Great writing that exudes Irish life, but it's so painfully obvious that these stories were written by a man. Particularly Coast of Leistrum, Deer Season, Old Stock, and That Old Country Music. Ox Mountain in Death Song felt like an ode to toxic masculinity. Who's-Dead McCarthy was good.

I was ready to give this 3 stars when I was about 90% through. I was thinking that it's a nice fictionalized story about abuse in correctional facilities and that it's an important read for those who aren't acutely aware that children are regularly abused.

As much as I love politicized books, I was looking for more while reading. It needs to be more than a fictionalized story to raise awareness about injustice. And in the last few pages, it delivered, big time.

Also, important to note: this isn't trauma porn, which I greatly appreciated.