My name is Shannon and I got started with Irish Repertory Theatre in 2019 as a summer intern, and they haven’t been able to shake me yet! These days, I work as a librarian, and therefore have some recommendations for further reading for fans of The Saviour.
The Pull of The Stars by Emma Donoghue
This book, written by the best-selling author of Room, is set during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic and follows the experiences of a maternity ward nurse. Like “The Saviour”, The Pull of the Stars is centered on the traumas women, especially unwed mothers, faced in 20th century Ireland.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
If you were compelled by “The Saviour” for its frank discussions of the Magdalene Laundries, Small Things Like These is essential for further reading. Told from the perspective of a coal salesman who has made a startling discovery while delivering to the local convent, this novella explores the abuses of the laundries and why a town would stay silent when faced with them.
Snowflake by Louise NealonThis contemporary novel is narrated by a girl whose mother often gets lost in her own mind, paralleling Máire’s regressions. This is a great companion read if you left “The Saviour” wondering about Mel’s childhood.