A review by piedwarbler
Thin Places by Kerri ní Dochartaigh

5.0

Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize 2021, and deservedly so, this is a book about nature and landscape, but it is also about the borders people put across the land. It tells of the Troubles, and the Northern Irish border, and the people whose lives have been impacted by the border, petrol bombings, murders, and suicides, all of which lead to the author’s decision to leave the island of Ireland. And yet. And yet… she is drawn back, in a wise beyond words way of cleansing herself of memories of the traumatic childhood she suffered.
This book is spell-bindingly beautiful, moving, heart sore, thoughtful, compassionate, grieving, and appreciative. I would highly, highly recommend it. One of my books of the year. Uplifting, magical, poetic, raw, heartfelt.