as close to hell as his imagination could construct
groaning metal and the lip vibrations of exhausted men
pale and unwashed figures...
***
The Blurb
In 1930, Jack the miner is grieving the loss of his young son.
In a desperate attempt to escape his misery, he makes the choice to leave.
With a motley crew of Scots, he embarks on Arctic fishing with the promise of a better life.
John Gerard Fagan, the author of the memoir Fish Town, takes us on a ride to the Arctic Sea through Jack's battle for survival on a crammed and gruesome ship and inescapable submission to the cruelty of nature and humankind alike.
In the background, memories of his life as a miner, while a permanent excruciating pain from mourning his own child lingers.
Be ready for a tale of human suffering, violence, and sadness with this story of the hard side of human life.
My Review
This book is my first five star read of 2025 and is well deserving of each and every one of those shiny stars.
That said, it is not an easy read. Written throughout in verse, it is beautiful but bleak, harsh and harrowing, and powerful and poetic. It is a complete juxtaposition of a novel in that it is perfectly composed against a background of despair and longing.
As this is written in verse it is testament to the author's skill in that he can convey so much in so few words. Reading this was an immersive experience. I could feel the cold of the Arctic upon the deck of the ship. The grief and despair of the main character Jack were tangible. He had been a miner and he thought nothing could be worse that being underground in such hazardous conditions. However, he found life on the ship to be much worse. Not just the freezing conditions and the constant working but the 'gaffer' would frequently beat them and treated the men extremely cruelly and violently.
The author has also included a series of illustrations throughout the book. They have been drawn using a combination of monotone ink, pen and water and they have a haunting quality which suits the text perfectly.
If you are looking for something a little different to read then this book would be perfect.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1068678295
Publisher: Cybirdy Publishing
Formats: e-book and paperback
No. of Pages: 240 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
John Gerard Fagan is a writer from Glasgow / Scotland who writes in Scots, Scottish Gaelic, and English.
His debut memoir Fish Town about leaving Scotland to live in Japan was published by Guts Publishing.
His second book Silent Riders of the Sea about a miner in 1930 who leaves for the Arctic after the death of his son was published by Cybirdy Publishing.
You can also find John at:
(book and media courtesy of the publisher)
(all opinions are my own)
(bookshop.org affiliated)
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