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ldv's review against another edition
3.0
Traces a family line from famine time in Ireland to their settlement in Canada and a few generations beyond. "Away" describes people who have been touched in the head by some other spirit. The book has a dream-like quality to it.
gloriaannwilson's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting story. I loved the irish folklore.
vanitar's review against another edition
3.0
Although not my favourite genre and it was a bit of a slog reading through it at times (it felt very slow), this book is a very poetic account of a family across multiple generations and their journey from Ireland to Canada. The writing is eloquent and there are themes highlighted that look at immigration, identity, women, and explores layers of Celtic spirituality woven through the narrative and the characters' experiences.
One of the questions i had coming out of this book is what it means for someone to be "away". I am quick to interpret it through a modern lens of mental illness, but this book seems to highlight the spirit world of Celtic spirituality and also looks at what it might mean to be fully present in one's reality versus elsewhere either mentally or physically.
I enjoyed the ending more than the beginning. The beginning took too long to set up the initial story and had too many different characters and storylines at once that, to me, weren't relevant or helpful for the overarching storyline. Not my favourite book but it also highlights history of Ireland (specifically the potato famine) and the experience of Irish immigrants to Canada.
One of the questions i had coming out of this book is what it means for someone to be "away". I am quick to interpret it through a modern lens of mental illness, but this book seems to highlight the spirit world of Celtic spirituality and also looks at what it might mean to be fully present in one's reality versus elsewhere either mentally or physically.
I enjoyed the ending more than the beginning. The beginning took too long to set up the initial story and had too many different characters and storylines at once that, to me, weren't relevant or helpful for the overarching storyline. Not my favourite book but it also highlights history of Ireland (specifically the potato famine) and the experience of Irish immigrants to Canada.
lizruest's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
likecymbeline's review against another edition
2.0
My chief memory of this book is sharing it with my housemate who had no appreciation for school/books but who was in the same Canadian Lit class as I was. I read it, then lent it to her. She covered every page in pink highlighter and even though I'd bought the book (used, maybe $5) I was mortified and did not take it back from her even when she tried to return it to me.
literarymultitudes's review
5.0
This was great! I truly loved reading this book.
It was my first book by Jane Urquhart and I wasn't sure what to expect. But I really loved it. The words and the world, the images, everything. This is what makes reading so great. I just had the best reading experience.
While this was definitely not magical realism, it did have a certain kind of magical realism vibe to it - and I loved it. Jane Urquhart wonderfully managed to say little, but make parts of the story feel fairy-tale-like, while actually just telling what happened.
I'm much looking forward to reading more of her work.
It was my first book by Jane Urquhart and I wasn't sure what to expect. But I really loved it. The words and the world, the images, everything. This is what makes reading so great. I just had the best reading experience.
While this was definitely not magical realism, it did have a certain kind of magical realism vibe to it - and I loved it. Jane Urquhart wonderfully managed to say little, but make parts of the story feel fairy-tale-like, while actually just telling what happened.
I'm much looking forward to reading more of her work.