Úrscéal taitneamhach, léiriú ar bheatha dhaonna, go mórmhór trína phríomhcharachtar Mártan. Ní féidir an saol a bharraíocht, ciorcal nó fáinne atá ann, gan tús gan deireadh. Tá tréithe éagsúla sonracha sa scéal seo, idir ghrá, éad, fhuath, fhearg agus díoltas. Fágtar an príomhcharachtar i muinín a phinn agus an tsobail, agus ar deireadh thiar a chuirtear abhaile orainn go bhfuil an saol i bhfad níos réalaíche ná an sobal. – Tom Sailí Ó Flatharta (Cóilín – Ros na Rún)
Tá pósadh Mhártain Mhic Chormaic tite as a chéile, tá éiginnteacht ann maidir lena phost agus ní athair rómhaith é dá mhac. Is geall le sobal a shaol. Ach ní ródhona an rud é sin, mar go mbíonn sé ábalta tarraingt ar a shobalsaol go rialta agus é i mbun pinn mar scriptscríbhneoir don sobal Béal an Chuain. Ní leasc leis imeachtaí a shaol a úsáid go rialta ina chuid oibre, rud a chuireann fearg ar go leor. Is charachtar daonna atá i Mártan, rud a threoraíonn isteach i gcroí an léitheora é. Tá cáil ar Standún as feabhas na cainte agus inchreidteacht na gcarachtar ina chuid scéalta, agus ní thaise do Sobalsaol é. Carachtair bheo bheathacha atá cruthaithe aige anseo, le caint líofa bheoga acu, agus eachtraí réalaíocha, a mheallann an léitheoir díriú go dlúth isteach ar shaol tubaisteach Mhártain Mhic Chormaic!
Is minic é ráite gur gann an léitheoireacht éadrom Ghaeilge, ach dóibh siúd gur suim leo a leithéid ní gá dul níos faide ná an leabhar seo, Sobalsaol.
Mártan 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 Béal 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. Standún’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. Its 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 Mártan 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.
