Why a Booktrail?
1975 – The island community which is described as – ‘a small wet sponge of the west coast of Ireland’ is a place we wanted to go. Beautiful and haunting as the prose.
Little Beauty
What you need to know before your trail
1975: Laura Quinn has spent her life on the remote and beautiful island off the west coast of Ireland. Her parents have died and her lover continues to remain reluctant to commit in any way.
Having not had much adult guidance, she is desperate for some independence and a life of her own. So she gets a housekeeping job on the mainland but soon gets entangled in the lives of those she works for. Then she returns to the island and makes a decision that will haunt her for the rest of her life.
Travel Guide
Achill island is the inspiration for this book and is referred to as Whale Island. The town is called Inis Miol Mor in the story.
The author having spent much time in this area has incorporated the level of remoteness, the community feel and of course the weather which is a mixture of wind and rain. An inhospitable environment for sure!
Whale island – ‘a small wet sponge of the west coast of Ireland’
Alison also tells us that Inisbofin was another place which inspired the descriptions in the book – which is even more dramatic than Achill apparently!. The West coast of Ireland is very rugged and beautiful all the way from Donegal down to Kerry. The sense of community, somewhat overbearing for some –
“There was not peace in a place where everyone knew what you had for your breakfast”
As well as geographically, the music and history of the 1970s is also incorporated into the book – such as the songs of the Carpenters and the events of the IRA.
Where Next?
