Martan Mac Cormaic's marriage is in ruins, his job security is precarious and his fathering skills leave a lot to be desired. His life is a soap opera. This comes in quite handy since, as scriptwriter for the soap opera Beal an Chuain, he needs to draw regularly on his life for inspiration in his work, something he has no qualms in doing, much to the chagrin of some. His character is flawed, and human, which makes the reader inclined to identify and sympathize with him. Standun's novels have always been praised for their unaffected dialogue and their credible characters, and these qualities come to the fore once again in Sobalsaol. It's characters are lifelike, their dialogue is lively and entertaining, and the scenarios are convincingly realistic, absorbing the reader in the fast-moving plot that follows the ups and downs of Martan Mac Cormaic's life! It is often argued that there is not enough light reading material published in Irish, but those who want a good, easy read need look no further than Sobalsaol.
