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dwager's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Colonisation, Hate crime, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
feebles640's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, and Gun violence
oliviashleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and War
gummistovlar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
But I had to absolutely drag myself through this novel.
First, I cannot recover from the irony of the audiobook being narrated by a non-Irish speaker. Stephen Hogan does a good Irish accent, so he may well be Irish himself, but the fact that his intonation was incorrect for some very basic phrases leads me to believe he definitely does not speak the language. Even if you don't attain fluency (which most of us don't), we are all taught Irish from the age of 5 if you are raised in the country, and we can reliably pronounce words.
Given the novel's chosen theme, I really don't understand why they couldn't find any Irish actor who actually has basic command of the language - there are plenty available!
Second, reading this was just misery on misery on misery. This is why I find myself avoiding a lot of Irish writing, because it's this very particular brand of misery that seems to be rewarded on the international scale, and that to me is a facet of colonialism itself. It really bothers me. Audrey Magee is welcome to write the novel she wants to write, but it's very typical to me that this is the one that would receive recognition.
Irony again that a novel supposedly about the battle for the soul of Ireland (its language) is dry as a bone. We get maybe 3 flashes of wry humour in the whole thing, whereas the absolute characteristic of Irish people (especially on the west coast, where this seems to be set) is that a wicked sense of humour lives right alongside the misery.
I don't take issue with Magee's thesis really, especially when juxtaposed with the experience of a French/Algerian character, but I think the idea of the future of the language being debated by outsiders got a bit carried away with itself. The prose was very repetitive and I hated absolutely every character.
I also was not fond of how the conflict in Northern Ireland was treated: it felt very reductive and both sides-y, but that might require re-reading with a careful eye.
Anyway, I don't recommend that you read this if you want to experience joy, or any insight into Ireland. If you are curious about what has happened to the language itself, a short article will give you the same information and history. If you want to hear Irish, listen to the Beo Ar Éigean podcast or ring me up if you know me! 😂
Magee gets an A1 for condensing the English nation into one horrendously unlikeable character though - nailed it.
Moderate: Murder and Colonisation
katewhite77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A beautiful meditation on colony and colonisation and mainly. but not exclusively the geopolitical Anglo-Irish iteration with a particular focus on language.
I would recommend the audio version of this particular book as I think this book is probably best heard than read if possible just let the words carry you across the Irish Sea.
This is not an easy read but an important and poetic one.
Graphic: Xenophobia, War, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Colonisation, and Murder
shelleyanderson4127's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As the summer progresses tensions mount, and the characters' longings and fears are laid bare. The issues of privilege and responsibility, of cultural appropriation, of the after effects of colonization, are seamlessly woven into the story. So, too, are short, vivid accounts of political violence in northern Ireland. Magee, an award-winning journalist, shows how history plays out in real flesh and bone.
The writing is poetic and concise; the whole book compelling and honest. It forces the reader to question who owns a tradition and exactly what is worth saving in a tradition. I loved this book. It's one of the most beautifully written stories I've read all year. If I was a betting woman, I would gamble on The Colony winning this year's Booker Prize.
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Death, Cultural appropriation, and Sexism
There are examples of political killings during The Troubles in Norther Ireland.kairhone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Death, and Violence
linguaphile412's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gun violence, War, Violence, Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Colonisation, Death, Hate crime, and Injury/Injury detail
kirstym25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Colonisation, and Murder
serendipitysbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
All of which makes this book sound worthy - and possibly dull. Worthy it is; dull it is not. The story is engaging and eminently readable - quite funny at times, the writing lyrical and poetic, the atmosphere often haunting, the characters memorable and in some cases, James especially, loveable. The exploration of the theme is thought-provoking, yet nuanced rather than dogmatic. All in all I highly recommend this novel and will definitely be adding Audrey Magee to the list of authors whose back lists I want to explore.
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent