Your Own Ones

by Sile Post

In Your Own Ones, Síle Post’s “poetic, storytelling voice, courage to write about big issues, great heart, and real personal vision” [Frank Howard Mosher], shape this lyrical, visionary novel of one woman’s transcendental journey back to the old country, now lost in the unsustainable ways of the new. For wild salmon conservationist, Áine O’Connor, the journey of the wild salmon charts the route of her own journey back—to the rivers of her birth on Celtic Dingle Peninsula—to continue a thousand year family tradition of protecting the land and sea. When the economic tide suddenly turns in Ireland, Áine launches a Celtic Roots Campaign—atraditional & local foodsinitiative—through which she re-casts the Joycean ‘nightmare’ of Irish history into a sustainable dream for the country’s future. The preservationist passion that flows through Your Own Ones —“reminiscent of Barbara Kingsolver, with echoes of the warmth and humor of Maeve Binchy” [Joyce Mandeville, Orange Prize nominee]—will appeal to a wide range of readers, both caretakers of the land and of the heart. “Come Away,” (in the words of W.B. Yeats), “to the waters & the wild” of Your Own Ones—an Irish State of Wonder.

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2016

Reviews

[Lauren Kourafas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story that combines love, self-discovery, and tradition with economics and farming of both the land and sea varieties. The writing was very blunt and straightforward but seeing as Aíne was as well it makes sense! I found myself enjoying it although,

******SPOILERS***** with the amount of times everyone pointed out the whole Maeve and Aíne connection I’m surprised she didn’t really make the leap earlier. Twas not subtle LOL!

[Elaine W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Post's main characters and story are appealing. I loved the descriptions of the Dingle peninsula in Ireland and of the land and culture, as well as the scattered Gaelic phrases (which often had me looking up meanings and pronunciations). I enjoyed the book and read it quickly, but had trouble believing the dialogue and interplay between characters, especially in the second half of the book.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A contemporary tale that feels almost mythic in scope. Post has taken on some weighty environmental and economic issues, but at the core of the book is the desire to know oneself and find the elusive 'home' we as humans desire. Written in lyrical prose with lashings of Gaelic, Your Own Ones takes the reader from Canada to Ireland as Aine O'Connor tries to fulfill the wishes of a woman she believes to be her aunt and her own desire to protect the home of her own ones.

Told with sensitivity and humor, Your Own Ones hits the mark.