Saoirse Ronan stars as Amy Liptrot in the fothcoming film adaptation of The Outrun
The Tyneside Book Club reconnected with nature in February by reading The Outrun, Amy Liptrot's award-winning account of her return to Orkney.
This was a book that combined the personal memoir of a recovering alcoholic with a delve into the natural and temporal history of the islands that make up the Orkney archipelago.
That combination produced a mixed reaction among members. Some preferred the sections that focused on Orkney, while others were more compelled by the personal battle Amy Liptrot had with addiction.
There was appreciation for some fine writing, and some members did find the descriptions of Orkney intriguing enough to consider a visit. Most agreed it summed up both the charm and oddness of the islands.
Members though did find the book a little uneven and choppy, and even repetitive at times. There was a lack of narrative flow for some, and it perhaps betrayed its origin as a series of separate articles.
For some it did provide a valuable insight into the mechanics of alcoholism and Amy's battle with her personal demons. For others, the account, though honest and heartfelt, didn't add much to the well-worn narrative of recovery from addiction.
Some thought there was a lot left unsaid about the author's complicated relationship with her parents, but assumed this was a case of sparing the feelings of a mother and father who are still alive. Some were left wondering how she maintained her life on Orkney.
There was much to enjoy about a book that had pace and atmosphere, and for the most part members thought the combination of memoir and nature-writing worked well, though some editing and refining of the text might have made it a more satisfying read.
This was a book that combined the personal memoir of a recovering alcoholic with a delve into the natural and temporal history of the islands that make up the Orkney archipelago.
That combination produced a mixed reaction among members. Some preferred the sections that focused on Orkney, while others were more compelled by the personal battle Amy Liptrot had with addiction.
There was appreciation for some fine writing, and some members did find the descriptions of Orkney intriguing enough to consider a visit. Most agreed it summed up both the charm and oddness of the islands.
Members though did find the book a little uneven and choppy, and even repetitive at times. There was a lack of narrative flow for some, and it perhaps betrayed its origin as a series of separate articles.
For some it did provide a valuable insight into the mechanics of alcoholism and Amy's battle with her personal demons. For others, the account, though honest and heartfelt, didn't add much to the well-worn narrative of recovery from addiction.
Some thought there was a lot left unsaid about the author's complicated relationship with her parents, but assumed this was a case of sparing the feelings of a mother and father who are still alive. Some were left wondering how she maintained her life on Orkney.
There was much to enjoy about a book that had pace and atmosphere, and for the most part members thought the combination of memoir and nature-writing worked well, though some editing and refining of the text might have made it a more satisfying read.
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