Can a book reflect your cultural traits?

Gordie Jackson
Jul 27, 2017 · 2 min read

The book group chose Sebastian Barry’s book ‘Days without end’. I struggled to finish it getting bored somewhere between page 156 and the end. Now I note last year it won Costa Book of the Year.

I found certain paragraphs within it yielding, “ Yes I understand that though I hadn’t considered it an Irish trait.”

I had always thought my fury was unusual now I know it is the Irish in me.

McNulty, the central character, commenting on his own crowd says,

“ If you cross a Irish for half a dollar he’s going to burn your house in revenge. He will work at that till he drops dead from the desire to do you mischance.” Page 23

Now I don’t like to be violent but I can be in thought particular in a bad mood, Barry writes,

“Some of those native born soldiers fear the godamn Irish since in a bad mood they might knock you down and stomp on your head till they feel better but you won’t.”

I was relieved that my ability to carry grudges for years is a cultural trait and appropriately described by Barry,

“They carry a grudge like hunting dogs carry the bird. But then an Irish might be the gentlest man in Christendom too.”

If seems if you want to read me read Barry though skip the boring bits I am never boring!

g.

Hopes & Dreams

Dream and Exceed!

Gordie Jackson

Written by

Northern Irish, living in Hertfordshire, England, writing to understand and share life…

Hopes & Dreams

Dream and Exceed!

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