Book Beginnings on Fridays and The Friday 56

This week (sorry being late) my book beginning and page 56 come from The Secret Scripture from one of my favourite authors, Sebastian Barry. From the back cover:

"Roseanne McNulty is nearing her hundredth birthday in the mental hospital where she was committed as a young woman. Finishing up his case notes before the hospital is closed, psychiatrist Dr Grene finds himself intrigued by the story of his elderly patient. While Dr Grene investigates, Roseanne looks back on the tragedies and passions she has locked away in her secret journal, from her turbulent rural childhood to the marriage she believed would bring her happiness. But when Dr Grene finally uncovers the circumstances of her arrival at the hospital, it leads to a shocking secret." 

Book beginning hosted by Rose City Reader

"The world begins anew with every birth, my father used to say. he forgot to say, with every death it ends. Or did not think he needed to. Because for a goodly part of his life he worked in a graveyard."

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice

"History needs to be mightily inventive about human life because bare life is an accusation against man's dominion of the earth."

A wonderful book and a totally unexpected end makes this novel both thrilling and telling a realistic story of life in Ireland in the beginning of the 20th century. A must read.