The farmer's son : calving season on a family farm

Title:

Author:

Connell, John, 1986- author.

Summary:

A poignant memoir about a wayward son's return home to his family's farm, and how he found a new beginning in an age-old world. Farming has been in John Connell's family for generations, but he never intended to follow in his father's footsteps. Until, one winter, after more than a decade away, he finds himself back on the farm. Connell records the hypnotic rhythm of the farming day -- cleaning the barns, caring for the herd, tending to sickly lambs, helping the cows give birth. Alongside the routine events, there are the unforeseen moments when things go wrong: when a calf fails to thrive, when a sheep goes missing, when illness breaks out, when an argument between father and son erupts and things are said that cannot be unsaid. The Farmer's Son is the story of a calving season, and the story of a man who emerges from depression to find hope in the place he least expected to find it. It is the story of Connell's life as a farmer, and of his relationship with the community of County Longford, with his faith, with the animals he tends, and, above all, with his father." -- Provided by publisher.

General Note:

First published, titled "The cow book : a story of life on an Irish family farm", in Great Britain by Granta Books, 2018.

Edition:

First US edition.

Physical Description:

243 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Anecdotes.

Biographies.

Personal Subject:

Connell, John, 1986-

Subject Term:

Farm life -- Biography.

Cattle -- Breeding

Calves.

Publisher:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,

Publication Date:

2019

ISBN:

9781328577993

Publication Information:

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019.

Call Number:

630.94 CONNELL

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003406223	Adult Nonfiction	630.94 CONNELL	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

For fans of James Herriot, a poignant memoir--and #1 Irish bestseller--about a wayward son's return home to his family's farm, and how he found a new beginning in an age-old world

Farming has been in John Connell's family for generations, but he never intended to follow in his father's footsteps. Until, one winter, after more than a decade away, he finds himself back on the farm.

Connell records the hypnotic rhythm of the farming day--cleaning the barns, caring for the herd, tending to sickly lambs, helping the cows give birth. Alongside the routine events, there are the unforeseen moments when things go wrong: when a calf fails to thrive, when a sheep goes missing, when illness breaks out, when an argument between father and son erupts and things are said that cannot be unsaid.

The Farmer's Son is the story of a calving season, and the story of a man who emerges from depression to find hope in the place he least expected to find it. It is the story of Connell's life as a farmer, and of his relationship with the community of County Longford, with his faith, with the animals he tends, and, above all, with his father.

Author Notes

John Connell's work has been published in Granta's New Irish Writing . The Farmer's Son is his debut. He lives on his family farm in County Longford, Ireland.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In this moody, lyrical memoir, Connell, a writer and film producer, recounts his return to his family's farm in Ireland's Midlands region when he was 29. It is ostensibly a temporary stay to help his parents during calving season, but the bittersweet homecoming becomes a haven from the crushing depressive episodes Connell suffers, and he uses the time to better understand his heritage and contemplate his identity as a writer ("Perhaps Birchview is my Walden. I have felt that it is only in the last year that I have finally begun to live"). He ruminates about how his father's storytelling abilities provided him the "gift of writing," while also describing the unspoken resentments between an overworked, aging father and the son he feels is wasting his life. As the season progresses, Connell develops a routine of listening to Hemingway audiobooks while tending to his herds and flocks, through it all pondering the juxtaposition of the farmer's life with his former artist's existence. Eventually, a climactic argument about the farm degrades into scathing screeds that leave both father and son confused about the future of their "fractious relationship." Connell's measured voice creates a slow, powerful drip of emotional revelation that earns the reader's admiration. This is a beautifully written memoir of the challenges faced when returning home. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Library Journal Review

Journalist and writer Connell centers his debut book on life at his family's farm in County Longford, Ireland, focusing on the complexity and rewards of maintaining a farm. Set during a mostly January through April stretch, the narrative brings to light the challenges of raising and birthing calves and lambs. Connell also considers Celtic mythology and Irish history, as well as the development of livestock throughout the world, from ancient times to the present. The grime, subtle difficulties, triumphs, and failures of assisting the birth of livestock, as well as the threats of disease and accidents form an important component. As is the author's concern of the degradations of factory farming, livestock welfare, and confined animal feeding operations. The deeply thoughtful writing offers insights into Connell's depression and estrangements from his difficult father, along with his experiences in Australia, Canada, and Spain. Connell touches on climate change, traditional vs. corporate farming, the importance of his Irish community, and the influences of art, music, religion, and literature. VERDICT This gem is compelling reading, much more relevant in many areas than it might seem. For all readers, especially those interested in farming and rural life.-Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.