An Irish memoir...Two walls and a roof

John Michael Cahill is a master story teller firmly rooted in the Irish oral tradition. He writes about the childhood I remember, growing up in a small market town. We did not have Ipads and Xboxes, we made our own fun. We had adventures. We used our imaginations. We knew every family on the street. We were in and out of each others houses. Nobody had much but what we had we shared. I laughed until I cried at the scrapes he and his pals got up to! My family kept asking me "what are you laughing at Mom?"
I loved the way he described the complicated relationship between his Mom and his Nanna. His love for them both and his understanding of them moved me to tears. I felt I was right there watching the tug of war between them. He reminded me of a child I grew up with who went through a very similiar situation.
I was enthralled by the magical quality of his meeting with Jo Ann, his wife. 
I loved the book from start to finish. The only thing I can't understand about this book is why it is the best kept secret that never got out of Ireland. While making the reader laugh, it also says some really important things about love, compassion, forgiveness and community. It is also an honest snapshot of an Ireland that our children may never know.
Anyone who is Irish or has Irish roots will love   Two walls and a roof
And anyone who wants to understand us should read it too!