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A review by laurahastoomanywips
Thin Places by Kerri ní Dochartaigh
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Very beautifully written and moving memoir.
Showing the traumas The Troubles brought to her (and thousands of others). Also shows the mental health crisis in the city that is that is hangover from the trauma of the Troubles and the high deprivation in the city, not helped by investment always going to the capital.
I am two years older and from the same city (from a Protestant background, though I am personally an atheist). My family was relatively (and luckily) untouched by the Troubles. We were very lucky to be evacuated by the security services after they received a warning of the bomb on my street, though I still remember amongst other things, the wariness, unease and shock of the bomb going off.
If you didn't grow up during the Troubles you don't know how different a life it was, how restricted it was in who you were friends with, where in your home city or elsewhere you could safely go, etc. Those who were from "mixed families" often suffered greatly, not welcome by either community. The family member who's home we immediately went to whilst waiting for said bomb to go off was in a "mixed marriage", they sadly split up a few years later as his wife couldn’t bear the stress of being pulled by both religions in different directions.
Hoping that the Peace process continues and the "religious community" you are from will soon not matter at all.
Showing the traumas The Troubles brought to her (and thousands of others). Also shows the mental health crisis in the city that is that is hangover from the trauma of the Troubles and the high deprivation in the city, not helped by investment always going to the capital.
I am two years older and from the same city (from a Protestant background, though I am personally an atheist). My family was relatively (and luckily) untouched by the Troubles. We were very lucky to be evacuated by the security services after they received a warning of the bomb on my street, though I still remember amongst other things, the wariness, unease and shock of the bomb going off.
If you didn't grow up during the Troubles you don't know how different a life it was, how restricted it was in who you were friends with, where in your home city or elsewhere you could safely go, etc. Those who were from "mixed families" often suffered greatly, not welcome by either community. The family member who's home we immediately went to whilst waiting for said bomb to go off was in a "mixed marriage", they sadly split up a few years later as his wife couldn’t bear the stress of being pulled by both religions in different directions.
Hoping that the Peace process continues and the "religious community" you are from will soon not matter at all.