A wonderfully heartfelt story. The main characters felt so authentic and genuine. It’s written in such a way, that they’re neither good nor bad. Their just human. Admittedly, it can feel very slow at times, but so is real life. That’s what this story is; a tale of humanity—realistic humanity.

I absolutely loved this book. Stella and Gerry are a couple of the realest (is that a word?) characters I've ever encountered. Their simple life and enduring love, together, paint a picture of something a tiny step above normal, a bit closer to the divine. And yet, I feel as if I've actually seen them in some restaurant or coffee shop. I could pick it apart, pull the threads loose, figure out why it works. Is it how the setting (Amsterdam in winter, gray everywhere, rushing and dark canal waters, random drizzling rain) makes the perfect microcosm for a couple accidentally figuring out how to save themselves, and by default, their marriage? Nah. I'm just going to assume it's magic.

The devil is in the detail and it is the small details and the texture of the mellifluous observations that, for me, gave the novel a certain brilliance.
A long marriage is put under the microscope by a weekend in Amsterdam, revealing its nuanced familiar responses/irritations, fragility and flaws. The great Irish backdrops of religion and alcohol entwine themselves into most scenes almost like enlarged stage props for each of the couple to embrace and despise.

I first read this book in 2017 and reviewed it then

"The devil is in the detail and it is the small details and the texture of the mellifluous observations that, for me, gave the novel a certain brilliance.
A long marriage is put under the microscope by a weekend in Amsterdam, revealing its nuanced familiar responses/irritations, fragility and flaws. The great Irish backdrops of religion and alcohol entwine themselves into most scenes almost like enlarged stage props for each of the couple to embrace and despise"

Re- reading, I think it provides such a poignant quiet insight into long term relationships. It addresses all the issues avoided in polite company - politics, religion, sex, violence, addiction, money, age....etc and yet it is the repetitive small stuff of long relationships that brings it all to life

A deceptively simple novel, that turned out to be a clever and observant account of a "protracted' marriage. of growing old together.
I was really touched by the story, fell in love with the characters and I'm happy that the end is not completely heartbreaking as I expected it to be!

Eh....don’t trust the husband to quit drinking