Shades of Integrity – Berna Boran
“I could not put the book down and remained intrigued about how things would turn out right the way through. What really impressed me about the subject matter was how sharp your insights were into the Muslim culture and ways of Islam. This not only spoke of your interaction with children and parents over the years in the school but also of a deeper empathy built up with the community as a whole”.
Congratulations. I await the next Berna Boran title…
Dr. Chris Hewer
“A delightful unusual debut novel by an Irish author on a subject of international modern importance related with a real insight at a single family level with humour and understanding”.
Kieran Colgan
“A wonderful story-intertwining the Islamic and Irish cultures with the oneness of all human beings. I read the novel in one sitting”.
Catherine Gilligan
“Immersive story tightly wound with suspense that really does keep you turning the pages”.
Susan O’Neill
“Shades of Integrity is more than a book of fiction, it affirms humanity and the possibilities of inherent cultural diversities. It is a refreshing look into what really matters, as Malaki states, “what is right does not change”.
Denis Hartnett
“Shades of Integrity” is the debut novel from the pen of Berna Brennan. a retired primary school principal. Berna worked with the Muslim community for many years and this familiarity is portrayed by her intricate knowledge of the rhythms and routines of a busy Muslim household. Her novel, set around the year 2000, centres around an Egyptian family, Hannah and Shabhan and their children, as they grapple with the numerous challenges presented by life in Dublin. Hannah and Shabhan fulfil traditional roles as devoted homemaker and breadwinner and grapple with the dilemmas of imbuing their family with traditional values.
The children eagerly embrace new freedoms in a rapidly changing Ireland and these new freedoms bring mixed consequences for the family. Dutiful eldest daughter, Amina, chooses her own path in matters of love – a serious matter in a conservative family. Salman , the second son, dabbles with crime and ends up involving his whole family with the criminal underworld.
The recent Bosnian conflict is skilfully and poignantly interwoven into the tale with the arrival of Hannah’s mysterious brother, Malaki. Past tragedies have hardened him but, as the novel unfolds, a chance encounter promises the rekindling of a lost love.
Berna has a keen eye for detail and her characters, from the quintessential Irish granny, Granny Burns, to Hannah, the dutiful mother who yearns for her own identity, are sympathetically drawn. There is humour also and the universal truth that teenagers will find their parents fussy and embarrassing is hilariously demonstrated on several occasions, especially when the family take to the road in the ancient, clapped out van.
Mary Griffin
“Dear Berna, I loved your book! …It made my weekend flash by, I could hardly put it down. We need more stories like this, so I do look forward to the sequels”.
Carol
“Your book arrived on Thursday, thanks Berna.
Finished it yesterday evening. Yes, I did enjoy the story and the characters – your wish on my reading it… but, so much more than that!!
Handling politics, racial issues and religion in 21st century Ireland’s more cosmopolitan mixed race society, in the lesser deft hands with lesser insight and experience than yours could have resulted in a very biased one-sided novel. You were truly inspired… and at times yes, it is ‘close to the edge’… but balanced fair and an exciting read, with plenty of humour too.
May “Shades of Integrity” make your name as an author the quality. Do continue with your second novel – I’m looking forward to it”.
Margaret
Thank you, Berna, for the privilege of reading your book.
It reflects part of the new evolving Ireland.
As the former Secretary of the Donegal Intercultural Platform. I think your book deserves to be widely read.
This is an important book, because it is written by someone with a detailed and informed knowledge of the Muslim community in Ireland.
It is necessary that we are informed of each other’s customs, beliefs and sensibilities to gain mutual understanding and respect.
The girl (Amina) being pushed into an arranged marriage is very sympathetically drawn. We feel concern for her.
As the TG4 documentary on ‘Peig’ showed, arranged marriages were not uncommon until relatively recently here in Ireland.
‘Shades’ captures the immigrant’s spirit of moving continents for a better life…
Berna, your book is a ‘must read’ for modern Ireland… Congratulations.
John Devlin: Librarian, Letterkenny I.T.
This novel is a captivating read that grips the reader from the very first page. Shades of Integrity follows the lives of a Muslim family living in Dublin…
Shades of Integrity by Berna Boran, is an excellent novel that enthrals and excites as it envelops you in the lives of its characters…
- Publisher: Three Sisters
- Press. ISBN: 978-1-9164-4946-6.
- Cost: €15.99 available from www.books.ie
Taken from a review by JEAN O’MALLEY, Co Galway – InTouch magazine June 2021, www.into.ie
© Copyright Berna Boran 2020
Berna Boran 