"The Dead" Revisited

This is a melancholy account of a wasted life, a soul turned loose to the romantic excesses of alcohol and unrequited love. (Nothing ever soothed my broken-hearted better than tying on a good whiskey drunk. It somehow made it all seem better. Until I threw up.) Did Billy Lynch drink because his heart had been broken by the supposed death of his Irish sweetheart, or did he drink because of the perceived disposition that comes with a descent from the Emerald Isle, no matter how far removed. The question is left up to te reader to decide.
This story is told by the daughter of Billy's cousin, protector, and friend. It plays out during the hours after Billy's funeral, where the many voices of the friends and relatives create a decade-spanning portrait of the man they all loved and sought to understand and explain. Certain secrets unfold that make the reader wonder about how hope and love can continue under the spell of missteps and mortal regret. The writing style is spare and beautiful, with a sad tone that still manages to uplift. This is a very rich story that bears re-reading, a modern-day Americanized version of James Joyce's "Dubliners"...Recommended for the rainy days.
I would also like to say that the reader of this audiobook, Roses Prichard, did a great job with the various voices and Americanized Irish accents. There were times, though, when I had to slow down my car to 25 mph in order to hear everything, but then the other cars on the freeway would start honking at me. Sometimes I can't win.