When All is Said - Anne Griffin

One day I got an email from my friend who now lives far away from me in the US. She said she had a random thought that we should start a podcast where we discuss a book while drinking a cocktail. I would provide the book to read and she would provide the cocktail to make/drink. I loved the idea and while we have not yet started a podcast, we have read a book, made a cocktail, and discussed the book and the cocktail over Whatsapp and turned the idea into a Facebook page/You Tube channel called Cover to Cocktails.

I spent a lot of time figuring out which book to read, all while trying to figure out which books would be available at the libraries in both our cities, and books that we would hopefully enjoy. Unfortunately I was not able to get my book at the library, partly due to Covid-19 and the library only reopening about a month before and people not returning their books! So I ordered from Indigo, and am I ever glad I did. The cocktail we made was a Loretta Lemonade and paired very well with the book and our tastebuds.

This book is about Maurice Hannigan, a retired farmer in Ireland. He tells the story of his life over five toasts to important people in his life while at the Rainford House Hotel. He toasts his older brother, his sister-in-law, his daughter, his son, and his late wife. Each of the toasts is as if he is speaking to his son and explaining his life to him, with some of the present day activities of the bar peppered in. We learn of his difficult childhood, his triumphs in business, and the things he most regrets.

This book made me cry. I think I cried for the last two chapters, so be warned you may not want to read it in public! I loved the book and my friend did as well. We gave it five stars, which may be setting the bar high for our reading, but if you haven't read it, go read it! The Loretta Lemonade also got five stars!