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sinerak's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible read- I think a lot of reviews here are soured by the mandatory Irish course reading. This translation does a fine job, and sends the tone that Peig herself wanted to send- colloquial, as if telling the story by a fire. The stories offer great glimpses into the past, and into the history of an impoverished people.
I've read a book from the same period - 70 years of Irish Life- written by a wealthy Anglo-Irish man William Le Fanu. The difference in perspective is shocking. Le Fanu sees joy in people, and praises the country for being the near paradise he sees it as, marred by mismanagement and the Land Issue. Peig, on the other side of that, shows the real struggle that Le Fanu glosses over.
All to say- I appreciated the perspective this book gave me. A glimpse at the same view through a new pair of glasses as it were.
I've read a book from the same period - 70 years of Irish Life- written by a wealthy Anglo-Irish man William Le Fanu. The difference in perspective is shocking. Le Fanu sees joy in people, and praises the country for being the near paradise he sees it as, marred by mismanagement and the Land Issue. Peig, on the other side of that, shows the real struggle that Le Fanu glosses over.
All to say- I appreciated the perspective this book gave me. A glimpse at the same view through a new pair of glasses as it were.
rogerb's review
3.0
We bought this during a visit to the Blaskets.
It's actually fascinating as a picture of life in isolated rural Irish poverty: there are many references to an even worse time during the famine and the translation is excellent at making you read it in an irish lilt.
I would have enjoyed reading an introduction that extracted the real lessons in this: there are many pages of Muiris and Padriaig doing thing with cows, and the Catholic piety is certainly genuine but makes me very glad I didn't have to discuss the nature of fate with these people.
3 stars is harsh, call it 3.5. Fascinating, but I've had enough.
It's actually fascinating as a picture of life in isolated rural Irish poverty: there are many references to an even worse time during the famine and the translation is excellent at making you read it in an irish lilt.
I would have enjoyed reading an introduction that extracted the real lessons in this: there are many pages of Muiris and Padriaig doing thing with cows, and the Catholic piety is certainly genuine but makes me very glad I didn't have to discuss the nature of fate with these people.
3 stars is harsh, call it 3.5. Fascinating, but I've had enough.
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