This has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. It had been recommended so many times that I knew I needed to read it but it was a little neglected on the shelf until ‘My Twelve Days of Bookmas’ challenge, and it finding its place as my October read.
‘Trespasses’ is set in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles in the 1970s. This is a period of history that has always fascinated me, especially as I read the Kevin and Sadie novels by Joan Lingard when I was growing up. ‘Trespasses’ is a fascinating title for this book, too, as it can have mutliple meanings as you work through the story. This is a study of the relationships, social and religious conflict of the time – all of which can be seen as moments of trespass.
In a city that is divided – Cushla, a local teacher and Catholic, meets Michael and starts an affair with this lawyer from the other side. And some readers may say this is where the trespassing begins as Cushla falls in love with another women’s husband, a man who could be seen as an enemy by Cushla’s family and friends. Especially as, every day, they wake up to more news of tragedy in Belfast.
As well as this, a local family are frowned upon as they are an ‘interfaith’ marriage, despite both being fundamentally Christian, and they become targets of attacks from some who may not be as willing to accept them – they can be seen as trespassers, from each side of the conflict. Cushla wants to help this family, despite the risks she faces in doing so. But, overall, is the trespass from those who are attempting to control the narrative of Northern Ireland?
This is a book full of tragedy, for so many of the characters, in a number of different ways. And this is a book full of emotion – and there were moments that made me angry for those who have to experience such a way of life, especially children who are not able to grow up feeling that they and their family are safe. Or feeling that their only option is violence against others to feel that they are heard or understood.
The final chapter of the book is also quite a moment; I think it is one of my favourite closing chapters to a book. It may not be the traditional happy ending, but you can see that there are chances for things to slowly improve and there are those who will always treasure the kindness that they are shown by others.
I am not sure that I am doing this book justice, but I did feel that this was a book that took me a step on from the Kevin and Sadie books of my younger years. And, maybe, this is a book that readers need to read to remind them of the shadows of Ireland’s past, that are still hanging over it now. I think this book will stay with me for quite some time, and these are characters that will be following me around, and I will continue to think about them, as I hope that their future was far brighter than their present, even if it took a little time.