The Leaves on Grey

On a recent trip to England, I found a yellowed paged, soft cover copy of The Leaves On Grey in a book cupboard at the National Trust cottage where I was staying. I was captured immediately with the first two lines "This is a strange story. As I've just returned from seeing Liam I must go back to the beginning to tell where I think it all started, to try to shape events in a way you might understand." As I read, I felt I was sitting in a pub sharing a brew with Desmond Hogan as he told me his story. We journeyed through what it was like to be coming of age in upper class Ireland during the 1950's. How friends and events occurring when we are in our twenties deeply effect us as we make our way through the rest of life. Recent Irish history is splashed throughout as a background to the overall events. Mr Hogan's words are rich, and he paints a vivid picture. You share in his delight and feel troubled and confused as he questions the direction his live takes compared to that of his friends. You can understand the love he shares with these friends and loss he experiences as each follows their given path. I highly recommend this 119 page book, if you can find a copy. The journey is timeless, it is a story played out from generation to generation as we search for our place in this world. When we finished our brew, I smiled at Desmond Hogan and thanked him for sharing his journey with me. On closing the door to the pub I knew I had found a new friend, and knew I would seek out his other works.