Though many of the characters live in different towns, I did get the impression that most of the stories are set in the same semi-rural council estate town on the Sligo road, though the coast, Dublin and London are all featured, too. Some of these tales are connected – perhaps all of them, in a way, even if only their morose tone. This is by no means a cheerful read; it tends to focus certainly on the unhappy aspects of life, particularly separation, death and wasted potential. A good example of this, and perhaps a metaphor for the book as a whole, is found in the lines “...’where the magic happened’ She took him there and so their love affair began...” which is followed in the very next sentence by “When it ended she tried to recall details...”; as if hope of happiness is offered for the briefest of moments, before being immediately yanked away in resistance.
Yet, even though this may be a little bleak for my personal tastes, Lorna is a comforting and endearing writer, and a good storyteller, with a unique voice. The two I found most intriguing, yet perhaps sadder in some ways, involve gay characters, in a setting where the Church seems very much a part of everyone’s life – I would probably say that these two stories (“The Lady on the Bridge” and “Amends”) were my favourites. With the exception of the dark and gripping “Blackbirds”, the others did feel a little to me as if they were all fusing together, although I acknowledge there may have been some intent here, on Lorna’s part. This said, happily, “Treading the Uneven Road” does end on a rather cosy, pleasing note, with a tale about an uncle who fascinates his wide-eyed nephew with fantastic stories, and I enjoyed the way Lorna finally rounds the whole book up in a full circle at the end.
Lorna is an author of superb quality, with a natural talent for warmly embracing her reader in an emotionally sad hug, and all in all, a genuine pleasure to read. I very much enjoyed reading her stories, and would like to see more from her.