Give Them Stones

by Mary Beckett

When a boy is shot in the legs by a gunman against the side of her house, Martha, a baker, thinks back on the years of violence she has witnessed in Belfast

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Literary Fiction, Irish Literature, Ireland

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1988

About the author

Mary Beckett (1926–2013) was an Irish author.

She was born in Belfast. In the 1950s, she wrote radio plays for BBC Northern Ireland and had several short stories published. She worked as a teacher, married and had five children. She was not published again until 1980's A Belfast Woman.

Her non-fiction includes the short story collections A Belfast Woman (1980) and A Literary Woman (1990). She wrote one novel, Give them Stones (1987), and several children's books including Orla was Six, Orla at School, A Family Tree, and Hannah, or the Pink Balloons.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be one of the most important books of Irish historical fiction that has ever been written. Leant to me by a friend as it is now sadly out-of-print, but it has stood the test of time, and some of it is still all too prevalent to today. An incredibly insightful viewpoint of life growing up as a Catholic in West Belfast during the second world war right up to the troubles. The underlying yet unassuming faith of the main character Martha I feel is pivitol as she retells events in a gentle, understanding and at times unbiased way.

[Chloe Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one from Mary Beckett, this time a solo story following the life of Martha Mulholland, a fiercely independent housewife, mother and baker from the Falls over the course of sixty years.

This felt like a very honest and realistic telling of a 'perfectly ordinary Belfast woman' navigating the changes in her life and community throughout the blitz (as a townie teenager sent to unknown elderly aunts in the country) and the beginning of the troubles (as a wife and mother fearing for her boys and striving to provide).

This book reminded me a lot of Kenneth Branagh's "Belfast'- the deep desire to provide for and protect your family, the tension of love of home and need to leave, and the resilience needed to stand against violence.

[Althea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really takes me into her life and experiences growing up in Belfast, and the limitations. Much to think about.

[Sudip Rakshit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read - a little old - but an earnest view of the times of "The Troubles" in Ireland. A struggles of the common man and a lady who tries to be independent in trying times..

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful old little book, plucked from a list of Catholic fiction writers. I keep thinking of the end - she can’t imagine outfitting her own house but can see exactly what she’d want in a bakery…

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good story! Main character, Martha, recounts her life story, starting around 1930, growing up in Belfast in a poor Catholic family. Her mother sends her to stay with aunts in the Northern Ireland countryside during World War II but she returns to factory life in Belfast afterwards, eventually marrying, having 4 sons and developing a little home business as a bread baker. Gradually, the anger between Unionists and Catholics bubbles over and the Troubles begin. Book gives good view of how difficult life in Belfast was during this time, the stress that ordinary people felt as they lived in an urban war zone. But it is also the story of an ordinary woman's struggles with marriage, siblings, children and creating a life for herself.

[SicleMince · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting look into the life of women in the lower-middle class. I really enjoyed how the story was told, it was as if I was sitting at a table with Martha Murtagh, having a cup of tea as she tells me her life story. It was a pretty simple read and easy enough to understand what Beckett was trying to convey to the reader. It was a decent enough book, not amazing but not awful.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

People of Northern Ireland suffered daily restrictions and tremendous losses as a result of their troubles with the Republic of Ireland. Give Them Stones features the life of a young women who manages as well as possible to make the most of her humble skills despite the daily challenges and unpredictability of conflict in her home city. Another great story about an Irish woman from a woman's perspective.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable story of one woman growing up both psychologically and morally in the face of the Northern Ireland Troubles. It is deceptively simple in structure but carries a wallop far greater than its brevity would lead one to expect.

[Kevin Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book. Images of me own Mum. I could feel the place and time.