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The Scattering
Borders haunt this debut fiction collection from prizewinning writer Jaki the Irish border where she lives, the boundaries of the natural world, and the darker edge of human nature, even the supernatural, here with an 'Ulster Gothic' twist. From small-town Louth and Monaghan to London, Florida and New Orleans, and back in time to the dawn of humanity, these stories explore the spaces between certainty and doubt, dependency and freedom. We witness the psychological fall-out from catastrophe and constraint, the pain of dual and fractured identities, the experience of emigration. Above all, what it means to be alive in a fraught and ever-changing world. Jaki McCarrick is a playwright, poet and short-story writer living in Dundalk. She studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and Middlesex University, gaining distinction and first-class honours. She has won many awards for her work and her plays have been performed (and read) in London, Belfast, Galway, Philadelphia and New York.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2013
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April 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this short story collection by Jaki McCarrick. The stories work as a collection and there are a lot of recurrent themes such as the draw of the Irish Borderlands (parts of Ireland on the border of Northern Ireland), the undercurrents of sadness the Troubles brought to everyday life (though no story is directly about the Troubles themselves) and our relationships (mostly familial relationships). Below are my thoughts on each story as I read them. Apologies, It didn’t occur to me to record my thoughts on the first two.
The Jailbird - This is the longest story in the collection and mostly I guess it’s about the difficulty of letting go and repeats some of the themes of children and parents seen in the other stories. 5 Star.
The Lagoon - Deep and Dark - 4 Star
The Hemingway Papers - more about the relationship between daughters and fathers. 4 Star
Stich Up - I found myself wholly immersed in the protagonist’s world in this one - 5 star
Trumpet City - I could picture New York/New Orleans and feel the fat sweet rain. 5 Star
The Stonemason's Wife - I really don't like that woman - 4 1/2 stars.
The Tribe - This one was a surprise in this collection. It's Sci-Fi and a touching story on the beauty of Mankind and the Planet we live on - 5 Stars."
The Visit- sometimes if you can't hold on for someone you just have to let them go. 3 1/2 Stars
Blood - Love this, especially after reading the Historian recently. A big whopping 5 stars. Will re-read this one."
"The Burning Woman - 'Wherever he went he would find her, or she would find him, as if she were not outside him at all, but inside him; an unshakeable phantom that had taken up residence in his imagination, eventually taking possession of it' - spooky and 4 stars."
1976 - A story written about the infamous hottest summer in Ireland and the UK. This story is about a family secret and childhood. Like all of Jaki's stories why it's not about "The Troubles" there is an undercurrent of sadness arising from them. 4 Star."
The Congo - a dark story about Gang Violence and revenge. 4 Star"
The Scattering - about how life and death can hang on a whisper of a moment's decision. 4 star
Painting, Smoking, Eating - which is best summarised by the Quote 'the ghosts that haunt our lives are handy with mirrors and wires' 5 stars"
Just finished 1975. It was on the same theme as Grief is a thing with Feathers. Though I think 1975 is a lot more relatable for me. So I am pretty much on a Mother dies and how do Dad and kids cope theme this morning."
By the Black Field and the Badminton court. I failed to record my thoughts on these and it is over two months since I read them. Apologies.
The Jailbird - This is the longest story in the collection and mostly I guess it’s about the difficulty of letting go and repeats some of the themes of children and parents seen in the other stories. 5 Star.
The Lagoon - Deep and Dark - 4 Star
The Hemingway Papers - more about the relationship between daughters and fathers. 4 Star
Stich Up - I found myself wholly immersed in the protagonist’s world in this one - 5 star
Trumpet City - I could picture New York/New Orleans and feel the fat sweet rain. 5 Star
The Stonemason's Wife - I really don't like that woman - 4 1/2 stars.
The Tribe - This one was a surprise in this collection. It's Sci-Fi and a touching story on the beauty of Mankind and the Planet we live on - 5 Stars."
The Visit- sometimes if you can't hold on for someone you just have to let them go. 3 1/2 Stars
Blood - Love this, especially after reading the Historian recently. A big whopping 5 stars. Will re-read this one."
"The Burning Woman - 'Wherever he went he would find her, or she would find him, as if she were not outside him at all, but inside him; an unshakeable phantom that had taken up residence in his imagination, eventually taking possession of it' - spooky and 4 stars."
1976 - A story written about the infamous hottest summer in Ireland and the UK. This story is about a family secret and childhood. Like all of Jaki's stories why it's not about "The Troubles" there is an undercurrent of sadness arising from them. 4 Star."
The Congo - a dark story about Gang Violence and revenge. 4 Star"
The Scattering - about how life and death can hang on a whisper of a moment's decision. 4 star
Painting, Smoking, Eating - which is best summarised by the Quote 'the ghosts that haunt our lives are handy with mirrors and wires' 5 stars"
Just finished 1975. It was on the same theme as Grief is a thing with Feathers. Though I think 1975 is a lot more relatable for me. So I am pretty much on a Mother dies and how do Dad and kids cope theme this morning."
By the Black Field and the Badminton court. I failed to record my thoughts on these and it is over two months since I read them. Apologies.
Displaying 1 of 1 review