'The Boy from the Sea' explores family and identity in coastal Ireland

Garrett Carr’s novel The Boy from the Sea delves into family dynamics, masculinity, and tradition in an Irish fishing town.

Illustration by Kazuhiro Iwata

By Hayu Andini and Widya Lestari

The Boy from the Sea, by Garrett Carr

Buy on Amazon

Garrett Carr’s debut adult novel, The Boy from the Sea, is set in his hometown of County Donegal, Ireland, a place shaped by the rugged Atlantic coast. The story begins in 1973 when a baby is discovered inside a barrel washed ashore, sparking intrigue among the villagers. A local fisherman, Ambrose Bonnar, persuades his wife Christine to adopt the baby, whom they name Brendan, raising him alongside their biological son, Declan.

Brendan’s arrival upends the family dynamic. The villagers, captivated by his mysterious origins, view him as a child touched by fate, a perception that leads Brendan to bestow "blessings" on those around him. Declan, however, resents his presence, rejecting him as a brother. This strained relationship mirrors the long-standing tensions between Christine and her sister, who reluctantly cares for their aging father.

A unique narrative perspective

Carr employs a rare first-person plural narrative, a technique famously used by Jeffrey Eugenides in The Virgin Suicides. The townspeople serve as a collective observer, offering both humor and insight into the unfolding events. These voices, gathered at the bar of the Ship Inn, form a communal chorus, their perspective both endearing and sharp. As they witness a fight between Brendan and Declan, they reflect, “The term ‘passive aggressive’ hadn’t yet reached us, but the thing itself had.”

This omnipresent village voice adds a layer of warmth and wit to the novel, capturing the blend of camaraderie and quiet observation that defines small-town life.

Exploring masculinity and generational change

While Carr is known for his young adult books and his 2017 memoir The Rule of the Land, which chronicled his journey along Ireland’s border, The Boy from the Sea firmly establishes him as a novelist of adult fiction. His depiction of Christine’s sister and father brings depth to the novel, portraying themes of marriage, grief, and financial hardship with emotional resonance.

Ambrose’s struggles as a fisherman reflect broader economic shifts in Ireland following its 1973 entry into the European Economic Community. Once a thriving industry, fishing became increasingly regulated, forcing small boat owners like Ambrose to adapt. His business initially prospers when he partners with his friend Tommy, but as larger trawlers gain dominance, he faces financial strain. The town, recognizing his hardships, secretly pools money to support the Bonnar family, leaving an envelope marked “from a friend.”

The novel also examines father-son dynamics, particularly Declan’s efforts to connect with Ambrose. Though he harbors a passion for cooking, Declan attempts to follow in his father’s footsteps as a fisherman, hoping for validation. His culinary skills, however, go unnoticed by his family and crewmates. Flipping through a magazine one day, he encounters the concept of “new men” who express emotions openly—an idea foreign to his community.

The town’s communal narrator reflects on this cultural shift, remarking, “We hadn’t seen a new man in reality; they must’ve had them in England and certain parts of Dublin maybe.” However, in a poignant moment of grief, Tommy—a hardened fisherman—breaks down and expresses regret, offering a rare glimpse of vulnerability.

Giving voice to Ireland’s fishing communities

Carr’s novel sheds light on an often-overlooked segment of Irish society. As he told The Observer, which named him one of the year’s best new novelists, “Fishing communities haven’t really featured in Irish writing.” He captures the experience of men who, “contained to the point of self-repression, prefer to look out at a wordless immensity than have even a second of introspection.”

This fresh perspective stands out in contemporary literature, where stories by and about women dominate publishing. Carr’s lyrical writing conveys the resilience of Killybegs' people, shaped by the harsh Atlantic winds and a culture of quiet endurance. “Atlantic winds had whipped away our words until we learned to do without them,” he writes, yet through the town’s pub chatter, their voices emerge, filling the silence with unspoken truths.

With its richly drawn characters, evocative setting, and exploration of family bonds, The Boy from the Sea cements Garrett Carr as a compelling new voice in Irish fiction.

Explore more in Books

Sarmad Sehbai’s satirical novel dissects masculinity, politics, and religious power in Pakistan.
Andrew Lipstein’s latest novel reimagines Hamlet’s themes in a modern setting.
Ali Smith’s latest novel, ‘Gliff,’ blends dystopian fiction with fairy tales, offering a powerful meditation on language, identity, and defiance.