No Bones

For the reader who is an enthusiast of Northern Irish fiction, this is a must. Enjoyable reading, although at times painfully disturbing for its realism and humanity. It does not escape the "political" situation, yet it escapes the usual cliches in novels about this country. People's lives are still affected by "the Provies," Protestants and Catholics fall victim to bigotry, both sides are maimed and killed. However, this gives much more intense insight into the mind and body of Amelia, her views toward life in the war-torn country, her ambivalent feelings towards family,friends, and sexuality, and her combatting madness--her own and that which permeates her society as a whole.An "Angela's Ashes," Ulster-style. Definitely difficult to put down.

How often do you get to put together the words chilling and funny? But this book is both and does it well. It enmeshes you so deeply in Belfast, during the Troubles, than when you look up you eye everyone to see if they are IRA or British soldiers. I was amazed by the author's control over voice as perspective shifts from the protagonist to other characters and was moved by the horror that is drawn so well by the young voice recounting it. Every Brit and every Irish American should read it to discover and uncover the not-so-secret secrets of the Troubles that we all scoffed at. There was nothing to scoff at. The ghosts come back to haunt you.