Title: ‘Ideal Homes’ by Kevin Barry
Collection/Anthology?: There Are Little Kingdoms (Stinging Fly Press)
Date Read: 29 August 2010
Briefly: This story takes the reader on an evening tour around a quintessential Irish village, with brazen twins, Donna and Dee, acting indirectly as impromptu tour guides.
Afterthoughts: If I were asked what kind of story I was hoping for from Kevin Barry, then this would be it. Memorable characters converge in a memorable setting, to bring an equally memorable reading experience. And if character and setting weren’t enough to bring me total satisfaction, then a sprinkling of melancholy – regarding better times, now past – very provides the icing on the cake. Definitely the best Barry story I’ve read so far. Full marks!
Rating: 
This story was read as part of a review of Kevin Barry’s short story collection, There Are Little Kingdoms. If you want to find out more about this collection then I invite you to either visit my ‘forethoughts’ post, or to pop along to the product page for the collection, on the publisher’s website.
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