Review: Land by Maggie O’Farrell

It’s not an easy time by any means. And it’s full of heartache and tragedy. So much so that it’s hard to find much light in this story, which I do believe is the point.

There’s also some magical realism at play, which is fine, but in some ways, it’s not as explored as I would have liked. But mainly, this story opens in a hard spot, and doesn’t let up in that feeling all the way through to the end.

I truly do love big, epic storylines. And I haven’t read a ton of fiction set in Ireland, so I was fascinated by so much. Still, the heaviness was pretty constant, and while I completely understand why, it did make for a tough read at times.

But also very beautiful writing, setting, and character development. BTW, I selected Land as a must-read book club pick for 2026. Check out the other selections here.

What’s the Story About

We follow the complicated lives of one family, starting with Tomás, their father, a mapmaker, and his son Liam, who unwillingly goes on the surveying journey. Tomás doesn’t love the work and feels he’s betraying his country, while the conditions are extremely hostile for Liam, who is only 10 and still very much a child.

Life is forever changed when Tomás and Liam encounter a mystical copse, and Tomás emerges as a completely different person. He instead tries to create an authentic map that doesn’t hide Ireland’s complicated and tragic past.

But it’s not so simple for Tomás’s wife and their children as they have to contend with this change, and also the risk of running out of money. Tomás’s new demeanor and actions impact each of the children: Liam, Edna, Rose, and Eugene.

We follow this family as they all try to survive through hardship, betrayal, and more.

The Journey

As I look back on the story since finishing it, I still feel that maybe the copse and magical realism elements weren’t as striking to me as I would have expected. Even though it’s such a huge plot point and truly changes the direction of the story, I still wanted more from it. In some ways, it felt like an uneven approach to include this storytelling device, but only revisit it a couple of times in such a big story.

So that took away a bit for me. I think it’s hard that something that had such an impact is only lightly discussed in the end.

But of course, it’s all about this family and their road ahead. You feel for the kids who are completely thrown in an impossible spot. As a result, both Liam and Edna rebel in different ways, which also brings another layer of devastation to this family.

It really shows the impact of choice, naivety, and explores how sometimes things can’t be undone.

The History

The historical details are remarkable. It’s a time period in Ireland that I’m not so familiar with, and I learned a lot and found it fascinating. Tomás’s work as a cartographer, which was highly inspired by the author’s own family, was also quite compelling.

The land itself serves as a central character, as it’s always there and has seen it all. People come and go, age and die, there are new rulers and politics, and a tragedy always seems to await. But what remains the same is the land, and it’s not going anywhere.

This is a classic historical fiction novel that I feel could be taught in high school and college, with all the different layers, themes, and metaphors.

Verdict

I found Land to be remarkable in so many areas, but at the same time, I wasn’t always absorbed by the story, which is an interesting feeling. There were times I thought this was incredible, but the constant tragedies and missed opportunities did get to be too much at times.

Part of me wonders if it was just timing. While I don’t shy away from big stories in the summer, I’ve read several heavier reads in a row, and maybe I just needed to take a genre break before diving into this one.

But again, there’s no doubt that Land is a story that will leave a lasting impact on many readers around the world.

For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here.