Seamas O'Reilly On His Debut Novel

The novel tells the story of 'middle sister', an 18-year-old girl living in a Catholic and separatist stronghold during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. She is pursued by 'Milkman', a local paramilitary, which leads to rumors and social ostracism. The story explores themes of gossip, social pressure, and the dangers of being 'interesting' in a tight-knit community. It delves into the complexities of Northern Irish sociopolitics and the universal experience of societies in crisis. The narrative is marked by its distinctive voice, humor, and the daily violence of the protagonist's world.

Séamas O'Reilly recounts losing his mother to cancer at age five and navigating a chaotic childhood with ten siblings and an eccentric father in rural Northern Ireland during the final years of the Troubles. Blending mordant humour, family antics and poignant reflections on grief, the book captures the resilience, love and madness of his large family striving for normality amid loss.

The book delves into the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath, focusing on the lives of key figures such as Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, Gerry Adams, and Jean McConville's children. It explores the civil rights movement, the Provisional IRA's bombing campaign, the 1981 hunger strike, the peace process, and the post-conflict struggle to understand crimes like McConville's murder. The narrative also incorporates the Belfast Project, a secret oral history endeavor that collected stories from former IRA members. The book is a panoramic history that captures the complexities and tragic consequences of the Troubles.