What did you know about "the Troubles" before reading the book? Did you learn anything new? Was your opinion of the conflict changed in any way?
Created: 11/02/23
Replies: 20
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I've read Patrick Radden Keefe's "Say Nothing," recently, as well as other fiction works about the Troubles. The picture of IRA, Real IRA, and British participation in the more violent aspects of the conflict in this book is consistent with what I've read other places. The advantage of a fictional perspective, though, is the chance to develop a more personal and focused perspective on particular events.
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I cannot say I learned a great deal from this book. I have read a few books about the Troubles - TransAtlantic, by Collum McCann, Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, and recently Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. I also spent a summer in Ireland in the mid-ninties. One of my lasting experiences of that summer was driving from Donegal in the Republic of Ireland to Derry in Northern Ireland. At the border our car was searched by armed British soldiers. We saw the barbed wire surrounding certain areas in Derry and again armed guards looking down from building tops. The Irish people are a most welcoming people, but the atmosphere in Derry was very different from the south. People were cautious and watchful, which was most disturbing. It saddened me to realize there are many places in the world where people live in constant fear.
Join Date: 02/26/22
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I already knew a LOT, which is why i gravitated to this book. The "Troubles" in Ireland have been going on for a long time--and it's why all four of my grandparents ended up in America in the early twentieth century, and I still have distant relatives there. I've known these stories all my life...unlike Brid, my grandparents shared their background with my parents and all the grandchildren (almost too much at times!). It was really interesting to me to read such an intimate story about like in 1970's Ireland.
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I didn't know about the "Troubles in Ireland. I was raised Catholic in Canada and it was disturbing to hear the conflicts between Catholic and protestants. I am glad I read this story. The book "Say Nothing" by Patrick Radden Keefe might be another read to deepen my understand of this conflict.
Join Date: 05/11/22
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I didn't know much about the "Troubles" in Ireland. I was raised Catholic and as a young girl, I knew there were divides between the Protestants and Catholics in our small town, but it was nothing like a war zone. I can't imagine living day-to-day, not knowing when you would encounter violence and never ever feeling safe because you aligned with a certain religion. I think it would affect even the most highly functioning families, so clearly a dysfunctional family would become even more so.
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I knew some from reading other books and movies. Like the WWII era, there are so many stories that can still be told from those times. I always learn new things and perspectives. I do think it's somewhat interesting that the name is the Troubles when it was so violent and deadly. What makes events called a war?
I didn't know about the two IRA groups.
Join Date: 10/14/11
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I requested this book because I am very interested in Ireland & The Troubles. I was very disappointed in the book's coverage of the topic. It was mostly about a dysfunctional family - the women played a part in the conflict/war but only as a side line to develop the 3 family members' story. I learned nothing more about the "Troubles" - such a rich topic - a brilliant idea but poorly executed. The book could be marketed as mother/daughter saga but not as a book about Ireland's conflict(s). Ireland's history is complex & interesting. It is rich with stories. This novel did not hold my interest although I sincerely wanted it to enhance my knowledge.
Join Date: 03/11/12
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I have a good friend that grew up outside Belfast during the Troubles and the book depicts horries of the time. The violence that was committed by all sides was sad. The book and my friend also described how it tore apart families and continues to impact people years afterwards.
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I have never read anything about the Troubles, but have seen a couple movies related to it that were mostly focused on the military aspect. This made it seem more personal to me with the involvement of Brid and the death of her sister, Ina, as well as their mothers reaction to it all. Also, Brid's reaction to the news when she was living in the USA. I would love to read more about this conflict.
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I knew quite a bit from my Irish Catholic friends and from Patrick Radden Keefe's "Say Nothing," but what I learned here was how to see the human side of "The Troubles," that is, the effect on ordinary people. Brid's peripheral role in a bombing changed her life forever and affected the way she related to her daughter, was estranged from her family, and suffered lifelong guilt.
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