The Gathering by Anne Enright

A very literary book which is hard to describe as enjoyable (although it is more readable than, say, Possession).  It is a novel about a large Irish family dealing with a family bereavement.  The writing is excellent but very challenging and so not easy to read.  It is the writing not the plot that is the primary focus for this book which results in a novel which is intellectually stimulating and rewarding but not much fun.  It is a very poetic novel and so a great read if you are interested in language but don't pack it with your suntan lotion.