benfast's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating story that connects history with current politics and memory-making in Northern Ireland (and the greater UK/Republic of Ireland). I don't know much about the IRA but have heard a bit about the Troubles, specifically about the bombings and violence in Derry/Londonderry and Belfast. This book opens with the disappearance of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10, who is taken from her home by the IRA in 1972. It follows the politics and fighting between the IRA and other republican groups and the UK government and loyalist factions that both surround the greater Troubles and the specifics of Ms. McConville's death up to the search for her body just a few years ago. I was really interested in how the IRA and its leaders have spun things like their roles in these actions and their participation in a self-styled war against the UK government to get out of a lot of criminal charges. This book highlights how oral history archives have played a big part in recent criminal investigations, and how they are handled politically to avoid jeopardizing the peace process. So much more complexity!
agneshenriksson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
lizgrr's review against another edition
3.0
This book was hard to read but I'm really glad I stuck with it. I learned so much about the Troubles and the IRA, and there are some golden nuggets of stories in there but... get to the point, man! I imagine as an audiobook this would be pretty great, but it was hard to read- often because of overuse of punctuation. It also seemed to ramble at points and it takes hundreds of pages to tie all these people and places together... which would be ok if it was more exciting but it drags on. That said, I did enjoy what I learned and at the end I was excited to talk abotu the book, but it was hard to get through.
sbnich's review against another edition
4.0
A powerful look at The Troubles, the bloody sectarian conflict in Belfast. So many things I didn't realize as an American, including just how traumatic it was for those in Northern Ireland, regardless of IRA or British loyalties. I don't think I ever realized it was a war in every sense of the word. The stories and history are heartbreaking and well told.
babysmom's review against another edition
4.0
second half much more interesting than the first to me, but v v v interesting! perfectly paired with my binging of derry girls
tbloehrlein's review against another edition
5.0
The author grabs your attention with the murder of a mother, but he enlightens you with all the complexities and nuances of The Troubles that surrounded the murder. It is a great study and reflection on how we justify our actions as a whole community when we believe the “end justifies the means.”