Through the story of Billy Brennan, Ethel Rohan broaches the difficult topic of suicide sensitively and with empathy. The title of the novel sums up its storyline perfectly, as Billy tries to deal with both his unhealthy weight and the symbolic weight of the suicide of his eldest son Michael. I felt pangs of sympathy towards Billy for his personal guilt about his son's death, and championed him in his attempts to preserve the memory of his eldest child, to support those who had experienced the suicide of a loved one themselves, and to shift the excess physical weight of his guilty conscience. There were so many opportunities where Billy could have given up, yet his determination to carry on through his struggles made his character all the more inspirational.
The end of the book finished perfectly, reflecting the long road ahead for Billy and his family. However, Ethel Rohan finishes Billy's story with a sense of hope and determination, with the family finally coming together to deal with their grief. The reader truly gets a sense of the terrible upheaval within the family dynamic and the strength it took for the Brennans to come to terms with the loss of Michael. A very poignant read, and one I will certainly return to.
The end of the book finished perfectly, reflecting the long road ahead for Billy and his family. However, Ethel Rohan finishes Billy's story with a sense of hope and determination, with the family finally coming together to deal with their grief. The reader truly gets a sense of the terrible upheaval within the family dynamic and the strength it took for the Brennans to come to terms with the loss of Michael. A very poignant read, and one I will certainly return to.