James’ story is told in third person, past tense.

But not as tough as John’s − John is dead, after all, and James has the gift of life. James Stack, whose life seems tough from the start. So of course, the next question is, who killed John and his family in 1865?Īnd so John’s story is alternated with James’. ‘No one knows we’re dead, except him,’ states John in the first 50 words of the novel, ‘We’re the dead Finnigans’. Rosetta Allan uses first person, present tense ‘ghost narration’ to place us dead in the centre (pardon the pun) of John’s world.

His journey, whilst in this state, from utter boredom to appreciation of the smallest things − owls, cats, pohutakawa trees − is an interesting one. ‘It’s so boring out here, we’re all getting ratty … nothing to do but fight,’ declares John on the second page. Or maybe it’s eternal boredom, the ultimate lesson in find-something-to-do that mothers have mouthed from time immemorial. Perhaps purgatory is being left alone, abandoned by those closest to your heart. He can’t touch anything, and he finds himself alone once the bodies of his mother and two brothers, who initially share purgatory with him, are discovered. Unfortunately for John Finnigan, the 10 year-old murdered youth of this book, purgatory is also a place of suffering or torment. But you require the purification of your spirit, so as to achieve the requisite holiness before paradise is reached. This book is available in bookstores nationwide.Īccording to Catholic doctrine, when you are in purgatory, you are destined for heaven.

Purgatory rosetta allan