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Are You Somebody

the Accidental Memoir of a Dublin Woman
Feb 06, 2017
I enjoyed this book; it was honest and frank. But more importantly it resonated with me as a woman who was raised in a devoutly Christian upbringing while also wanting more for myself than simply a husband and children. The notes at the back of the book detail feedback from other readers, predominantly female who felt the same. My granny was raised in Ireland and had a profound effect of my youth, sometimes living with us. Everything was about marriage and finding a good man, even when there were examples all around us of rushed marriages that were failing because the women did not know enough about the men they were marrying. And of course, a lot of the rush is to avoid premarital sex (a sin that requires discipline) which is a terrible premise upon which to make a major life decision. Ireland, I believe, is a microcosm of strict Christianity. It seems to have its own rules, regulations and ways of doing things that is quite black and white. Some of these characteristics are charming and endearing. Others are stifling. This is echoed in other books such as Angela's Ashes, Brooklyn, Nora Webster and Secret Scripture. Fascinating to read about and enlightening as to this cultural trickle-down effect in my own family. Loved this: p. 24 "The most useful thing I brought out of my childhood was confidence in reading. I was born and I learnt to read." The author mentions begging one man to marry her without even really realizing she was doing it, it was just so engrained. But her mother said to her she didn't care how many degrees she got so long as she had a man and a couple of kids. Her mother said this after raising 9 of them, poverty stricken, primarily alone and having become a heavy drinker. It makes you see how strongly the ideas we are raised with stay, even when everything around us points to a better way.