The Gospel of Orla
A Novel
by Eoghan Walls
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Pub Date Mar 07 2023 | Archive Date Mar 15 2023
Description
"A consistently surprising, evocative, almost impossible to put down, and gloriously original work." —Booklist
A stunning debut novel from the Northern Irish poet Eoghan Walls, The Gospel of Orla is the coming-of-age story of a young girl, Orla, and the man she meets who has an astonishing and unique ability.
It is also a road novel that takes us across the north of England after the two flee Orla’s village together. Here the mysteries of faith charge full bore into the vagaries of contemporary mores. A humorous, wise, deeply human and sometimes breathtaking work of lyrical fiction.
“A melancholic, funny, and magical coming-of-age story, The Gospel of Orla is glorious, wise, and totally weird. I loved it.” —Annie Hartnett, author of Unlikely Animals
"Utterly convincing and fresh and original." —Colm Tóibín, author of The Magician
"In his debut novel, poet Eoghan Walls imagines the intersection of the material and the mystic. . . . As the troubled teenager ricochets between circus illusion and divine touch, she and the reader are beckoned to ponder where magic ends and miracles begin." —Kia Corthron, author of Moon and the Mars
Advance Praise
“A melancholic, funny, and magical coming-of-age story, The Gospel of Orla is glorious, wise, and totally weird. I loved it.” —Annie Hartnett, author of Unlikely Animals
“The Gospel of Orla is written with immense control and precision so that the voice of the protagonist emerges as alive, individual and memorable. Eoghan Walls manages to make every single emotion Orla feels—every thought, response and action—utterly convincing and fresh and original.”—Colm Tóibín, author of The Magician
“In his debut novel, poet Eoghan Walls imagines the intersection of the material and the mystic when a grieving adolescent stumbles upon a struggling savior. Walls provides an authentic and page-turning narrative from the perspective of his restless and ever-beguiling protagonist. As the troubled teenager ricochets between circus illusion and divine touch, she and the reader are beckoned to ponder where magic ends and miracles begin.” —Kia Corthron, author of Moon and the Mars
“The Gospel of Orla is an astonishing feat of characterization and storytelling. The prose is both earthy and sparkling and the story—equal parts bravado and vulnerability—is told with both wit and tenderness. Everyone should read this.” —Jenn Ashworth, author of Ghosted
Marketing Plan
Major review attention in literary and mainstream publications from the New Yorker to the Guardian to LitHub and media covering crossovers to YA
Author events in New York, Boston, Toronto, London, Dublin, Edinburgh
Featured title at Winter Institute
IndieNext and Library Reads campaign
ARCs widely available for booksellers and media
Media coverage for debut novels and voices from abroad
Promote through Irish Arts Center and Irish consulate
Featured title at ALA
Readers Advisory librarian outreach
Book club promotions
Academic email blast to Irish literature and creative writing professors
Reading Group discussion guide available
Social media campaign
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781644212820 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 224 |
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1037375
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚘𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝙾𝚛𝚕𝚊 is the debut novel by Irish poet, Eoghan Walls. It will be released by @penguinrandomhouse on 7 March next year.
This is a coming of age story about 14 year old Orla and her grief when her mother dies. She plans to travel to Ireland where her mother is buried and ropes in a homeless man called Jesus, to assist her.
Walls uses magic realism to tell a compelling and at times weird story of a young girl's visceral grief. There are some beautiful scenes, humour and some just downright WTF is going on! Certainly not predictable and as the title suggests some biblical influences and spiritual questions. I enjoyed the writing and sought out Walls' poetry. Encourage all to do the same. He definitely has a way with words.
Thanks to #netgalley and @7storiespress for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Educator 364311
I had no idea what to expect coming into The Gospel of Orla and was thrilled and surprised to find such a delightful debut novel from Northern Irish poet Eoghan Walls. I wondered how an author could pull off a story like this, and am tickled Walls did it. A young girl, Orla, with recent losses and current unhappinesses meets a man who calls himself Jesus, (as in "Yes I am the Christ. Of God's blood. The Jesus Jesus." I won't spoil any of their interactions or adventures, but somehow the book allows the reader to push the limits of what mysteries faith holds in the contemporary world, and what is human versus divine. Highly recommended for searchers, and those who enjoy intelligent, boundary-pushing stories. Thanks so much to NetGalley for this ARC!
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