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The Troubles with Us
The troubles with us is a hilarious and moving memoir of the madness and mundanities of life in Northern Ireland during the thirty-year conflict
288 pages, ebook
First published June 4, 2021
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2279 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 20, 2021
So relatable and funny. I need more books like this about growing up in Northern Ireland! Full review to come.
December 31, 2021
3.5 stars
There is a lot of similarities in growing up in 1980s South Africa and growing up during the Troubles in Ireland. The abnormal just becomes normal.
First off, I loved the audio narrator (who is also the author) She really reminded me of the Derry Girls characters. However I did not find her story as "hilarious and outrageously funny" as other reviewers did. I still enjoyed it though. I particularly liked her mother's back story as it shows the attitude of the time.
There were a few funny moments and the narration made it worth my listening time. A good addition to the Irish genre as it also gives some background on the more recent political landscape.
There is a lot of similarities in growing up in 1980s South Africa and growing up during the Troubles in Ireland. The abnormal just becomes normal.
First off, I loved the audio narrator (who is also the author) She really reminded me of the Derry Girls characters. However I did not find her story as "hilarious and outrageously funny" as other reviewers did. I still enjoyed it though. I particularly liked her mother's back story as it shows the attitude of the time.
There were a few funny moments and the narration made it worth my listening time. A good addition to the Irish genre as it also gives some background on the more recent political landscape.
April 29, 2021
nothing really compares to seeing your little city explored and represented in literature. for all its faults and our up and down relationship, I’ve really grown to appreciate belfast and it’s unique way of life. despite the political turmoil that never quite seems to go away, the fact we’ve only just started to catch up with our human rights legislation and the history of fear and violence, we’ve come a long, long way from our past.
o’neill‘s memoir documents her young adulthood growing up at the height of the troubles. she seamlessly interweaves important political and historical events and causes into her personal anecdotes, with flippancy and a laissez-faire attitude that may shock readers who aren’t well versed in our country’s history and way of life. her recantations of bomb scares, paramilitary terror and her own near miss experiences highlight just how normalised and deeply ingrained in our society these events are. the memoir provides a crash-course guideline to our way of life for anyone without a notion.
by far what I loved the most about o’neill’s writing is her authentic voice. I could clearly hear our accent inside my brain when I was reading and inevitably found myself in reams of laughter at her mannerisms and expressions that are not unlike my own sometimes. Spotting famous landmarks and sharing paragraphs with my partner, who also grew up in the same area as o’neill gave us both a sense of affection for her writing. her family is fraught with secrets and her mother really stands out as the main character, reminding me much of my own relationship with mine. there’s so much heart, nostalgia and almost a joycean affection that so often crops up in irish literature that nestles o’neill’s memoir firmly in our own chests.
if anything, with her absolutely brilliant debut o’neill has proved that the trouble with us is, we’re the best wee nation in the world. never have I seen a more accurate depiction of our history, politics and social climate reflected back to me and I would strongly urge anyone curious about northern ireland to pick this up.
thank you to 4th Estate Books and Alix O’Neill for the ARC.
o’neill‘s memoir documents her young adulthood growing up at the height of the troubles. she seamlessly interweaves important political and historical events and causes into her personal anecdotes, with flippancy and a laissez-faire attitude that may shock readers who aren’t well versed in our country’s history and way of life. her recantations of bomb scares, paramilitary terror and her own near miss experiences highlight just how normalised and deeply ingrained in our society these events are. the memoir provides a crash-course guideline to our way of life for anyone without a notion.
by far what I loved the most about o’neill’s writing is her authentic voice. I could clearly hear our accent inside my brain when I was reading and inevitably found myself in reams of laughter at her mannerisms and expressions that are not unlike my own sometimes. Spotting famous landmarks and sharing paragraphs with my partner, who also grew up in the same area as o’neill gave us both a sense of affection for her writing. her family is fraught with secrets and her mother really stands out as the main character, reminding me much of my own relationship with mine. there’s so much heart, nostalgia and almost a joycean affection that so often crops up in irish literature that nestles o’neill’s memoir firmly in our own chests.
if anything, with her absolutely brilliant debut o’neill has proved that the trouble with us is, we’re the best wee nation in the world. never have I seen a more accurate depiction of our history, politics and social climate reflected back to me and I would strongly urge anyone curious about northern ireland to pick this up.
thank you to 4th Estate Books and Alix O’Neill for the ARC.
July 25, 2021
I absolutely loved this hilarious and heartfelt memoir depicting young adulthood in Northern Ireland. The author’s personal anecdotes were weaved between historical facts making for an educational and engaging read. I learned a lot about NI’s politics, but also about the day-to-day life and attitudes of its residents.
I highly recommend listening to this one on audio, as the narrator really brought the humour and expressions to life. I grew so attached to Alix and her family. If you’re someone who finds non-fiction hard to concentrate on, I’d really recommend this. It had such warmth and great storytelling that made it impossible to put down.
Read if you like:
👭 memoirs & non-fiction
👭 learning about Northern Ireland
👭 strong families / friendships
I highly recommend listening to this one on audio, as the narrator really brought the humour and expressions to life. I grew so attached to Alix and her family. If you’re someone who finds non-fiction hard to concentrate on, I’d really recommend this. It had such warmth and great storytelling that made it impossible to put down.
Read if you like:
👭 memoirs & non-fiction
👭 learning about Northern Ireland
👭 strong families / friendships
July 6, 2021
I've seen lots of people compare this book to "Derry Girls"... Now don't get me wrong, it IS similar in terms of 'a group of girls coming of age with the Troubles backdrop' , but I think it's even better than the show. It's rich with experience and depth. There's still tons of laughs and the violence is normal life, but there are brief moments where O'Neil breaks down key events; civil rights in the late 60s, internment without trial, the ceasefire in 1994, Omagh bombing, Good Friday Agreement, Bill Clinton's visit, Holy Cross girls school etc. Although I already knew them, I loved these nuggets of history and how they were explained. In that way, it's an extremely accessible book. If you're thinking "but I dunno anything about the Troubles", this is a great introduction without being too factually dense and overwhelming.
The family dynamics are electric and I love O'Neills mother simply because she reminded me of my own mother. I loved the insight into O'Neills friend group. This reminded me of my own girls back home and all the underage nights out and general divilment we got away with too.
The way O'Neills brings her story out of Belfast and to Dublin was a great addition. I particularly appreciated the parts where O'Neill mentions talking about the Troubles to people who were ignorant to them...yet had lots of opinions.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone. Anyone who loves Ireland, anyone who has Irish roots, anyone who was once an awkward teenager and anyone who wants a good laugh. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝘀 is an excellent blend of tension and humor. It's so well balanced, it's honestly very impressive.
The family dynamics are electric and I love O'Neills mother simply because she reminded me of my own mother. I loved the insight into O'Neills friend group. This reminded me of my own girls back home and all the underage nights out and general divilment we got away with too.
The way O'Neills brings her story out of Belfast and to Dublin was a great addition. I particularly appreciated the parts where O'Neill mentions talking about the Troubles to people who were ignorant to them...yet had lots of opinions.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone. Anyone who loves Ireland, anyone who has Irish roots, anyone who was once an awkward teenager and anyone who wants a good laugh. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝘀 is an excellent blend of tension and humor. It's so well balanced, it's honestly very impressive.
April 15, 2021
I don’t normally review books on Goodreads but since I enjoyed this so much I wanted to give it a good send off before it goes out into the world!
The troubles with us is a brilliant blend of northern irish history and the life of Alix growing up and going out into the world - being from NI myself I felt a strong connection with her story and also filled a few gaps in my own knowledge about the history of NI and Belfast.
It is accessible, funny, educational, and just so compelling I read it in just over 24 hours - I found the writing well balanced in terms of giving life to the events of NI through the events of Alix’s life and importance is carefully placed.
It never feels overwhelming in its approach to history and I think it would be a great springboard for someone interested in learning a bit more about NI and why the recent events here have been so scary - if you are like me and get your history through anecdotes then this is perfect.
It was also so refreshing to see elements of my own time growing up in a Catholic school in NI and all of the underage drinking and debauchery that came with. Alix’s connection with those around her and her drive to sponge up more of the world were healing to read about, and the story of her mother was deeply touching and an honour to the lives of Irish mammies everywhere , dutiful daughters and silent soldiers that they are.
I just really loved this with my whole heart , I will be pushing it into the hands of my friends and family until Alix writes something else! Very enjoyable.
The troubles with us is a brilliant blend of northern irish history and the life of Alix growing up and going out into the world - being from NI myself I felt a strong connection with her story and also filled a few gaps in my own knowledge about the history of NI and Belfast.
It is accessible, funny, educational, and just so compelling I read it in just over 24 hours - I found the writing well balanced in terms of giving life to the events of NI through the events of Alix’s life and importance is carefully placed.
It never feels overwhelming in its approach to history and I think it would be a great springboard for someone interested in learning a bit more about NI and why the recent events here have been so scary - if you are like me and get your history through anecdotes then this is perfect.
It was also so refreshing to see elements of my own time growing up in a Catholic school in NI and all of the underage drinking and debauchery that came with. Alix’s connection with those around her and her drive to sponge up more of the world were healing to read about, and the story of her mother was deeply touching and an honour to the lives of Irish mammies everywhere , dutiful daughters and silent soldiers that they are.
I just really loved this with my whole heart , I will be pushing it into the hands of my friends and family until Alix writes something else! Very enjoyable.
August 12, 2021
A hilarious memoir about growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles. I know hilarious sounds like the wrong word but Alix is hilarious. It’s as simple as that.
April 21, 2021
THE TROUBLES WITH US ⋆ ALIX O’NEILL
A piece of wonder and hilarity that will shine a new light on Northern Ireland. This was utter brilliance ! ! ! Alix O’Neill uses creative non-fiction to weave a warm, bright & relatable tapestry of Belfast, from baps to bombs to best friends. Though I’ve been somewhat detached from our turbulent and spiky history (ignorance is bliss living in a seaside town), I feel so connected to Alix and her story because it is like so many stories I’ve heard before. Teeming with wit, truth and emotion, THE TROUBLES WITH US is an expertly crafted memoir, a compelling and insightful portrait of a family living in NI during The Troubles.
O’Neill describes her mother on p. 38, saying “She had a knack for that, lumping together the extraordinary and the mundane.”
I believe she has inherited this maternal skill as she casually mentions boys and bomb scares on the same page. This kind of throwaway attitude is commonplace in NI. I recently had a chat with my nanny about The Troubles, a thirty-year conflict with more than 3000 deaths, and she described her experience growing up in Belfast as “something you just got on with”. Completely bizarre, but brave too. Northern Ireland is mad at times, but the resilience of its peoples astounds me.
Alix casts a shimmering spotlight on her past and the people she knows & loves who show this same resilience, drawing upon candid conversations with her hilarious mother that are just a delight to read.
⚡️I recommend this book to all of you. It’s hearty, full of fun, family, stew, fake tan, boys, friends and school formals, not to mention the odd coffee bomb. Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy!
THIS WAS SO GREAT !! please read it xoxo
A piece of wonder and hilarity that will shine a new light on Northern Ireland. This was utter brilliance ! ! ! Alix O’Neill uses creative non-fiction to weave a warm, bright & relatable tapestry of Belfast, from baps to bombs to best friends. Though I’ve been somewhat detached from our turbulent and spiky history (ignorance is bliss living in a seaside town), I feel so connected to Alix and her story because it is like so many stories I’ve heard before. Teeming with wit, truth and emotion, THE TROUBLES WITH US is an expertly crafted memoir, a compelling and insightful portrait of a family living in NI during The Troubles.
O’Neill describes her mother on p. 38, saying “She had a knack for that, lumping together the extraordinary and the mundane.”
I believe she has inherited this maternal skill as she casually mentions boys and bomb scares on the same page. This kind of throwaway attitude is commonplace in NI. I recently had a chat with my nanny about The Troubles, a thirty-year conflict with more than 3000 deaths, and she described her experience growing up in Belfast as “something you just got on with”. Completely bizarre, but brave too. Northern Ireland is mad at times, but the resilience of its peoples astounds me.
Alix casts a shimmering spotlight on her past and the people she knows & loves who show this same resilience, drawing upon candid conversations with her hilarious mother that are just a delight to read.
⚡️I recommend this book to all of you. It’s hearty, full of fun, family, stew, fake tan, boys, friends and school formals, not to mention the odd coffee bomb. Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy!
THIS WAS SO GREAT !! please read it xoxo
July 1, 2021
This is an endearingly relatable memoir. It traverses the messiness, madness and magic of family life and growing up in Belfast against the backdrop of The Troubles. There is an enormous amount of intelligent comedy in Alix’s writing, the prose has a conversational and relaxed style that welcomes you to Belfast and gives a flavour of it’s people and their warmth. Family complexities and the relationship between Alix and her mum are key elements in the narrative.
Alix grew up on the the Falls Road, right at the heart of sectarian violence and her family (as with all of her friends), were directly effected by the hostilities between Catholic and Protestant, nationalist and unionist, and opposing political sides of the conflicts (and all the nuances in between).
Reading about historical events and conflict is one my favourite genres of literature and until this book I knew embarrassingly little about the conflict in NI. Despite all the lightness and humour, Alix delivers a sharp insight into the extent of the suffering NI has endured since the 1970s. I was shocked to discover the number of deaths related to the troubles as well as the reality that over 90% of children in NI still attend schools aligned with a single tradition. Behind all the humour and relatability of this memoir, there is a serious point being made about the importance of remembering we are all human even if we somehow end up on different sides. Sadly the news this morning is only a reminder that NI is still living in the shadow of this conflict.
Totally recommend this one.
Alix grew up on the the Falls Road, right at the heart of sectarian violence and her family (as with all of her friends), were directly effected by the hostilities between Catholic and Protestant, nationalist and unionist, and opposing political sides of the conflicts (and all the nuances in between).
Reading about historical events and conflict is one my favourite genres of literature and until this book I knew embarrassingly little about the conflict in NI. Despite all the lightness and humour, Alix delivers a sharp insight into the extent of the suffering NI has endured since the 1970s. I was shocked to discover the number of deaths related to the troubles as well as the reality that over 90% of children in NI still attend schools aligned with a single tradition. Behind all the humour and relatability of this memoir, there is a serious point being made about the importance of remembering we are all human even if we somehow end up on different sides. Sadly the news this morning is only a reminder that NI is still living in the shadow of this conflict.
Totally recommend this one.
August 12, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. Derry girls finally shone a light on northern Irish humour and history and this book is the perfect real life accompaniment.
March 13, 2024
Loved all the family drama
September 29, 2022
A hilarious and moving memoir about growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles! Despite the time period in which it is set, The Troubles with Us is an easy, light read and I think that has much to do with the humour that exudes O’ Neil’s writing.
The insights into family dynamics and friendships we gain through this book are a joy to read about. Alix O’Neill does not sugar coat the messiness of these human relationships and I really appreciate that. O’ Neill also explains the conflicts in Ireland, in an easily understandable fashion, for those who may not be aware of the events that occurred during this period in history.
Both educational and entertaining.
4⭐️
The insights into family dynamics and friendships we gain through this book are a joy to read about. Alix O’Neill does not sugar coat the messiness of these human relationships and I really appreciate that. O’ Neill also explains the conflicts in Ireland, in an easily understandable fashion, for those who may not be aware of the events that occurred during this period in history.
Both educational and entertaining.
4⭐️
February 16, 2023
A funny and quirky memoir about Alix's life in Belfast through her childhood, teens and adulthood. I loved learning about her family history and honestly would LOVE to read a book written by Alix's Mum!
A great nod to what life was like during the troubles and how your religion really impacted on the way you were treated in Belfast!
A great nod to what life was like during the troubles and how your religion really impacted on the way you were treated in Belfast!
April 24, 2023
Прекрасна. Тази книга е всичко - мемоар, historical nonfiction & family drama, любимата Ирландия. И като казвам Ирландия включвам и Северна 🥹
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April 19, 2024Stopped @46%.
Absolutely nothing wrong with this, it's just not the right time for it.
Absolutely nothing wrong with this, it's just not the right time for it.
August 21, 2024
Derry Girls is one of my favourite shows ever so I knew I would enjoy this book. This is Derry Girls but a bit more ‘real’ I guess you could say and a good explanation of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn a bit more about the Troubles in a more light-hearted way from the perspective of a child to teenager to adult.
August 11, 2023
If you’re from Belfast or NI, you NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!
If you’re not from Belfast or NI, you NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!
I loved every page. I laughed, I welled up, I shared every emotion. As a Belfast girl who grew up in South but very much beds her roots in West, as a fellow past pupil of St Dominic’s from ‘07-‘14, I could relate to so many of the incredible anecdotes in this amazing memoir.
I can’t really say much that hasn’t already been said but Alix O’Neill really knocked it out of the park with this one. 5/5 without a doubt.
If you’re not from Belfast or NI, you NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!
I loved every page. I laughed, I welled up, I shared every emotion. As a Belfast girl who grew up in South but very much beds her roots in West, as a fellow past pupil of St Dominic’s from ‘07-‘14, I could relate to so many of the incredible anecdotes in this amazing memoir.
I can’t really say much that hasn’t already been said but Alix O’Neill really knocked it out of the park with this one. 5/5 without a doubt.
June 28, 2021
A fantastically funny insight into life in Belfast in the 90s. Not just about the slightly different normality experienced by young people living in Northern Ireland during the troubles but also a incredibly moving portrait of impressive and irrepressible women across several generations of one family. Read it - read it now.
June 28, 2021
Funny, frank, beautifully written coming of age story offering a fresh take on Northern Ireland's recent history. Reminded me of David Sedaris in the way combined poignancy and laugh-out-loud humour and perfectly recalled anecdotes of family life. Couldn't put it down!
August 21, 2021
A really great read, very very funny.
January 22, 2023
derry girls in book form, what more could you ask for?
August 16, 2023
Loved this book!! Although set in Belfast and discusses the troubles. The author is same age as me so blast from the past some of her memories.
December 19, 2024
Great book! It made me think of derry girls <3
February 7, 2022
The Troubles with Us is a really enjoyable memoir full of laughs and poignant moments which looks at life in Northern Ireland during the 90's through the eyes of a girl growing up on the Falls Road.
O'Neill has masterfully woven the horrific events of the troubles with belly laugh inducing anecdotes of her personal life to create something truly special.
She lets us delve into some family secrets, local gossip and lets us see just how easily the abnormal and traumatic can become normal when you're living it every single day.
With the perfect balance of humour and respect for the atrocities that occurred O'Neill gives a refreshing look at what it was like for a young girl growing up in the middle of the chaos that was the troubles.
Alix narrates the audiobook herself and this is where the book really comes alive. There are moments where you can feel the worry, heartbreak and tension in her voice to moments where she's blasting out her own version of "Freak Me" and you're in tears laughing.
A must listen for anyone who wants an insight into the everyday lives of those who lived through that awful period.
O'Neill has masterfully woven the horrific events of the troubles with belly laugh inducing anecdotes of her personal life to create something truly special.
She lets us delve into some family secrets, local gossip and lets us see just how easily the abnormal and traumatic can become normal when you're living it every single day.
With the perfect balance of humour and respect for the atrocities that occurred O'Neill gives a refreshing look at what it was like for a young girl growing up in the middle of the chaos that was the troubles.
Alix narrates the audiobook herself and this is where the book really comes alive. There are moments where you can feel the worry, heartbreak and tension in her voice to moments where she's blasting out her own version of "Freak Me" and you're in tears laughing.
A must listen for anyone who wants an insight into the everyday lives of those who lived through that awful period.
April 11, 2023
The book has been compared to Derry Girls quite often, but while it does share the same setting, it's not really that similar in other aspects - it's not that funny or quirky, and doesn't really have the "group of friends constantly finding themselves in absurd situations" thing going. Instead, it focuses more on relationship within the main character's family and gives more of the historical and political context of the Troubles, which I appreciated as someone who didn't know a great deal about the subject. Overall a good read.
December 3, 2021
4.5 stars - I can't recommend this book enough. Best memoir I've ever read (though it's not like I've read many): so compelling, accessible approach to The Troubles, funny/witty writing, cultural references (the prem, debs, etc). The whole part about Trinity and the ignorance of the British regarding Northern Ireland was really insightful and interesting. Overall reads really well! Loved it :D
April 24, 2023
the tone of this book was absolutely perfect
(although i will say that i really don't like the subtitle of this edition, as i feel that partly reducing her book to "boys" is completely missing the point)
(although i will say that i really don't like the subtitle of this edition, as i feel that partly reducing her book to "boys" is completely missing the point)
May 24, 2024
Awful.
February 26, 2023
A brilliantly written book full of personality and making the reality of growing up in the troubles and seeing peace / brexit very accessible. I hope people with no connection to the area can read it and learn as well as just enjoy the story of family relationships that have more plot twists than any work of fiction I’ve read recently.
November 26, 2022
The Troubles with Us is a memoir about a teenage girl who grew up in Belfast during the troubles in Northern Ireland. It reminded me a lot of the series Derry Girls as it was quite heartwarming and funny but also dealt with really serious and life threatening topics.
I found the bits about her moving to Dublin for university really interesting and how she hid her struggles from her family. The themes of motherhood and also her journey into a becoming a mother herself was really nice.
I’ve given it three stars because it didn’t really grip me and I found the memoir to be quite average but if you are interesting in coming of age memoirs and also the time period and history of Ireland I’d give it a go.
I found the bits about her moving to Dublin for university really interesting and how she hid her struggles from her family. The themes of motherhood and also her journey into a becoming a mother herself was really nice.
I’ve given it three stars because it didn’t really grip me and I found the memoir to be quite average but if you are interesting in coming of age memoirs and also the time period and history of Ireland I’d give it a go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews