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birdsandships's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Grief, and Self harm
leah_alexandra's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Extraordinarily gorgeous writing. Visceral and moving. I teared up at so many moments.
Heavy content warning though for one chapter in particular with medical content. Still recommending wholeheartedly despite almost fainting while reading that bit.
Heavy content warning though for one chapter in particular with medical content. Still recommending wholeheartedly despite almost fainting while reading that bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Pregnancy
not_another_ana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This is a female text, written in the twenty-first century. How late it is. How much has changed. How little.
This is difficult to describe in an easy accessible way. Think of a long form Youtube essay, the kind that lasts 3 hours, the kind that revolves around a topic so specific, so niche that can only be made interesting in the hands of a person plagued by the subject. I say this as a positive but also as the only way I feel I can capture the obsession and care you can pick up from these pages. Doireann Ní Ghríofa first heard of Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill as a child growing up in Ireland, and though the years grew consumed not only by her poem, Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire, but by Eibhlín herself. In this book the author masterfully merges her obsession and what she discovered of this woman with her own life, her beliefs, her fears, and big events that marked her.
As the author mentions time and time again: This is a female text. The inciting incident is the near loss of a baby by Doireann and her need for retaking control in some way of her life and her routine. It's powerful and defiant but still intimate. The author unspools her life for all to see, just as she scrutinizes histoy for morsels of Eibhlín. It's so lyricial and full of rhythm, in a way only a poet could weave, that at points I felt hypnotized. I grew as obsessed with this long death Irish woman as the author did.
Since it was so intimate and personal I was able to understand while not actually relating to the author's struggles. Even the long sections about breastfeeding weren't a chore because of how honest they were told. I do, however, think that it could have been a bit shorter. It was difficult to mantain the whimsy and interest at some points because of the repetition. Even though it wasn't perfect in my eyes I don't believe I will ever stop thinking about it. Every time I put down my thoughts, like in this review, I will be haunted by the idea of it being a female text.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Murder, and Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage and Sexism
Minor: Animal death
savvylit's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Doireann Ni Ghriofa is an immensely talented author. Her past experience as a poet shines through in her lyrical and often rhythmic prose. Many of the sentences in this unique book are both delectable and gorgeous.
A Ghost in the Throat is an intertwining of personal memoir and embellished biography. The most powerful passages in this narrative are those that are the most personal. For instance, when Ni Ghriofa's daughter is born prematurely, Doireann spends a harrowing and fevered period at the NICU alongside other worried mothers. The sense of uncertainty and hope in that particular section was palpable and unforgettable.
Overall, the way in which Ni Ghriofa connects to her fellow mothers - whether it be Eibhlin Dubh or the women at the NICU - is what makes this book work. That being said, I personally struggled to be interested in following Eibhlin Dubh's story. Ni Ghriofa ultimately learns quite a lot about Dubh as time goes on, but not anything that seemed to me to be particularly enlightening. For that reason, I finished the book feeling like I had missed something. Ultimately, though, I loved Ni Ghriofa's writing style and skill. I'd love to read some of her poems at some point. Perhaps I'd enjoy those more!
A Ghost in the Throat is an intertwining of personal memoir and embellished biography. The most powerful passages in this narrative are those that are the most personal. For instance, when Ni Ghriofa's daughter is born prematurely, Doireann spends a harrowing and fevered period at the NICU alongside other worried mothers. The sense of uncertainty and hope in that particular section was palpable and unforgettable.
Overall, the way in which Ni Ghriofa connects to her fellow mothers - whether it be Eibhlin Dubh or the women at the NICU - is what makes this book work. That being said, I personally struggled to be interested in following Eibhlin Dubh's story. Ni Ghriofa ultimately learns quite a lot about Dubh as time goes on, but not anything that seemed to me to be particularly enlightening. For that reason, I finished the book feeling like I had missed something. Ultimately, though, I loved Ni Ghriofa's writing style and skill. I'd love to read some of her poems at some point. Perhaps I'd enjoy those more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Murder, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
alexisgarcia's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hmmm this wasn’t exactly what i was expecting but it definitely wasn’t bad. this was a type of book i’ve never read before. this was incredibly interesting but a think a tiny bit repetitive and drawn out?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Grief, and Murder
maddiep333's review
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Gore, Car accident, Chronic illness, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, and Pregnancy
snapshotsofabookishlass's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Pregnancy
yilliun's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
“This is a female text.”
I cried with Ní Ghríofa and I rejoiced with her as she followed the life of Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. Adding in the Caoineadh at the end felt like such a triumph. The slow and circular writing always comes together and unlike many many other slowly paced books Ní Ghríofa pulls it off. She makes Ní Chonaill come to life again and seamlessly melds her modern life with her beloved poet.
Past becomes present again. Absolutely my favorite genre of modern literature.
I cried with Ní Ghríofa and I rejoiced with her as she followed the life of Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. Adding in the Caoineadh at the end felt like such a triumph. The slow and circular writing always comes together and unlike many many other slowly paced books Ní Ghríofa pulls it off. She makes Ní Chonaill come to life again and seamlessly melds her modern life with her beloved poet.
Past becomes present again. Absolutely my favorite genre of modern literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
Strong content warning for pregnancy/ near miscarriage. It would be difficult to read this book without reading those sectionsbooknerdbetty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Pregnancy