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daucreates's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
threegoodrats's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't expect so much of this to be about Liptrot's recovery from alcoholism, and I may have been less excited to read it if I knew, but actually that was pretty self-aware and contemplative and less boring that I would have guessed. She kind of glossed over her drunken times in London in that she did a lot of telling and not showing, and for that I am grateful because I don't especially enjoy being mired in someone's drunken downward spiral. It was important background to have and she left it at that: background.
I liked everything about her coming back to Orkney and reconnecting with the islands. I always like stories about people going to remote places or, in this case, back to a remote place. Strangely, I think the story felt more lonely because there was really nobody else in this story except her. She talks about her ex and her parents, and does mention someone she connects with through AA, but mostly it felt like she was just alone all the time. I know that's not true because she talked about things she did with groups, such as the Orkney Polar Bears who swam in the ocean every Saturday all year round. Surely she must have made some friends? She says that Papay, population 70, is close-knit and supportive, but didn't actually show us much evidence of that.
Also absent was a larger context for her life. I don't even know how old she was, but I was hoping she'd have some sort of plan by the end. At that point she didn't have a job, or a very good employment track record, and I don't even know if she stayed on Orkney at the end of the story or went back to London. She left it sort of open, but I guess that's how life is sometimes.
Mostly I found this a pretty enjoyable reading experience, especially when she talked about the islands and the local nature - at one point she had a job looking for rare birds called corncrakes, which I had never heard of, so that was pretty interesting.
I think I heard about this on the Got Booked podcast, where they talk about a lot of books I don't hear about elsewhere. This was a pretty good find.
I liked everything about her coming back to Orkney and reconnecting with the islands. I always like stories about people going to remote places or, in this case, back to a remote place. Strangely, I think the story felt more lonely because there was really nobody else in this story except her. She talks about her ex and her parents, and does mention someone she connects with through AA, but mostly it felt like she was just alone all the time. I know that's not true because she talked about things she did with groups, such as the Orkney Polar Bears who swam in the ocean every Saturday all year round. Surely she must have made some friends? She says that Papay, population 70, is close-knit and supportive, but didn't actually show us much evidence of that.
Also absent was a larger context for her life. I don't even know how old she was, but I was hoping she'd have some sort of plan by the end. At that point she didn't have a job, or a very good employment track record, and I don't even know if she stayed on Orkney at the end of the story or went back to London. She left it sort of open, but I guess that's how life is sometimes.
Mostly I found this a pretty enjoyable reading experience, especially when she talked about the islands and the local nature - at one point she had a job looking for rare birds called corncrakes, which I had never heard of, so that was pretty interesting.
I think I heard about this on the Got Booked podcast, where they talk about a lot of books I don't hear about elsewhere. This was a pretty good find.
amber_ray's review against another edition
5.0
It’s taken me quite a while to write a review for ’The Outrun', mostly because I’ve still been soaking this one in. It’s funny, because I don’t really read memoirs too often and if you told me I had to read a book about nature I’d probably just start snoring on the spot. But what Amy Liptrot has done is combine the two genres in a profound and visceral way that I didn’t expect - and I loved!
The author provides a raw account of her struggles with alcoholism after moving to London, but the real emphasis is on her recovery and return to her native Orkney. At once bleak, beautiful and isolated, she parallels her experiences in nature with her heartbreaking struggles to stay sober and understand herself.
Liptrot counts rare Corncrakes, she tracks the stars and swims in icy waters, hikes in howling winds and encounters otters. She engages with nature and all of its extremes whole-heartedly, always counterpointing her experiences with her inner world of addiction. All of this is so brilliantly, thrillingly done - sometimes bleak but ultimately full of hope.
I look forward to more from Amy Liptrot, because if I’ve learned anything from ‘The Outrun,’ it’s that Amy is not only incredibly brave and strong, she’s also an absolutely stunning writer.
The author provides a raw account of her struggles with alcoholism after moving to London, but the real emphasis is on her recovery and return to her native Orkney. At once bleak, beautiful and isolated, she parallels her experiences in nature with her heartbreaking struggles to stay sober and understand herself.
Liptrot counts rare Corncrakes, she tracks the stars and swims in icy waters, hikes in howling winds and encounters otters. She engages with nature and all of its extremes whole-heartedly, always counterpointing her experiences with her inner world of addiction. All of this is so brilliantly, thrillingly done - sometimes bleak but ultimately full of hope.
I look forward to more from Amy Liptrot, because if I’ve learned anything from ‘The Outrun,’ it’s that Amy is not only incredibly brave and strong, she’s also an absolutely stunning writer.
kiwi96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
sentientspace's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this - both the descriptions of life on Orkney and Papay, but also the authors journey - her desire for new experiences, and the different outcomes that could come from the choices she was making. Her honesty about the low points contrasted with the uplifting conclusions from the various episodes of her rediscovery of her home. Highly recommended.
lookingtosea's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook whilst walking to and from work so I didn’t mind how repetitive the narrative was
hesmykindofgirl's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
started off slow but got better in the second half, when it became more focused on showing vs telling. would have been half a star less but THAT CHAPTER ON WILD SWIMMING. oh my god!!!!! it made me want to run outside and enjoy and cavort in the beauty of nature. a wonderful book.
started off slow but got better in the second half, when it became more focused on showing vs telling. would have been half a star less but THAT CHAPTER ON WILD SWIMMING. oh my god!!!!! it made me want to run outside and enjoy and cavort in the beauty of nature. a wonderful book.