Border Station

by Shane Connaughton

A series of stories about a growing boy's relationship with his father on the bleak Ulster border. He grows to sexual awareness and understanding of the people around him and lives on his wits and love.

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1990

Reviews

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1989, Shane Connaughton's novelization of his life is told through seven connected stories, presenting a boyhood lacking in sentimentality. Unusual in that the narrative concerns itself almost entirely with the boy's homelife, his relationship to his parents. There is very little for the first 3/4 of the book about contemporaries and almost nothing about his life at school. But the rural Irish setting in the 1950's is brought vividly to life, and the unusual household routines presented sparely. His father, the town constable, is exasperating and overbearing, somewhat of a rascal as exemplified in the story Beatrice. And his saintly, long-suffering mother sometimes feels more like an idealized caricature a person. But other members of the town present as more believable and at times touching, at times, hilarious. I look forward to Married Quarters, the sequel, which took over 20 years to appear.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Shane's writing, whether prose or drama, is embued with his passion for his native Ireland and seasoned with an intimate knowledge of characters as believable as they are fascinating. The family relationships gifted to you in these stories establishes his place in the top rank of Irish literature, and touch our hearts wherever we live.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was written by my uncle and is an historical fictional account of my family in Ireland. Truly brilliantly written.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply genuine, Connaughton creates a perfect blend of childlike wonder and reader perception. This book, entirely from the perspective of a very young boy, teaches more to the reader than the boy actually learns throughout. You as the reader can recognize the relationship issues of his parents, the rarely talked about but an aggressive religious battle that was ever-present, and the heightened political strain on the people around him, none of which our protagonist has any clue about but which deeply affect the directions his life heads anyway. It ended on quite a sadder note than I was expecting. It was quite quick in its wit and made me laugh often, "Arson" was my favorite of the vignettes, but the story he ends the book off with leaves you with a somber tone as you shut the book. All naivety and childhood joy that was felt throughout the book, washed away in the reader and the boy all the same. A fascinating analysis of borders from the perspective of a child, thoroughly enjoyed this.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book, since I had recently read his second book, THE RUN OF THE COUNTRY, and I enjoyed it a lot. This is his first book and it shares quite a bit with the other book: the same setting, an unnamed young boy as a narrator, his father is a policeman and some characters are in both books. I thought they might be tied together but other reviews suggest it is with another later book. This book has only seven chapters that bring out different vignettes of this young boy's life with his loving mother and a father who he continually is trying to make sense of. The writing is very honest, with some insights on family and this border area of Northern Ireland and Ireland and the different ways of Protestants and Catholics. At times, it is very funny. A good portrait of this young boy, his family, and this place.

[Mary Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child living in the border area with his parents, the local Sergeant and his mother, tells us stories of intimate family relationships in the 50s. It covers living on 'tick', a system where the local shopkeeper keeps a note of your purchases where ready cash is tight. While causal cruelty is seen to be part of this rural life the young boy works through complex relationships with a growing maturity as well as the innocence of child hood. The story about the trip to Bundoran was laugh out loud and brought back memories of Catholicism which was reminiscent of Frank O'Connor.

[Bob Kavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful evocative literary reminiscing of a difficult and odd childhood growing up in a Garda Station in Ireland in the 40's

[Bek Musicå · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.
Dull, dull, dull.

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5*

[Paul Snelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Episodic account of a boy’s life in 50’s rural border country. Atmospheric

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest intimate portrayal of life in 1950s rural Ireland along the border told over 7 stories through the eyes of a school boy.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written, but very gloomy story set in the early years of Ireland's post colonial experience.

[Kate M · Rating 3 out of 5]

in as much as bleak, different Irish tales go, it was good. it actually was good!!!!

[AT · Rating 3 out of 5]

So well written, but quite dark.

[Margaret Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow...