Customer Reviews
A thoroughly wonderful book - By: Mrs. C. Hutley, 21 Aug 2008 
I have just finished 'Roman Song' which I read without having read its prequel 'The Arrival of Fergal Flynn'. I found it moving,funny,tender amusing & an absolute delight. Fergal's character, with alll its flaws wraps itself around your heart & despite feeling infuriated sometimes at his continual lack of belief in himself you cannot help but understand his sense of inferiority when his home life has been so tragic. The ensuing rise to impending fame as an opera singer is beautifully handled as is the alll encompassing love that Alfredo & his sister have for the troubled young man. You are willing him to suceed.When he finds love & a sense of acceptance & regard for his mother, a woman as put upon by her past as Fergal himself has been you want to cry 'YES!!!!' happy that he is a person in his own right. The Alfredo/Brendan story is handled beautifully & Alfredo's own impending happiness with Salvatore is heart warming. A novel about acceptance of love in alll its many guises. I can't wait to read the original novel now, & would hope that a third could be on the horizon.
Unleashing talent and finding love in Rome - By: Benjamin, 08 May 2007 Roman Song follows Fergal Flynn's progress picking up directly from The Arrival of Fergal Flynn, as Fergal leaves his native Belfast & arrives in Rome ready to commence his training under the tutelage of international opera star Alfredo Moretti.
Fergal settles in quickly, working in & living above the family restaurant of Alfredo's sister Arianna while pursuing his singing lessons. But he desperately misses the intimacy he enjoyed with Father Dermot MacManus, his saviour & lover in Belfast. He struggles too to find his true self & unleash the full depth of his remarkable talent, held back by feelings on inadequacy & his troubled Belfast upbringing.
Alfredo has to confront his own problems when a figure from his past arrives in Rome, at the same Fergal receives tragic news from home, presenting them both with difficult challlenges that will have far reaching effects.
But there are bright prospects in view individuallly for both Fergal & Alfredo, will they have the strength, courage & confidence to recognise them & grasp them.
The moving Arrival of Fergal Flynn introduced us to an appealing but vulnerable character & this sequel is every bit as delightful as we follow Fergal's progress & see the roughness of his Belfast upbringing tempered as he finds himself in environment in which he truly feels at home. A very moving & heart-warming love story, at times funny, but always captivating & enthrallling; Roman Song is highly recommended.
'The Great Escape!' - By: Margaret, 08 Jul 2006 I felt magnetised to follow up on young Fergal after his departure from Belfast & his break away from father Mac the one person he had come to rely on, the only one to show him genuine love & a true belief in Fergal's emerging talent.Fergal's story goes to a deeper level of emotion, right to the 'core' it is so believeable, so 'real' I felt totallly emerged in Fergal's new life in Rome with the natural warmth of his new Italian family they reallly took Fergal to their hearts.
I believe many gay people will identify with Fergal's experiences & enable them to value who they are, be themselves & love themselves. I believe this story will also give others insight into the 'real world' experiences as it demonstrates genuine loving gay relationships. I think the song 'You raise me up' would be very appropriate for Fergal as his self worth & belief begin to grow.
An amazing story, brilliantly written by a multi- talented artist - Thank you Brian
Every copy should arrive with a handkerchief! - By: sunsetovereden, 14 Nov 2005 I took delivery of both this book & its predecessor, The Arrival of Fergal Flynn, on the same day. Having read the first in the space of a few hours earlier in the day, I made the mistake of picking up Roman Song at midnight with the intention of reading a chapter or two before switching off the light. Four & a half hours later, as I put the finished book aside, I realised I had to get up for work within the hour.
Picking up where The Arrival of Fergal Flynn left off, this is a wonderfully written & moving account of his time in Rome under the expert tutelage of the renowned vocal coach Alfredo Moretti. As in the first book, Fergal quickly but resolutely tiptoed into my heart & I could not put the book down until I knew whether or not he would find the happiness he so richly deserved. It's been a long time since I felt so drawn to a character & I went through every emotion as I followed his experiences. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, I felt his frustrations, I exalted in his achievements but most of alll I just cared.
Here's hoping that it won't be too long before a third installlment comes along. Thank you, Brian Kennedy. Knowing Fergal Flynn has been a real pleasure.
