ainereads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

5.0


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wordingitright's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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laurenparham's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

2.75

I think this book was just not for me—it’s informative about some key events but does little to contextualize the IRA’s actions in response to the state violence that drove The Troubles. If the goal is to explore how people become radicalized to commit political violence, I think it’s important to present that trajectory with more than a few cursory mentions of the oppression that led to it. I understand that would be a massive undertaking but anything less feels irresponsible, especially given how uneducated most Americans are about The Troubles and how, for many, a book like this would be their first introduction. There is no justification for what happened to Jean McConville, and I don’t think there has to be any whataboutism regarding that—it was tragic and violent and caused lifelong suffering and devastation for her family. But I do think that the British government and the loyalists earn some portion of the blame as an oppressive and exploitative force that perpetuated violence and radicalization. I do wonder why many people are so squeamish at the idea of interpersonal or paramilitary violence but sanction the same actions carried out by people acting on behalf of the state as somehow more valid and justified and less violent.

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tomato_bisque's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I went into the book expecting a true crime story but left learning much more. It was a very good intro into the Troubles and its main players. I also enjoyed how it touched on the complicated morals of the whole situation. I definately want to read more on the subject. Some parts felt slow but overall it was great. 

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exlibrissum's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative medium-paced

5.0


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minmi2018's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.75


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slantrhymes's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

5.0


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rivercat0338's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0


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skitch41's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Sectarian wars are notoriously violent and notoriously difficult to narrate due to the climate of fear that can pervade a society long after the conflict has officially ended. The Troubles, the period of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland from the lates 1960s to the late 1990s, is no exception, especially since the conflict has never been fully resolved and many of its participants are still alive. Thus, any history of this conflict is bound to be difficult to document in its entirety. This book, however, relying on interviews with both participants and victims alike, gives readers a pretty darn comprehensive history that also acts as a meditation on how fragile post-conflict societies can be without an accompanying truth and reconciliation process.

For my full review, check out my book blog here.

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franklybookish's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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