Take a photo of a barcode or cover
clarereadstheworld 's review for:
A Ghost In The Throat
by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
This is a female text.
This book is truly unique, beautiful and unlike anything I've ever read before. Through the narrative Doireann Ní Ghríofa takes the reader on a journey with her as she unpicks the famous Irish poem 'caoineadh airt uí laoghaire' by Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, and as she tries to piece together the life of the poet before and after writing the poem. The Caoineadh is concidered to be one of the finest poems written in the Irish language, and is therefore well kown in Ireland.
Normally, I'm not much of a poetry kind of girl, but I loved how Doireann picked apart the poem, imagining life into each stanza, adding historical and fictional details to each line. I ended up reading and loving her translation of the poem at the end of the story. The story brought the poem to life, and made the characters so real.
What is striking as Doireann sets about the work of uncovering the life of Eibhlín are the gaping holes in history, the details of female lives left out and glossed over to talk instead about men. To find details of Eibhlín's life, Doireann must read letters sent between Eibhlín's male relatives and look for small references to Eibhlín. I felt like Doireann's quest to find out as much as she could about Eibhlín's life was in some ways an attempt to right this historical wrong. The title 'A Ghost In the Throat' is so fitting, we really the Eibhlín is a ghost stuck in Doireann's throat. Doireann's need to uncover as much as she can about Eibhlín's life is almost physical, like something caugh in her throat.
Alongside her literary work, translating ths poem, and writing A Ghost In the Throat, Doireann's own family also continues to grow. I loved the raw, honest portrayal of motherhood, which ran parallel the Eibhlín's own story. Though separated by generations, there was a strong connection between the two mothers and the reader several decades later.
This book is truly unique, beautiful and unlike anything I've ever read before. Through the narrative Doireann Ní Ghríofa takes the reader on a journey with her as she unpicks the famous Irish poem 'caoineadh airt uí laoghaire' by Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, and as she tries to piece together the life of the poet before and after writing the poem. The Caoineadh is concidered to be one of the finest poems written in the Irish language, and is therefore well kown in Ireland.
Normally, I'm not much of a poetry kind of girl, but I loved how Doireann picked apart the poem, imagining life into each stanza, adding historical and fictional details to each line. I ended up reading and loving her translation of the poem at the end of the story. The story brought the poem to life, and made the characters so real.
What is striking as Doireann sets about the work of uncovering the life of Eibhlín are the gaping holes in history, the details of female lives left out and glossed over to talk instead about men. To find details of Eibhlín's life, Doireann must read letters sent between Eibhlín's male relatives and look for small references to Eibhlín. I felt like Doireann's quest to find out as much as she could about Eibhlín's life was in some ways an attempt to right this historical wrong. The title 'A Ghost In the Throat' is so fitting, we really the Eibhlín is a ghost stuck in Doireann's throat. Doireann's need to uncover as much as she can about Eibhlín's life is almost physical, like something caugh in her throat.
Alongside her literary work, translating ths poem, and writing A Ghost In the Throat, Doireann's own family also continues to grow. I loved the raw, honest portrayal of motherhood, which ran parallel the Eibhlín's own story. Though separated by generations, there was a strong connection between the two mothers and the reader several decades later.