something for everyone in this book. If a character does not remind you of yourself in some way, you will most certainly find someone you know represented in this book. Stella’s urgency to leave the small village life in pursuit of something bigger and better, is something experienced by many young people. On the opposite side, many families are carers for elderly relatives with dementia, Tish Grant represents these people. While the characterisation could have been more fleshed out in some cases, I applaud Flannery for providing the reader with a piece of fiction to immerse themselves in and hear their own experiences echoing back.
This is a low four-star book for me. I appreciate the cleverness and planning involved in arranging the many characters and their lives in such a way that everything connects in a relatively comprehensive manner. It captures the small-town atmosphere perfectly; the gossip, the drama, the tragedies. The palpable Irish wit that exudes from the writing is delicious. Yet, it fell short in some areas. Stella and Helen both have important, compelling stories to tell. I looked forward to reading them. However, the book strays far from these two characters, which is not obviously indicated in the blurb. The sheer volume of characters caused confusion, as it became difficult to remember how everyone was related to one another. Again, the wide cast of characters is something I appreciate, even if some were a little lost on me. While this is not the perfect book by any means, Flannery’s writing shows promise. I look forward to reading whatever she publishes next.
August 11, 2023
Aingeala Flannery's prose is smooth and shot through with darkly wry humour; her characters are well-observed and convincing. When seen as a set of vignettes of life in an Irish seaside town over the last 30 years or so, this book works well. But is The Amusements actually a novel? That's the aspect in which Flannery failed to convince me. The acknowledgements make clear that a couple of the chapters started life as individual short stories, and while I'm sure Flannery revised them before including them here, she didn't seem to find a way to make them—or the rest of the chapters—cohere as a whole. There's not enough focus, not enough of a connective thread. If I had to guess, Flannery was told "these short stories are great, but short stories don't sell, we'll publish your work if you can turn it into a novel in a fortnight."
November 5, 2023
The Amusements was a bit all over the place – beautiful writing, as I now come to expect from Irish authors, but stories that seemed very random (and a bit like mfa writing projects?) when you go in expecting to read about the lives of Helen and Stella and their families. I fault the blurb, actually.
It turns out this is more loosely interconnected short stories of the people of Tramore than an actual novel.
Normally I would not mind that, but I wasn't in the right headspace and wanted more depth to Helen and Stella in particular, a proper story, as that was what I thought I'd get.
Nevermind, still a good read nonetheless.
It turns out this is more loosely interconnected short stories of the people of Tramore than an actual novel.
Normally I would not mind that, but I wasn't in the right headspace and wanted more depth to Helen and Stella in particular, a proper story, as that was what I thought I'd get.
Nevermind, still a good read nonetheless.
July 5, 2022
Some review in the paper said that this was a bit like Killinascully ... I do not disagree. But I liked it well enough.
September 2, 2023
▪️
You know when you walk past somewhere and get a slight whiff of vanilla or freshly ground coffee or (insert favoured fragrance/odour)? Well, the accolades comparing our author to Elizabeth Strout/ Anne Tyler claimed on the cover of this book are just that - fleeting whiffs, not sustained overwhelming Stroutness or Tylerness - for that pick up Strout or Tyler.
I didn’t think I was warming up well to this one, I think I had allowed the cover accolades to influence my reading and so initially I was looking and seeking evidence of those other authors- my problem not the book.
Like much of Strout’s work this short novel is told in short interlinking and overlapping vignettes where we spend time with different members of the community who live in or are associated with the seaside town of Tramore and immerse ourself in their loosely entangled lives. Like those odours, some residents are fleeting, others hang around with more permanence.
I actually thought this book was brilliant. There are some lovely, distinctly Irish, phrases, expressions and terms that might be ‘missed’ by some readers, that really resonated, some having me nodding along at the perceptively conveyed trials and tribulations of life, and an insightful cracker of a sentence that made me laugh and when I read it aloud to himself he roared too:
“Technically, Irish citizens don’t need a passport travelling to and from the UK because, deep down, the English still think they own us.”
Flannery has a voice that may be less refined and less elegant than Elizabeth Strout. It’s more crass, more raw … but it’s unique and intriguing and though I am always eager and ready to read Elizabeth Strout, Anne Tyler and also William Trevor, of whom there is a wee whiff of too, I really look forward to reading Aingeala Flannery again.
▪️▪️▪️
July 2, 2022
I like the writing and the different stories. I like it jumping from character to character and how you see both sides of the story. Dates would have helped with figuring out the timeline. Its clear though the author doesn't and hasn't lived in Tramore.
April 26, 2024
sad to say that i'm a bit disappointed! started off strong with some interesting characters then sort of devolved into a series of vignettes with varying 'slice of life' themes, not all of which were particularly interesting. i think sometimes the whole 'keen observational novel' thing is done well when the writing or observing is genuinely out of this world good (see: virginia woolf) but that kind of no-plot-plot stuff doesn't work for me here. i would've loved it more if it had a sharper focus on stella/helen's story and kept that throughout rather than continuously introducing new characters without much plot or resolution. the UCD creative writing department tends to turn out bangers but this one could've used more time in development and a stronger editor.
October 15, 2024
I would consider far more a short story collection than a novel. The stories feature various families in Tramore over the course of 30 years or so, most importantly the Grants and the Swains.
The stories contained within are good, but I found the ambiguity surrounding almost all of them frustrating by the end. That being said I thought the writing was really good. Will keep an eye out for more from the author. 3.5/5
The stories contained within are good, but I found the ambiguity surrounding almost all of them frustrating by the end. That being said I thought the writing was really good. Will keep an eye out for more from the author. 3.5/5
January 22, 2024
Flannery is certainly a talented writer, and this is a very well-written book, but it wasn't what I expected.
The Amusements isn't a straightforward novel but rather a collection of short stories featuring a host of characters that pop up in various leading or supporting roles through the stories. While this isn't bad at all, it's not what the blurb on the back sold it as.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
The Amusements isn't a straightforward novel but rather a collection of short stories featuring a host of characters that pop up in various leading or supporting roles through the stories. While this isn't bad at all, it's not what the blurb on the back sold it as.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
June 1, 2023
These stories are interconnected in that they explore the lives of residents living in an Irish seaside resort. Characters are bought to life by highs and lows in their lives and how they react to being in or leaving their small community. Looking forward to reading more by Aingeala Flannety
July 15, 2023
I really wanted to love this but unfortunately I felt like it was a bit too all over the place. I wish it had focused more on Stella and Helen, instead of jumping around random family members and whoever else got a chapter.
I’m at least glad that it came together at the end but overall I feel really disappointed and I know it’s a book I won’t remember for long.
I’m at least glad that it came together at the end but overall I feel really disappointed and I know it’s a book I won’t remember for long.
August 16, 2022
Didn’t realise this book was kind of a collection of short stories loosely linked. I found it hard to follow and get into which is a shame
August 17, 2023
I was definitely not amused by this book. It was quite confusing and it was difficult to connect them all. I only had interest in one story. The rest of them were very dragging.
September 17, 2023
atmospheric, nothing else.
September 13, 2023
she was cute but also a bit all over the place? gave me donal ryan vibes
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September 3, 2024🤨💭😪😪😮💨💭🔜📈👍🙏💭🪝🪝📄💭🙁😶🌫️💭🧐🤨👽☘️🏘️..🎡⚫️🌫️💫🪨😕😞
August 1, 2024
big nah
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