Say Nothing

Thrilling!

At first, I struggled to get into it. I think because of the plethora of names, locations, factions, etc., that are explored to set the scenery. Possibly because I knew absolutely nothing at all about The Troubles except whatever I've picked up from the odd Tom Clancy book/movie (and, thus, very probably less than nothing).

The book is exceptionally well paced, and the author threads the stories so delicately that when the pictures start to come together there are times when you can't help but sit upright.

The book explores themes of moral injury and ambiguous loss in ways I find deeply fascinating. More, the book explores the stories communities tell themselves and how factions interact with communities as mitigators and agitators. From page 402:

“In the intertwining lives of Jean McConville, Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, and Gerry Adams, I saw an opportunity to tell a story about how people become radicalized in their uncompromising devotion to a cause, and about how individuals—and a whole society—make sense of political violence once they have passed through the crucible and finally have time to reflect.”

A great opportunity, and there are plenty of things we can view as analogous re: how populations/communities warp around themselves.

Great read — would recommend!