A Place Apart

Regrettably this review won't be of much help to anyone who hasn't read this book already (er, or to anyone who has read it...). I expected going into this that it would be complex, and not for me, and if I wasn't planning to read all of Dervla Murphy's books I wouldn't have tackled it. I knew going in that it isn't a usual Dervla Murphy travel book, it is a much different thing altogether, it is an exploration of ‘hearts and minds' as quoted on the cover of my edition.

I find the whole Northern Ireland situation perplexing and confusing (much as I do with the Israel / Palestine situation) where it seems that aggression and killing achieve absolutely nothing in resolving or moving forward. I realise this is a simplistic view, but I don't enjoy reading about it, out of frustration as much as anything.

That is not to take away from the job Murphy does in embracing people from both sides and telling their stories. She is at home drinking her pints in either ‘sides' pubs, listening to the opinions of any faction, then carefully recording them in this book. While riddled with acronyms and terminology that confuses me and ties my thoughts into knots, I am also exposed for my lack of effort - noting that I could refer back to the glossary, make notes or refer to the internet as I read - but I didn't (and very rarely do when I am reading).

Murphy's book was published in 1978. The travels she describes were commenced in Spring of 1976 through to July 1977. As we might expect she protects the identity of those she speaks to and quotes, as the repercussions are still serious at that time. Murphy herself must strike the Northern Irish as an unusual person - turning up on her bicycle with her southern County Waterford accent, asking questions and striking up conversations. Based on her account, she was almost universally well treated and welcomed.

For those who want to understand more about the book than my general description, I recommend Caroline's excellent review.

My rating reflects how well researched and written this book is, but if I rated it for my enjoyment it would be less - but that says more about me than the book!

4 stars