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A review by gummistovlar
The Colony by Audrey Magee
challenging
slow-paced
- 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
Look, I am *very* invested in the subject matter of this novel - namely the plight of my own language and its systematic eradication by colonialism.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Colonisation