Maurice is an older man whose wife passed away two years ago. He has been a very successful business man, raised a son and lived to seemingly tie up all the loose ends in his life. He spends an evening making five toasts to the most important people in his life. It is a truly engrossing and well written story which I found myself thinking about for days after I'd finished reading it. Very strongly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Anne Griffin, and the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. This is my honest opinion.

Beautifully written. Amazing concept. A slow delight to cherish before you sleep. Writing is just so beautiful. I really like it.

First published in Great Britain in 2019; published by St. Martin's/Thomas Dunne Books on March 5, 2019

When All Is Said is told from the perspective of a lonely, grieving, guilt-driven man who left much unsaid to the few people he cared about. Maurice Hannigan, once known as Big Man, is 84. He starts the novel with a visit to a bar. While he interacts with the staff, his interior monologue tells his life story to his son in New Jersey. He wonders how his son grew up to be “so sure and happy” in his life, given Maurice’s inability to be happy with anything, least of all himself. He has been a widow for two years and just sold his farm outside of Dublin. He misses his wife desperately. Maurice is in the bar “to remember — all that I have been and all that I will never be again.”

His memories begin in Ireland when, apparently dyslexic, Maurice is a poor student but a determined football player. At the age of ten, he is encouraged to drop out and learn to be a farmer. He and his family suffer abuse by the wealthy landowner who employs them; Maurice is also abused by landowner’s son Thomas despite their similar ages. Thomas’ father beats him and Thomas can only gain self-respect by beating Maurice. When the opportunity for revenge in an unexpected form arrives, Maurice seizes it, changing lives in a way he cannot imagine. In the present, he is just coming to understand the consequences of his actions, and his attempt to make amends for his petty vengeance might only make things worse.

The story follows Maurice through a life that is materially successful and emotionally cabined. He falls desperately in love with Sadie, marries and has children, but he will experience multiple losses and will never acquire the tools to address them. By the end of his life, he prefers solitude. He cannot abide the thought of opening himself to others. Others see him as a mean and unyielding man because that is the only face he shows; few can guess that his heart longs to be open and humane.

The novel’s other key character is Emily, part of Thomas’ family and an unintended victim of Maurice’s small act of revenge. Maurice sees Emily as a gracious and courageous woman, the kind of woman he hopes his own daughter would have been. Maurice's interaction with Emily is a form of atonement, although not everyone in the novel sees it that way. Surprising facts that have shaped their relationship are unknown to Maurice until the are revealed in the final chapters.

At times, the narrative is not written in a persuasively male voice, but that flaw is not often noticeable. Most of the time the voice is appropriately gruff while elegantly expressing the regrets that Maurice admits to himself when drunkenness encourages insight. In its best moments, when Maurice’s monologue addresses his failure to open himself to his son, when he recalls awkward moments and details his failings, the story perfectly captures his masculine heartache, his inability to express his the warmth he feels. The novel is so rich in the layers of personality that define Maurice, and is told with such conviction, that it is difficult to believe this is Anne Griffin’s debut novel.

RECOMMENDED

Eighty Four year old Maurice Hannigan is ready to say goodbye. But before he says his final goodbye, there are five people he wants to toast. Those who shaped his life in some way.

This beautiful story celebrates life, loss and love in such an understated wonderful way. This complex yet charming character we see in Maurice, opens the eyes of the reader to see the very raw and truthful story of his life.

*Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this free digital galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This one gave me nostalgia vibes. I love the recapping of Maurice's life and appreciated his reflection and experiences with his brother, his daughter, his sister in law, his son and his beloved Sadie. This book moved a little slow for me but I think I would have enjoyed this book better on audio.

Will have to try this one again at some other date possibly..... this did just not pull me in or hold my attention. Thanks for the opportunity to read this though

Such a beautiful story of love and loss.

Join Maurice as he journeys through his goodbyes through a series of toasts at the local pub.

"I’m here to remember–all that I have been and all that I will never be again.”

In Anne Griffin’s novel When All is Said, 84 year-old Maurice Hannigan sits at the bar of at the Rainsford House Hotel and recalls his life. It’s been a long life full of its joys and tragedies. Maurice is now alone; his wife Sadie is dead and his son Kevin is far way in America. Maurice, a very wealthy man who grew up in dire poverty, has sold his house, given away his dog, and is in the brink of moving into a nursing home, but what is really going on here?

Over the course of the evening, Maurice recalls the five most significant people in his life: including his long-dead older brother Tony, his still-born daughter, and his wife.

When all is said

84 years is a long time, and as Maurice recalls his life, we see how the world has changed. Maurice grew up in a large poor family, and his education was interrupted when, at age ten, he went to work at the Dollard estate where his mother worked in the kitchen. The scenes at the Dollard house are miserable with the lord of the manor beating and humiliating his son, Thomas, which has a trickle-down effect to Maurice. These episodes are a reminder of how the world of employment of servants, a world in which servants had to tolerate everything dumped on them, has changed, well at least in some countries–not all.

I was fascinated by the trajectory of … not exactly revenge… no the novel isn’t bitter enough for that. No, the novel has a trajectory of “payback,” re-balance & the settling of old scores. Maurice’s beatings harden him, yes, but they don’t turn him into a ball of rage and revenge. This is a man who remembers the slights and injustices of his past and then singlemindedly triumphs over his humiliations and those who caused them. Maurice isn’t proud of all his actions, and there’s an incident in his past involving a missing valuable coin which has repercussions throughout his life.

The scenes with Maurice and his brother were touching. Here’s Maurice now at age 84, an extremely wealthy man, and yet he grew up in the harshest poverty, with meat a scarce treat. Now Maurice could buy his way out of the problems of his youth, but time doesn’t allow those sorts of second chances.

One of the most poignant episodes of the novel involves Maurice and his acquaintance with Jason, a young man who marries into the Dollard family.

I’d seen Jason around the village over the years since our showdown. He’d nod in my direction or mouth a very curt hello. Always in a rush somewhere. In return I’d raise my index finger not too high mind. Regret is too strong a word, but I wish I’d made an effort to know him. There was something trustworthy in his bravery the night he’d stood at my our front door asking me to give more money for the Dollard land. But even if I had reached across the divide and stopped for a chat on those days we passed each other by, I doubt he’d have given me the time of day. I wouldn’t have, had the shoe been on the other foot. In the end, he possibly came out the better man.

Some of the memories were moving but others (for this reader) were on the maudlin/wallowing side. There’s a lot of melancholy and misery here, and Maurice’s overwhelming sense of ‘being done’ is evident. The author makes it clear that Maurice is an interesting individual with many stories to tell but he’s been reduced to the those stereotypical roles: Old Man: the one who talks too much, who’s a bit of a nuisance, the one who’s sidelined as a ‘character’ by those who still have their own lives to live. Very sad.

Review copy

This book is so perfect!! I laughed and cried. I came to love the main character Maurice so much -- I wanted to sit down with him!! Anne was able to write a story so perfect - that we thought we were sitting at the bar with Maurice. I am so happy for her!! This is her debut novel and you will not want to put it down. The concept of this story is as amazing as her writing!!

A captivating story of reminiscences, happy and sad told through the voice of Irishman Maurice Hannigan. Beautifully written with many poignant descriptions. Highly recommended. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher, Sceptre for an ARC.

I really wanted to like this book, unfortunately the writing style just was not for me and it ended up on my Did Not Finish shelf. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story is incredibly beautiful and every single person needs to read it. A story about what you could say to those who you've interacted with in your life. It's an emotional read that I will re-read multiple times. Just beautiful!

When All is Said by Anne Griffin is a story about a man who reflects back on his life, through drinks and people that have impacted him. The premise of this story is intrigued me, and I like that this was considered an Irish novel. The story kind of reminded me of a cross between The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. Each of the people Maurice talks about throughout the story impacted his life, and the story is sure to impact readers as well. I thought the story was poignant and thought-provoking, full of life lessons and quotable prose. This story definitely made me think about how I would describe my life when I am older. We go through the ups and downs of Maurice's life, as well as the good times and the bad, the triumphs and the heartaches. This is a slow-burn, character driven novel that will leave a lasting impact on you. It almost read like a memoir, even though it is a work of fiction. At times, I did feel like the story stalled, but this is definitely a story that is meant to be savored. Whenever I felt like the story was stalling, I would put the book aside and come back to it. This kept me engaged in the novel. I give this one 3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book.

This is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. It is the story of an elderly man who spends an evening in a hotel bar, one of some significance to him, and carefully, intentionally toasts the five most influential people in his life. In so doing, he reflects on the whole of his life, his strengths and weaknesses, his blessings and his regrets. I teared up several times, and also laughed out loud. I reread sections just to fix the character of Maurice Hannigan in my memory. While the novel could easily be described as a drama of two families through several generations, it is ultimately a character study of a man exceptional in his self-awareness and insight.

Anne Griffin is a gifted writer. Her dialogue is so authentic you can almost hear the voices. Both the plot and characters are utterly unique. After reading this book, you too may think about the five most influential people in your life. Did you, are you, giving them the value they deserve?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars in my sky

Here we go again. While everyone else is sparkly happy because they’re seeing a zillion stars, I’m sort of grumpy, because all I can see in my sky are 3 stars, no matter how much I squint. Well, three-and-a-half stars, if I’m being fair. Sigh. Funny, the blurb and the glowing reviews are so good, they almost convince me that I loved the book. But then I get real—it wasn’t a wow for me, it just wasn’t.

This is the story of an old man named Maurice, who, while sitting on a barstool, toasts the five most important people in his life. Maurice’s life has lots of regret, guilt, and grief, as well as some everlasting love. The cool thing about Maurice is that he’s self-aware. He’s quick to see his faults and failures—and he’s apologetic. It’s impossible not to like the guy. He has a plan, which is obvious from the beginning. It doesn’t ruin it that you know what’s going on.

Griffin is an excellent writer; the language is sophisticated and the sentences sound so good together. The tone is enticing and never sentimental. It’s a cool structure—Maurice sitting on a barstool, telling us all about his life, delving into the personalities and interactions of those he loves. The first-person narration made me feel all cozy. And talk about depth of character! Check that box off! We get to see how complex Maurice is, but we see what makes the other characters tick, too. Well, there’s one exception: Maurice’s sister-in-law, Noreen. She seems stereotypical, and the dialogue and situations involving her are predictable and flat. Plus (and I’m going to be vague here to avoid spoilers) going into it I assumed her problem was one thing, but in fact it was something else. I think this should have been made clearer at the beginning.

It was a rough start for me because of the opening paragraph. It bugged me beyond belief. Okay, I know it’s the editor in me. How could none of Griffin’s editors have seen it?? It’s the first few sentences, for God’s sake. All eyes should be on it. Okay, I’ll stop my whining and explain what the hell I’m talking about.

Here’s the opening paragraph:

“Is it me or are the barstools in this place getting lower? Perhaps it’s the shrinking. Eight-four years can do that to a man, that and hairy ears.”

You win the prize if you can figure out what the eff my problem is. Okay, here’s the deal. The shorter you get, the HIGHER the barstools. I swear to God. Trust me. I’m short, and my whole life I’ve complained about tall furniture (what’s blissfully normal to you regular-sized people). This includes counter tops, kitchen shelves, etc., and they’re total pains. I’ve never liked having to climb onto a barstool, or any stool for that matter, but now that I’m an old fart, it’s way worse. Yes, I know, the mere act of climbing is the big problem, but the shorter you are, the more daunting the task and the higher the mountain. Feet hanging in the air! The shorter you get, the taller everyone and everything else look, including barstools!!

I must have reread that opening a dozen times, working myself into quite a tizzy. Spatial relations aren’t my strong suit—you’d be smart not to ask me to be the navigator on our next car trip, and if you do, don’t you dare stare in disbelief as I turn the map upside-down to make sense of it. So trying to visualize the barstools and vantage points in the story was not easy or pleasurable. But I am convinced that the opening text is all wrong. I will listen intensely if anyone tells me I’m full of it, but they’ll have to explain it in way simple terms.

No, I wasn’t so bratty as to give this book 3 stars because of the opening. The reason I only saw 3 stars in the sky is because I was bored reading most of the book. Great sentences and great characters don’t always mean you’re going to be grabbed and be gleefully held hostage. Bottom line, it was a chore to read and I wanted it to be over already so I could pick up my next book. I will say that the last toast, to his wife, Sadie, did pull me in and I did look forward to picking the book up at that point. I was emotional and attached when reading about Maurice and Sadie’s relationship. That’s why I added the half star.

Now that I’ve gone all editor on you, I will say there was one other small logistical problem about some tea that was about to spill. Super minor, but problems like that are annoying. And then we have the “Sadie and me went somewhere” instead of the correct “Sadie and I went somewhere.” I realize that the author was going for authenticity—so many people say it wrong, and so does Maurice. It’s just that the wrong was everywhere, and I don’t know, I think if readers hear it wrong a zillion times, they’ll think that’s correct English and more people will repeat the crime. It grated on my nerves every time I read it. But this is just me, folks, being a pain.

Would I check out this new author’s next book? I think so. Am I sorry I read this one? I am not. Griffin is a good storyteller; maybe her next one will wow me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

When All is Said is a wonderful book. The main character is Maurice Hannigan, a man in his eighties who has been desperately lonely since his wife, Sadie, died two years ago. The story begins on a night in a hotel bar, and everything has more meaning than it seems at first. Maurice has decided to end his life, but before he does, he decides to toast to the five most important people in his life. As he does, the reader learns more and more about the average life of this Irish farmer. However, the reader also realizes that Maurice's life has actually been extraordinary, in the way everyone's life is, when looking back, at the end of it.

This is my favorite kind of book. A story steeped in everyday, family drama, yet with some mystery. As the night goes on, we learn about the great rivalry of his life, between himself and the rich family that once owned the hotel in which he has decided to end his life. As is always the case, there is more to the story and the family that Maurice always thought was evil and irredeemable may not be in the end. The mystery is whether Maurice has been right all along, or if he will be proven wrong before the night is over.

This book was heartwarming and left me missing Maurice at the end. It also caused me to evaluate my life, and what will actually matter when I get to the end of it. I loved it!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy in exchange for this honest review!*

Every once in a while a main character comes around that steals my heart. Anne Griffin has provided me with that with Maurice Hannigan, an elderly Irish man who decides at the end of his life to look back on how he got where he is. He contemplates the twists his life has taken by toasting five of the most important people in his life: his late wife, his daughter, his son, his brother who died far too young, and his developmentally-challenged sister-in-law (who ended up setting an important life event in motion). As he makes his sentimental, touching toasts, we learn of Maurice's life story, from impoverished farm boy to well-to-do landowner. There was so much heart poured into the writing of this book, and I admire Griffin's storytelling abilities. I won't soon forget Maurice - in all of his heartbreaking glory.

THIS is the book I have been waiting for – needing – feeling like I was wading through too many meh to finally reach this wonderful, wonderful gem. Did I mention it’s wonderful? And that it left me in a puddle of tears requiring many, many tissues to mop them all up? And that I absolutely adored that it made me have so many of those feelings and require so many tissues? Have you started reading When All Is Said yet?

When I first saw the description of this book I quickly and immediately added it to my TBR. An elderly man sits at a bar and raises his glass five times to make five toasts to the five people that have meant the most to him in his life? Hello! THIS is totally my reading kryptonite! You all know that! Remember my gushing love for books like Thomas Murphy? And The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil, to name just two?

Every toast was incredibly emotional, heart-tugging and so, so beautifully told. I thought the first toast to his older brother Tony was going to do me in completely – that story is so fantastic and emotional and told with heart-wrenching beauty, (and perhaps I still feel the most for that one) but then Maurice keeps on with toasts to his stillborn daughter Molly, to his sister-in-law Noreen, his son Kevin and finally to his late-wife Sadie. I just wanted more time with Maurice and his stories. I fell so madly in love with him and his life story and those 5 people that meant the most to him.

Here’s what he had to say about his older brother Tony: “But I’m grateful for those years I had him. Isn’t that why I’m sitting here? Giving thanks for a man who shaped me, guided me, minded me and, most of all, taught me to never give up. But he’s fierce quiet today, son. Hasn’t said a word in my ear this whole time. I wonder, has my plan finally baffled him into silence.”

You have a strong inkling how this story is going to end, yet I never ever wanted to reach that part. I didn’t want to let Maurice go and the overwhelming love he had for Sadie, Tony, Molly, Kevin and Noreen. Sniff. I just welled-up and the big, fat tears are threatening to spill over. I truly think this is one I will re-read. Such a beautiful story. 5 superlative stars. I miss you Maurice (and Tony and Sadie for sure too and yes, even Molly and Noreen and Kevin).

WHEN ALL IS SAID is a fabulous debut novel by award-winning Irish author Anne Griffin. Set in Ireland, this was the perfect read for Saint Patrick’s Day, but readers will be transported whenever they make the wise choice to spend time with the main character, 84 year-old Maurice Hannigan. In a reflective mood, Maurice muses about "quiet men, contented in their simplicity, sitting on porches, rocking on chairs, listening to radios and crickets as evening turned to night. Hands as big as shovels, but nimble as stonemasons'."

The story takes place over five toasts involving stout and whiskies on a summer night in 2014 as Maurice reminisces about his childhood and his time with brother Tony, his children Molly and Kevin, sister-in-law Noreen, and recently deceased wife, Sadie. Maurice primarily relates a story for his son Kevin, saying at one point, "Mad isn't it? There you were, my living son right in front of me, waiting to be noticed, but my head lingered with a ghost. My heart, missing a small beat of its rhythm. Not so unlike my mother after all." Throughout the many flashbacks, there are multiple references to the Dollards, the local landed gentry and their own fraught family history.

The tone is a bit melancholy throughout with too many untimely deaths and a believable mix of regrets, guilt, grieving, and love: "Loneliness, that fecker again, wreaking his havoc on us mortals. It's worse than any disease, gnawing away at our bones as we sleep, plaguing our minds when awake." WHEN ALL IS SAID received a starred review from Library Journal. I highly recommend it.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars

Gosh, I must have been under a rock for years ignorant of the high quality Irish fiction that I am gradually discovering. Maeve Binchy, Patricia Gibney, Tana French, John Boyne, and now newcomer Anne Griffin are some of the wonderful Irish authors I have been delighted to come across since joining Goodreads five years ago.

This book is shockingly a debut as a honey of a gem it is! It features Maurice, an 84-year-old Irish farmer, who has lost nearly everything and everyone he has dearly loved and feels he is at the end of his life. We join him over a few hours spent at the bar in an Irish hotel as he drinks a toast to the five most important people in his life. If you are looking for action, suspense, or adventure, move on to something else. This is a slow contemplative journey, one where the storyteller takes the time to stop and smell the roses (or less delightful odors) along the way.

Maurice is not a perfect man. He knows that better than anyone else, and he accepts it, as that is who he is. He admits his shortcomings and hopes he can be forgiven, but understands that will not always be the case. As he takes one last stroll through the highlights and lowlights of his life, he is addressing his son Kevin who is actually far far away in America. He reminisces about his joys, sorrows, successes, regrets, and moments of pride. Even on this night he finds a type of closure with a few final issues.

I felt I really got to know Maurice. Accompanying him on his final exploration of life was heartrending and an experience I won’t soon forget. Such a quiet novel, yet so profound. I look forward to whatever Ms. Griffin writes next. When All Is Said is highly recommended for everyone looking for a moving, meaningful read.

Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books, and Ms. Anne Griffin for an advanced review copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.