Reviews

• C'è un terrorismo giusto?

  Sono tanti gli aspetti della storia recente che ci sfuggono o che abbiamo vissuto superficialmente dagli articoli di stampa. Il terrorismo dell'IRA nell'Irlanda del Nord, il lungo periodo dei Troubles con attentati e assassini e repressioni e umiliazioni. Mi ricordo il reverendo (?) Ian Paisly alla guida degli ultras britannici nelle marce orangiste per ricordare la disfatta delle truppe irlandesi secoli prima, le bombe dell'IRA e la morte per fame di Bobby Sands e di altri carcerati in scioperi ad oltranza. Il libro narra la storia di un capo dell'IRA, dall'infanzia fino al tradimento e la collaborazione con la polizia britannica, un percorso complesso e aspro di contraddizioni fino alla coscienza che la violenza non risolverà nulla e che una sorta di compromesso dovrà essere trovato con la popolazione britannica per costruire un lento processo di pace e riavvicinamento delle due comunità. Libro importante e ben scritto, una testimonianza valida e impressionante. Consigliato.

• a book to challenge all you thought you knew about the troubles in Ireland.

  If you want to know who your average terrorist/freedom fighter is and how they reached this stage in their lives, read this book. If you have ever wondered how they adapt to life after peace has been achieved, read this book (they don't). If you want to know how alcohol can destroy a person, a family and a whole community, read this book. Simply the most challenging, worrying and gripping book I have read in some time.

• Deeply emotional insight into the guerrilla war that consumed Ireland for decades.

  Return to Killybegs, the mesmerizing story of a warrior and subsequent traitor to Belfast's IRA during "The Troubles," is a poignant, insightful expose of what fighting a guerilla war is really like. As an American with Irish parents, I'd heard snippets of conversation in hushed tones while I grew up about the hardships and war-torn strife they and my ancestors had endured for many generations. However, I never understood the depth of despair, resilience, and courage the Irish Catholics faced in the Northern Ireland's ghettos until I read Sorj Chalandon's book. I took my time reading the novel, looking at on-line maps and studying historical figures described in the story, in order to absorb as much as I could about what was happening during the war. It was interesting to read about how devoted the IRA women were to the war effort; standing beside and supporting their men - fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands - with fierce determination, like the ancient Celtic and Viking female warriors of Ireland's past. One of my favorite lines in the book comes near the end: "Peace? Uninteresting. Hope is harder to sell than fear." Although the main characters are fictional - but based on real people and events - I believe the story, with aspects of both thriller and memoir genres, provides important insight into what it was like to live the war for an entire lifetime. Wonderful, deeply emotional writing that kept me thinking about the book for days after I finished it. Highly recommended!

• A difficult world to penetrate and decode.

  A difficult world to penetrate and decode. The most poignant comment was when Meehan said that the IRA was looking for a gesture from London, a sign that they wanted to negoitate an exit. It was the truth no one wanted to utter but all wanted to hear. Belfast was horrible in the 70’s and 80’s as was the rest of NI but peace has allowed it flourish and very few want to go back to that horrid life of fear. Not too long ago I overheard two Protestant woman from Belfast in an elevator in Barcelona say that after Brexit thye have no choice but to get a passport from the Republic of Ireland.....how peace chnages people for the better!

• Return to Killybegs

  Quite an innocuous title for such a powerfully written and emotive story. Tyrone Meehan born and bred in Killybegs to his rise through the ranks of the IRA and his ultimate betrayal on the streets of Belfast. I don't know a lot about this period in history, Ireland in the 60's through to the 90's, the time of the Hunger Strikes, Bobby Sands up until the Ceasefire This novel does give insight into that fascinating period of history. I found this a harrowing and disturbing read, the violence and hate and the unwillingness to compromise shown by all sides. The novel however is ultimately about the betrayal and the aftermath. I initially felt some sympathy for Tyrone but his justification wore thin by the end of the book. He betrayed his country, friends, family and I'm not sure that I bought into his reasons for doing so. Well written, emotive story, a harrowing story to read in places, it did pack an emotional wallop.

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