Gabriel's Gate by Tom Galvin

 

In 2010, when the recession took root in Ireland, the young people looked at the ground they were standing on and realised it was rotten. Rotten in so many ways, but especially in the ways made by man. So most decided it was time to do what their forefathers had done during times of famine, when the ground was rotten too, and leave. For America. And Newfoundland. And Australia. And Canada. But in the winter of 2010, a group of college students had a different idea. They weren’t going to leave. They would simply find a patch of land that hadn’t been contaminated and live off it. Just like their forefathers had always done before the land became rotten and the country corrupted by greed. This is their story.

Hardcover, 301 pages

Published October 31st 2011 by Book Republic (first published October 12th 2011)

My Review

Gabriel's Gate is totally different that anything I have ever read before. I was hooked from the first chapter and devoured the book quite quickly. I am so intrigued by G (the main character), he is a bit of a mystery and I found myself thinking about him constantly. Special thanks to Tom Galvin for the review copy of this fantastic book.

G and his friends are fresh out of college. G has had an idea for quite some time and he puts it to his two mates Lofty and Ben. He doesn't want to go to Canada, America or anywhere else like most people are doing. He wants to get a group of people together, bring things back to basics and live off the land.

Ben and Lofty aren't thrilled by the idea, but they say they will give it a year and see how it goes. G has already got a farm lined up, that a fella called John inherited. The farm had been neglected and needs allot of hard work to bring it back from the brink. He holds a meeting in and manages to get 15 people together.

Everyone moves into the farm house and they all start working very hard. They seem to all get on well and everything seems to be running smoothly. But it soon becomes clear that someone doesn't want them there, something sinister is at work.Creepy things start to happen to the group and they can feel eyes on them everywhere they go. John isn't saying much, just that there was an old family feud with The Macmillan (neighbours), who are not around anymore.

The ending I was not expecting, it was so simplistic, I couldn't believe that was it, end of story. But I think it suited the storyline perfectly. I could imagine myself doing what this group of friends done, working the land. Something that I have always found so interesting, I think that's why Gabriel's Gate appealed to me so much.

Gabriel's Gate is extremely well written and had a great pace throughout, I only wished it was longer. I will definitely go back and read this again and again.

My favourite character was the main one:

G - I loved G, he is very mysterious, I was always constantly wondering what his name was and thinking ''Bet you it's Gabriel.'' He has a good head on his shoulders, says things like it is and he gets along with everyone.

Add Gabriel's Gate to your Goodreads shelf today or buy it on Amazon

4/5 Stars

Carly :)