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{{infobox

|title=On Canaan's Side

|author=Sebastian Barry

|reviewer=Robin Leggett

|buy=Yes

|borrow=Yes

|pages=272

|publisher=Faber & Faber

|amazonus=<amazonus>0571226531</amazonus>

}}

Each chapter of 'On Cannan's Side' represents a day after the death of the narrator, Lilly Bere's, grandson, Bill. Initially the reader is bombarded by a stream of half thoughts but soon Lilly begins to outline her own life story from being the daughter of a police officer in Ireland at the end of the First World War, her subsequent flight to the USA, to ultimately living in retirement as a domestic cook to a wealthy American. It's a remarkable story, full of tragic events, but for all its hardships, Lilly is from a time when such things are to be endured rather than dwelt on.

The book that this most put me in mind of was [[Brooklyn by Colm Toibin]] which is another excellent read which we feel sure you would enjoy if you have enjoyed this book as much as we have. Amongst the stiff competition 'On Canaan's Side' faces in this year's Booker Prize are [[The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst]] and [[The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes]]. Both are well worth checking out.

{{toptentext|list=Man Booker Prize 2011}}

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