Rainsongs by Sue Hubbard

A few weeks ago I read the most recent book by Sue Hubbard, Flatlands, and loved it – one of the best books I’ve read this summer, though I had not known the work of this writer until then.

Looking at her website I saw that Sue Hubbard is a very accomplished writer – a poet, a novelist, very involved in the world of art and literature – winner of many awards over many years.

After reading Flatlands I immediately ordered her earlier novel Rainsongs, published in 2018. I spent a few days at the cottage reading Rainsongs and marvelling at the magic of a writer able not only tell a story, absorbing the reader, but to write so beautifully. Of course, this writer is also a poet.

Rainsongs takes place in Ireland in the recent past – our own time. Martha Cassidy has come to a cottage she shared with her husband and son. Her husband has recently died, and she has come to clear out the house, and spend some time alone as she adjusts to the life she will live as her future unfolds. She is a woman of 50ish in age, still attractive, younger than her husband. Now untethered, she could leave her job, but then what? She will take some time, here, away from the life she and Brendan shared in London. This cottage is place she has not been for many years, Brendan came more often to write. He was a well-known curator and writer.

I often wish there was no such thing as book covers and fly leaf – so that readers could simply pick up a novel ,and without any information, read a few pages and if the writing is good, carry on and go where the writer takes you. I picked up Rainsongs without looking at the description and was immediately drawn into the world of Martha, her grief, her adjustment to widowhood, her memories of the past, her marriage, her family.

We also meet the locals. Eugene, a boyhood friend of Brendan’s, has plans to develop property with a sea view – a spa. He is meeting some resistance from those still farming, especially Paddy O’Connell whose family has lived here for generations. Martha now owns land that Eugene expects she will be happy to sell. And, then there is Colm, a young man, a musician, a writer – someone to help with odd jobs, a friend.

I promise you will love reading Rainsongs. Beautifully written, absorbing story, insightful and wise – a lovely book.