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A review by nickartrip102
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
4.0
I decided to read Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe after finishing the adaptation on Hulu. The series was very impressive and definitely piqued my curiosity. In December 1972, Jean McConville, a mother of ten, was dragged from her home by a group of intruders while her children implored them to leave her alone. They never saw her again. Everyone knew who was responsible (the I.R.A) but there was nothing to be done for her. Dolours and Marian Price are sisters descended from a family deeply involved with the IRA. Although they originally aim for a more peaceful course, it isn’t long before they’re swept up in the tumult of the Troubles.
This was a super fascinating read and I really found myself immersed in the history and story. The author managed to make the Troubles somewhat comprehensible, although I suspect I could do with much further reading on the topic. I think what I enjoyed most about reading Say Nothing (rather than watching the television adaptation) is that I was able to really put the lives of people like the Price sisters, Brendan Hughes, and Jean McConville in proper context. I think it definitely somewhat shifted (or better informed) my opinions and made much more of an impact. My own life is worlds apart from the lived experiences of the figures in this book. I certainly can’t imagine living in such circumstances or even begin to fathom how I would respond to them. So much of the violence was quite senseless, but people like the Price sisters and Hughes were driven by their ideals and passions, making them very interesting to read about.
I don’t often venture too far out of my preferred area of nonfiction reading (the English monarchy/English history) but when I do I always try to judge the accessibility of the text. Keefe definitely excels in this area. As previously mentioned, I have fairly limited knowledge about the Troubles, but I definitely felt that I understood enough to approach Say Nothing and missing gaps were certainly filled in. This is certainly not a comprehensive history of the subject matter, nor is that the aim of the book, but readers won’t feel like they’re drowning in uncharted waters. As the subtitle asserts, this is a story of murder and memory. Keefe positions the McConville disappearance as a jumping off point for the rest of this story, which is a very clever decision. The book explores politics and history, different themes such as guilt, grief, and reconciliation, through the vehicle of a true crime mystery. It makes for a very gripping read.
This was a super fascinating read and I really found myself immersed in the history and story. The author managed to make the Troubles somewhat comprehensible, although I suspect I could do with much further reading on the topic. I think what I enjoyed most about reading Say Nothing (rather than watching the television adaptation) is that I was able to really put the lives of people like the Price sisters, Brendan Hughes, and Jean McConville in proper context. I think it definitely somewhat shifted (or better informed) my opinions and made much more of an impact. My own life is worlds apart from the lived experiences of the figures in this book. I certainly can’t imagine living in such circumstances or even begin to fathom how I would respond to them. So much of the violence was quite senseless, but people like the Price sisters and Hughes were driven by their ideals and passions, making them very interesting to read about.
I don’t often venture too far out of my preferred area of nonfiction reading (the English monarchy/English history) but when I do I always try to judge the accessibility of the text. Keefe definitely excels in this area. As previously mentioned, I have fairly limited knowledge about the Troubles, but I definitely felt that I understood enough to approach Say Nothing and missing gaps were certainly filled in. This is certainly not a comprehensive history of the subject matter, nor is that the aim of the book, but readers won’t feel like they’re drowning in uncharted waters. As the subtitle asserts, this is a story of murder and memory. Keefe positions the McConville disappearance as a jumping off point for the rest of this story, which is a very clever decision. The book explores politics and history, different themes such as guilt, grief, and reconciliation, through the vehicle of a true crime mystery. It makes for a very gripping read.