Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown & Company and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest treasure by a favorite, Emma Donoghue, hauntingly narrated by Aidan Kelly - 5 stars!

Taking place in 7th Century Ireland, a monk, Artt, has a dream that he needs to take two other monks, young Trian and older Cormac. The dream states that they must leave the sinful world and travel to a deserted island to start a monastery. They must leave behind all but the barest of essentials and travel to what is known today as Skellig Michael.

I started reading the digital copy but soon switched full time to the audiobook, because the narrator's haunting voice added so much feeling to the words. Emma Donoghue has once again created an entire world in which to immerse yourself, only to make you pause, think, and grow - which to me is what reading is all about. This book has so much to think about - as the three monks faced so very many trials, are these problems that God sends to teach us or are they from the devil to tempt us towards sin? And the arrogance of so many religious leaders that do terrible things to others in God's name. I am a Catholic and loved listening to the prayers and rituals of these monks. The faith these men showed was so commendable but God also gave us free will to think about our actions, so maybe not such blind faith in man and more in God. This book shows how fanaticism usually always leads down the wrong path.

Not an easy book or one for everyone, but one that I highly recommend!

I’m am a fan of Emma Donoghue, but while this book was beautifully written, the pacing was unbearably slow in this book. I had to force myself to pick up the book and stick with it, which is unusual for me with this author. While I will not hesitate to pick up any of Donoghue’s future works, this one did not work for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Haven, by Emma Donaghue, is the story of three monks who set out to find the island their leader believes God determined as their destiny. For good reason, Donaghue is a celebrated author whose imagery is vivid and whose characters demonstrate passion and frailty. Her writing is majestic and often, lyrical. Nonetheless, I could not be a worse reviewer for this novel as it themes of religious faith, obedience, cruelty, and sacrifice did not resonate with me. Other reviewers feel very differently, and I urge readers to read several opinions. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

Haven by Emma Donoghue is a well written tale of three monks who travel together looking for an island that appeared in a dream. They endeavor to create an isolated, monastic living in an effort to be free from sin and closer to God. The author is skilled at bringing the settings to life. The characters are well developed and complex. I really wanted to like this story but it was as dry and devoid of joy as the lives of the clerics within.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown, and Company, and Emma Donoghue for allowing me to read the ARC of Haven, in return for an honest review.

Haven is a serious, thoughtful book, taking place around the 7th C., off the coast of Ireland. Artt, a priest, has a dream that God has called him to a remote island. He chooses two monks to go with him - Trian, a young man with a big secret, and Cormac, an older man with good building skills. They set off in their small boat, with bare necessities, but hearts full of hope for a godlier world. When Artt decides they have too many creature comforts, including food, things take a turn, including a twist in the story that you won’t see coming. You will feel like you’re living on this island, wondering what you might have done in the same situation.

A great little book, ostensibly about the relationship among 3 monks, off on a quest to a remote island off the coast of Ireland in the Middle Ages, but it is really about the role of faith in human encounters. The question implicit is "how much will a person tolerate in the name of religion?"A good read; a little dreary and discouraging. It did make me want to re-read How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill.

This book was like nothing I've ever read and very different for Emma Donoghue. It captured the scenery excellently like all her books, but it had a meditative quality and a deep message (for me) about religious Zealots. The book entered the mind and state of being of the monks and rarely let you out. It was full of heartbreak and a slower pace than expected. Overall, I connected with two of the characters in their gentle natures, but struggled with the isolation they all had to face. Thanks Netgalley.

Well if there is one thing you can say abt this author it’s that she sure can create atmosphere even in the smallest spaces. Unfortunately this was a difficult one to get through with the language. While I could picture the surroundings I’m not sure I cared much for the story or characters. It’s a slog even with under 300 pages as you get used to the language. I think some folks will love this but it’s certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

This emotional gripping book, set in Ireland during the middle ages, features a scholar and strictly devout Catholic, Brother Artt, who in a dream believes he’s been sent a vision from God to find a remote sea island and retreat there away from all the corrupting influences of humanity.

In this vision, he sees two others at the monastery he’s visiting as coming with him on this quest and asks the head of the cloister for permission to take them with him. One Trian, came to the monastery at age 13, his parents turning him over due to an undisclosed defect. The other, Cormac, came late to religion after losing his wife and three young children to the plague. Both acquiesce when asked by now Prior Artt: Trian to escape the crowded monotony of the monastery and Cormac feeling honored in his old age to have such a purpose.

After a tumultuous sea voyage on a fragile hide sailboat, the trio finally comes across two scraggy rocky outcrops in the sea, and names the bigger one Great Skellig. Home to innumerable birds and wildlife, but with no fresh water and poor soil for any vegetation, the settlement is off to a precarious start. Trian, all energy and muscle, figures out how to secure food for the trio. Cormac, a talent builder and farmer, works ingeniously to create an altar, church and shelter as well as coax seeds he brought to life.

Meanwhile, Prior Artt who equates religious devotion with suffering, prioritizes copying manuscripts to secure their glory through the ages over anything to secure their survival. As provisions dwindle and winter approaches, the Prior refuses to allow trading with nearby islands or the mainland, and suddenly the group’s survival is in question.

From there, the tension between the trio devolves to a crisis point.

Thought-provoking about what can devolve from rigidity and religious blind faith.

Thanks to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

My Interest

I read Donoghue’s book Akin and liked it. My kids read Room in school, but I have not read it. This book sounded interesting so I requested it and was happy to get it.
The Story

“It seems to him that nature is God’s holiest language.”

“That’s the problem with the vow of obedience; it tends to make sheep of men.”

Three monks set out to start a monastery where no one else lives, away from worldly temptations. They find an island off Ireland and settle there. Artt, the leader, and Cormac, the second monk, are men of faith. Trian (I constantly read this as “train”) is young. He was given by his parents to the monastery. Once they find their island, they begin to test their ability to obey Artt and to trust God to provide all that they need beyond the minuscule cache of supplies they brought with them in their boat.
My Thoughts

SPOILERS ABOUND HERE–YOU ARE WARNED

I should have known this book was being too nice to religion! There was the “duh, duh, de dum” moment of music when someone mentioned that the young monk had to squat to pass water. “Ugh,” my brain screamed! “Please not another stupid woman pretending to be a man book.” I wanted to quit, but I’m mostly glad I did not.

When, later in the story, young Trian is ill, the monk caring for him finally sees the young man with out his underpants on and gets an eyeful. Annoyingly, like with the mental illness diagnosis in Sorrow and Bliss (unless my eyes rolled too hard and too long and missed it), we are not told exactly what type or combination of genitalia Trian has but the word “androgyni” is bandied about.

“He’s never seen one of these botches that Pliny calls androgyni. Not a true male, made in God’s image, nor a true female, shaped to bear young.”

So, naturally, once the secret is out it disrupts everyone. The Red State GOP monk, Artt, is horrified and can’t cope. The Blue State Democrat monk, Cormac sides with Trian and they simply must leave the Red State Island. So much for serving a higher purpose. The Catholic Church was founded on the idea that you must “pee like Jesus to be like Jesus,” so I’m guessing old Artt missed the way Trian peed? Could have saved themselves a lot of heart ache if he’d just paid attention before or during that boat ride.

Holy-hit-us-over-the-head-with-a-sledgehammer-Batman! So modern! I found it truly difficult to imagine how Trian had lived? With all the superstition abounding back in that day, you’d think he/she/they would have been left out to die. And, in a Catholic Church that required the Pope to prove he had two you-know-whats and one dangly thing (I don’t want spam) you’d think they’d have checked Trian out when he arrived at that first monastery–wouldn’t you?? Apparently not. Just like in those woman passing as a man books I’ve thrown across the room.

It is not news that there have always been a very few children born with different combinations of genitalia or with deformed genitals. That has happened throughout history. Even today most parents would be shocked to be told of such an outcome for their baby. Today, it can be dealt with through surgery and testing to identify the child’s true gender/sex. Back in 7th Century Ireland, he might have been allowed to live hidden away, but that’s a pretty big “might”. I just did not buy that this young monk would have been alive to go on this journey and that ruined the book for me.

In spite of my strong feelings on the ending, this was another well-written story by the author. It more than kept my attention throughout. I would caution very sensitive readers who love birds and animals–there are some rough spots in this book. Remember, it is a deserted island (no other humans) and the monks did what they had to do to survive.

One more comment: I do not like what I call the “verbing” of nouns. Here is the example from this book: “…he griddles oatcakes.” “To griddle” is now a verb? (Eye roll). Donoghue is a better writer than this.

Haven by Emma Donoghue

Set in seventh century Ireland, Artt, a scholar and priest has a vision to set out in search of an island where he and two monks can leave the sinful world behind, and build a pure island haven. Taking one of the oldest and youngest monks with him, they set off in a small boat toward the ocean, leaving the world behind them.

This was my fourth book I’ve read by the author, and she is continually impressing with her ingenuity. Each book I’ve read is so different from the last, with really original premises. Haven is very unique; I’ve not read another book like it. I was fascinated by both the remote island setting (modern day Skellig Michael) and the 600 AD time period. The survival experiences of the monks were so interesting - the conveniences of the age, building techniques, etc. The book felt deftly researched.

The book is quite short, and while I did enjoy it, I do not think this one will have wide appeal in the way some of her previous books did. It’s slower paced, and while I thought the world-building was good (loved the atmosphere of the sea-birds for example), I think more intensity would have been welcomed. I didn’t feel the isolation and precariousness of the monks situation. Likewise, Artt’s character progression wasn’t as strong as I was expecting from this author. I was anticipating total villainy and we never got there. I really quite liked the other two monks, and felt for them.

There were a few scenes squeamish readers should be aware of, fyi.

Overall, while I enjoyed the story, it wasn’t a favourite. I will absolutely continue to read books by the author, and would recommend Haven for those who enjoy unique fiction, rarely seen settings, shorter books, and are intrigued by the premise. Haven will be available August 23! Many thanks to Little, Brown & Company, and to NetGalley for access to a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The medieval monastic ideal of ora et labora (prayer and work) makes for a surprisingly compelling and suspenseful adventure in the hands of Donoghue, who excels at creating characters who make the best of bad situations, finding transcendence in the smallest details of daily life. Age quod agis, the monks of Haven remind each other when anxiety rears its head—
focus on what you’re doing, and let God’s plan take care of itself. They’re facing an extraordinary challenge. An intense visionary, Father Artt, has plucked grizzled convert Cormac and devoted novice Trian from their comfortable monastery and led them to the isolated peak of Skellig Michael, a mountain in the midst of the Atlantic a few miles off the coast of Ireland. They are the monks who, in Donoghue’s imagining, first founded the monastery that has perched atop that peak since about the 7th century.
The nine-month ordeal that follows the monks’ landing on the rocky island is a marvel of detailed, intimate storytelling. Day by day, competent Cormac and intrepid Trian scrape survival from the rock and the birds that inhabit it, creating ingenious systems for gardening, hunting, and masonry, which allow Artt to pursue his prayer and scripture copying in peace. Their talents, however, are wasted on their grandiose leader, whose ascetic rejection of practical concerns threatens disaster for his tiny flock.
In fact, this short novel is really a parable about the narcissism of the religious fanatic, and the contrasting endurance of human communities. The three monks represent the conflicting religious imperatives of faith versus works in the most vivid way possible, although there’s no doubt which side we’re meant to sympathize with more. The austere beauties of Skellig Michael make the island itself a fourth character, earning this book a place among classics of ecological fiction.

Going into Haven, I wasn’t sure what to expect. On the one hand, I’d loved the author’s 2016 novel, The Wonder. On the other hand, several early reviews for Haven were middling, describing the story as slow and uneventful. While I have a particular love for Ireland and an interest in the regional history, I’m also an atheist, and so wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy reading about three monks on a religious mission.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised: I really loved Haven. In some ways it is an odd book, and it’s unlike most of the novels I read. Although some of the complaints I saw in other reviews are accurate descriptions of the book… those elements didn’t bother me at all.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of Haven is Emma Donoghue’s descriptive prose. She paints a vivid picture of Ireland, its landscape, and its flora and fauna. I loved the scenes at sea, with the three monks helplessly drifting through open waters until coming upon an uninviting, rocky pair of islands – or as Trian calls them, skelligs. (Indeed, the trio ended up on the real Irish island called Skellig Michael or the Great Skellig.) She draws up powerful images of the harsh island: craggy, hard to navigate, and with hardly any soil suitable for growing food. I also enjoyed getting to know the birds living there, including species that are now extinct.

Apart from one or two minor characters early on, Haven is fully focused on our three monks: Artt (the “Prior”), Cormac, and Trian. They have such different personalities and perspectives, yet they need to work well together in order to survive on their new island. Right away, though, they do butt heads, especially Artt and Cormac. But Artt is in charge, so the other two must defer to him, even when his commands make little practical sense. Between the three of them, I really liked Cormac and Trian. Cormac is a kind old man who loves to tell stories; Trian is a dreamy but hard-working teenager with big ideas. Artt… well, let’s just say he’s a bit more severe, inflexible, and even irrational, especially as time wears on.

Being focused on three monks founding a monastery, Haven is, naturally, a book that emphasizes Christianity. All three characters believe in God and know the Bible inside and out. They often quote different verses, they live according to religious doctrine, and they devote much time to religious pursuits: building a cross and an altar; transcribing the Bible; praying multiple times a day. However, what I especially liked was the different views they each had on Christianity and the debates they had.

Cormac and Trian each have views (old-fashioned? Pagan?) that don’t necessarily match up with the Bible. Artt condemns these ideas, but the two monks can’t help but retain some of them. Trian grew up loving shellfish; he can’t understand why the Bible declares shellfish “unclean” and forbids eating them. Later on, Cormac starts to consider that Artt’s overly strict decisions might be nonsensical. As an atheist myself, I liked seeing that critical thinking and reevaluation of what makes sense and what doesn’t. Where is the line between trusting God to provide for you and you needing to use the resources available for your survival? At what point does devoutness become dangerous?

There is an interesting revelation towards the end of the book which made me love it even more. How the characters dealt with this information only confirmed my liking of Cormac and Trian and my disliking for Artt.

Although Haven does spend a lot of time on the seemingly mundane – watching the three monks find food, build shelter, and so on – I enjoyed the rugged and contemplative nature of it. Nearly the whole story is set outdoors, and what may seem idyllic at first quickly reveals itself to be far more menacing. Slowly but surely, the three characters’ true natures is revealed, and it culminates in satisfying, if open-ended, conclusion.

Haven may not be for everyone, but if you’re interested in three monks in 600 C.E. Ireland making a home on a harsh island, contemplating religion and survival, and escaping from the dangers of an overzealous man, this is a quietly engaging read. It’s thought-provoking and fascinating, with a delicate balance between a soft style of storytelling and a severe setting. I was fully immersed and enjoyed the whole novel.

I've read quite a few of Emma Donoghue's books before and have loved them all. She has a talent for giving each book it's own unique voice, it's almost as if they are written by different authors. I can hardly believe she wrote this book and not some old monk instead.

It starts off as a man's version of Kristin Lavransdatter and develops into a type of horror. The death of the Auks is hard to stomach, I really felt for poor Trian. Trian just wanted to do the right thing and also be accepted. A cautionary tale against blindly following a leader. I'll be contemplating this story for some time.

Side note - I was surprised to learn this is a really place with an interesting history.

Emma Donoghue is one of my favorite writers, and her fiction is always filled with the sophisticated and atmospheric language that has become typical of her fiction. Haven is no exception to the rule, and constitutes one of Donoghue's greatest achievements yet. A historical novel that ruminates on the consequences of isolation and the relationships between unlikely characters, this novel is at once carefully paced while at the same time keeping you on the edge of your seat. Donoghue's work with language and character really propel this one forward, but what astounded me the most was her work with the setting. The world of this novel comes to life around you, and Donoghue pays careful attention to the landscape that her characters inhabit in this texts. Its animals, plants, and dangers are all central to the story, and reading some of her descriptions transported me. I highly recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction and avid readers of Donoghue's other novels.

Haven
by Emma Donoghue

Shortly after arriving at an Irish monastery, Artt has a vision of himself and two fellow monks setting off from the sinful world to an isolated island. In this secluded place, The Great Skellig, this trinity of men are to build a hermitage and be freed from all worldly temptations. But what makes an island a haven? And what is required of the pilgrim? Can one flee sinfulness?

Haven is the author’s reimagining of the journey and the lives of a group of monks who lived in the 7th century and built a monastery far off the coast of Ireland. Here she considers the daily lives of three monks, what motivates them to give up on the greater world, their carnal sacrifices, the vows they keep and their personal experience of God. Haven is a study of character and what makes community. It is slow paced and unfolds gradually as one would expect life in a hermitage to proceed. I liked that Donoghue feels confident enough as a writer that she can give us something different than what she has written before. I recommend this novel to those readers who enjoy observing human nature and wish to ponder the hubris of humankind.

Thank you to @NetGalley, @LittleBrown and @HachetteBooks for the privilege of reading this digital ARC.

I had no idea exactly what this book was when I requested it, but loved Room, so requested this one. This is not what I was expecting and in all fairness, not my normal genre. I really struggled getting into this book and had difficulty in staying engaged with the story of 3 monks and their daily life while focusing on their search for God. There was just so much detail and so many religious undertones that at times I was a little turned off. All that being said, this author is so very talented with the written word and has a beautiful style of writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

2.5 stars for me.

Haven is a different story than I expected. There is a lot to consider within its pages - religion, being born different, blind trust, survival skills, and so much more. Haven is definitely interesting, well researched and well written. The author gave me a lot to think about.

This is very different from Donoghue's other books that I have read. It is set in 7th century Ireland and and involves a priest and 2 monks who set sail to a remote and deserted island. I really liked the vivid descriptions of the scenery. As the story progressed, it became increasingly more difficult for these men to survive and this was conveyed very well. There were times that my mind wandered, but overall I liked that this was different and felt that it was well-written. I did feel that the ending was a little out there and didn't seem to fit with the beginning and middle. Still, a worthwhile and unique read.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PUBLICATION DAY: August 23, 2022

This is the story of the trials and tribulations of three monks as they journey together to build a sacred space in a harsh, new environment. The leader, Artt, had a dream about settling a remote island in the southwest with two other monks. In his dream he sees two monks with him: young, eager to please Trian doesn’t hesitate to accept the call, and mature, experienced Cormac is honoured to be chosen at his age for such a mission. What will these three men find once they arrive at the island? Will it be everything they hoped it would be? And are their hopes the same?

PROS and CONS:
Unbelievably, this is my second book in a row about monks…this one is beautifully written, gorgeously detailed (the birds!), but in the end I’m not really sure it was about anything. It’s more a notebook on the monk’s journey to Skellig, their trials and tribulations, and ultimately their individual ideas about what’s right and what’s wrong. I love Donoghue’s writing and will always pick up her books, never sure where they will take me.

READ IT?
It’s a short little book that fans of Donoghue will be sure to enjoy. I actually really enjoyed it!

4 Stars