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Summary: Outstanding
Review: Are you the average American completely confused with the subject on Northern Ireland and "The Troubles"? This is THE book for you. John Conroy writes in easy to understand language with an underlining compassion for the people he is writing about. This book is moving and reads like a novel. I couldn't put it down. If you are interested in this subject, please read it. You will not be disappointed.
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Summary: A realistic, eye opening look at life in Northern Ireland!
Review: Belfast Diary is a moving, eye opening experience. John Conroy takes you from the viewpoint of a questioning American to an insiders look at life in Northern Ireland. As a part of the Belfast community he takes you through important events with insight and understanding. He helps you understand how a community learns to accept violence as a way of life and how they survive it. This is a MUST read for anyone who is interested in understanding the "troubles", and anyone who cares about the people of Northern Ireland
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Summary: Insightful and timely-a must if you want to understand
Review: Conroy recounts his experiences as an American journalist living in Belfast. He masterfully intertwines his spellbinding experiences with the history of "the troubles" in Northern Ireland. This is a superior book for the history reluctant or adversed. Engaging, gripping and intelligent, it is hard to put this book down. This is a "must read" for those preparing to travel to Northern Ireland or those who want to develop a better understanding of the complexities, emotions, history and politics of this divided people. Conroy's insights will expand the readers appreciation of current events in Northern, Ireland.
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Summary: Excellent read!
Review: Excellent! I enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put down. I didn't know a great deal about the situation in Northern Ireland and wanted to learn more. I felt this book gave a clear and unbiased view. John Conroy does an outstanding job of telling his story while continually mixing in the historical background. I don't think anyone with an interest in this subject will be disappointed.
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Summary: review on Belfast diary by John Conroy
Review: Great book.The first one I've read that really describes the situation here
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Summary: A must read!
Review: I could not put this book down! I just returned from Belfast (a truly wonderful city) and this filled in the blanks for me. I finally understand why so many events that that we know of came about, and it his writing provided me with a more sympathetic understanding of their terrible situation. As hard as it is for an person raised in America to really understand the troubles on a heart felt level, Conroy facilitates that.
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Summary: Excellent portrait of life in Belfast
Review: I have done a lot of reading on Belfast and the IRA during my work on a novel about a musician who grows up in Belfast and moves to Minnesota. During the course of my own writing I have had many many questions about what his childhood would be like and if I am being realistic in my portrayal of this character. This book was an excellent resource for me, and based on the information in it, I have made some revisions to my character.Belfast Diary gives the reader not only a "factual" picture of life in the war-torn city, but also evokes the spirit of the place. Many times, as I read, I found myself with tears in my eyes at the extreme conditions Belfast natives accept as "normal." Conroy lived with Catholics in a Catholic neighbourhood as he wrote this book, so I have to admit it has a republican slant to it. I admire Conroy for putting himself into the poorest parts of the city and experiencing life there for himself. This is an excellent book.
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Summary: Great read
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Conroy did a great job putting the 'Troubles' in Belfast into perspective from an American living in the midst of it all. Having visted the area that he writes of brought back memories. I referred to his map at least 50 times during my reading of the book to recall the streets that I walked in relation to where he wrote the book and spent his time in Belfast. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Conroy did a great job putting the 'Troubles' in Belfast into perspective from an American living in the midst of it all. Having visted the area that he writes of brought back memories. I referred to his map at least 50 times during my reading of the book to recall the streets that I walked in relation to where he wrote the book and spent his time in Belfast. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: The Dark Side of Ulster
Review: My wife and I returned from a trip to Northern Ireland in SEP02 and purchased a copy of Belfast Diary. Simply, Belfast Diary is a book about a journalist from Chicago who rents a room in a home in Belfast to learn more about the Troubles. As mentioned by the other people who submitted reviews about this book, I couldn't put it down. However, I couldn't give this book five stars because I thought it painted a picture of the Troubles as seen from one side of the street. The author traveled to Belfast from Chicago (where each year they turn the river green on St. Patrick's Day), he worked on this book in a rented room in a home located in a Catholic section of Belfast, and he mentions that he is married to a Catholic woman from Northern Ireland. In my opinion, this book would have been much better had it been balanced. There are two sides to every conflict. Thankfully a lot has changed in Belfast since Mr. Conroy wrote this book about what he experienced while living in the British province. Things have clearly changed for Ulster, which has become one of the up and coming destinations for tourists (as mentioned in Travel Weekly magazine in FEB03). A trip to Northern Ireland is a fascinating educational experience.
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