This is a wonderful book, beautifully written. I have a feeling I’ll be posting more than one excerpt. Here, he is talking about going to dances long ago. The sixties – he’s the same vintage as myself!
“Crowds streaming out of the pubs, some walking or on bicycles; hard chaws in their fathers’ cars leaning out windows with cigarettes, like they were in a film, combing oiled hair into Elvis quiffs and whistling at the girls click-clacking by in short dresses.
On the stage the spangle-suited band, brass flashing, guitars twanging beneath revolving globes that scattered shards of light over the dancers.
Wallflowers looked out with shy, uncertain eyes.
How long had they spent in front of the mirror getting ready and here they sat unwanted, with thumping hearts, yet hopeful they might be chosen, having to look unconcerned when they were not.
I understood them, afraid of being rejected, as I was shoved towards them in a herd of Brut aftershave and Guinness.”
I live in Dublin in Ireland and raised a family here. I'm retired now, from work, and from parenting, although grandchildren are huge in my life. There are many beautiful river walks right beside where I live, which is reflected in the poetry and haikus that I write. I also take a lot of photographs on my phone. I'm not a photographer at all but I love to capture trees and plants in various weathers. In 2020 I published a collection of interlinked short stories - "We All Die in the End" which is available from Amazon in paperback and on kindle. The reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are very good, which is encouraging. Earlier this year I published a collection of poetry, "Minus One", which, more or less, charts my life from childhood through to old age. It is also available from Amazon in both formats. And finally, two children's books, "Felix Finds Out", and "Ghosts in Trouble" have just been uploaded to Amazon in both formats as well. Suitable for children 8-11.
elizabethmerry51@gmail.com
@elizabethmerry1 on Twitter
@elizabethmerry on Instagram
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Merry/e/B087NSPN1W/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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4 thoughts on “An excerpt from “Walking With Ghosts” by Gabriel Byrne | A Memoir”
embookstuff 
I loved this one too.
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Isn’t the writing gorgeous, Martie? I can’t put the book down.
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That short extract has tempted me to read it! I like the cover as well. 😉
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I hope you enjoy it. The writing is beautiful and it’s also very funny.
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