Someone

Someone follows Marie Commeford through seven decades of life in Brooklyn, beginning with her childhood in an Irish-American neighborhood in the 1920s. As a young girl with poor vision, Marie observes the world and its inhabitants from her perch on the stoop of her family's apartment building. The narrative moves between different periods of Marie's life - her first job at a funeral home, her experiences of love and loss, her roles as daughter, sister, wife, and mother. Through Marie's eyes, readers witness the subtle dynamics of family relationships and the texture of daily life in mid-20th century Brooklyn. The novel captures both the specific details of Irish Catholic immigrant culture and universal experiences of love, death, faith, and the search for meaning. McDermott's precise prose and layered storytelling transform an ordinary life into an exploration of what it means to be truly seen and known by others.

Readers appreciate McDermott's detailed observations of ordinary moments and her ability to make small domestic scenes feel meaningful. Many note her lyrical prose style and skill at building a complete picture of a life through carefully chosen fragments and memories. Readers highlight: - Rich descriptions of 1940s Brooklyn - Natural dialogue between characters - Subtle emotional depth - Strong sense of Irish-American culture Common criticisms: - Slow pacing frustrates some readers - Non-linear timeline can be confusing - Some find the protagonist passive - Limited plot development Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (9,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (280+ ratings) One reader noted: "Like looking through an old family photo album with someone who remembers every detail." Another wrote: "Beautiful writing but I kept waiting for something to happen." Several reviewers compare the meditative style to Alice Munro's short stories.

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín Chronicles a young Irish immigrant woman's journey between Brooklyn and Ireland in the 1950s, exploring themes of home, identity, and the immigrant experience.

Charming Billy by Alice McDermott Traces the impact of an Irish-American man's life and death on his community through interconnected memories and stories spanning decades in Queens.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Follows young Francie Nolan's coming-of-age in early 20th century Brooklyn amid poverty and family struggles in an immigrant neighborhood.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt Chronicles a childhood in Depression-era Ireland and New York through connected vignettes of family life, hardship, and survival in an Irish Catholic community.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Presents the life reflections of a Midwestern minister through letters to his young son, weaving together family history, faith, and everyday moments across decades.

🔸 The novel won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. 🔸 Brooklyn's Irish-American population, like that depicted in the book, grew from about 56,000 in 1860 to over 260,000 by 1900, making it one of the largest Irish communities outside of Ireland. 🔸 Author Alice McDermott has been a Professor of Humanities at Johns Hopkins University since 1996, teaching alongside her successful writing career. 🔸 The funeral home setting in "Someone" draws on historical accuracy - Irish immigrants in Brooklyn often worked in funeral homes, as the profession was considered a respectable way to serve their tight-knit community. 🔸 McDermott wrote parts of the novel in non-chronological order to mirror how memory actually works, jumping between different periods of life rather than following a linear path.