Night boat to Tangier, Kevin Barry. I always get slightly

Night boat to Tangier, Kevin Barry.
I always get slightly nervous when I start a new piece of writing by this guy.
I adore and obsess over his short stories, language, humour and general total understanding of what it is to be in Ireland.
Thankfully, (for me) this novel is my favourite of his. Though I still would chose his short fiction as I think that’s where his perfection lies.
Tangier, though, is pretty much written in perfection. The language is funky, careful and beautiful. I cared for the female characters the most not the two protagonists as much. The setting was stunning. I was in all the places in my head.
It’s a story of two gangsters at the end of their career, looking back and looking for something they come to realise is gone. It’s a story of deep remorse and humanity. I love reading an author who is kind to his characters and he is on every page.
When I got to the end, I reread the first chapter. This chapter was the piece that Kevin read out at the @writingandideas this summer. This novel is true to Kevin’s unique voice but brings it to a high level. I’m already nervous about his short story collection coming next year. I know I shouldn’t be the one who is nervous but when writing is so lovely and clever, I wonder how he keeps pushing the standard.
#rozzie