Book of the Month: What the Wind Knows

Trigger warning for the book itself: some sexual situations and violence. However, these moments are few and far between.

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Introduction

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon is a beautifully written story of historical fiction about Ireland in the early 1900’s. About four years ago, I had an opportunity to tour with my chorus in Northern Ireland & Ireland. We went around the entirety of both countries in two weeks, performing, eating, and soaking in the beautiful sights and heart-breaking history. Even now, there is still a tangible tension from the protests and fighting that have, now, ended many years ago. As a young foreigner in Ireland, it was very hard for me to grasp the complexities of their recent history. I didn’t understand why people still talked about the potato famine from the 1800’s. At the time, I thought it was a terrible famine but I didn’t see how it connected to 20th century politics. What the Wind Knows gave me the ability to see history brought to life. I still feel a personal connection to the movement for Irish independence even though it is something I’ve never lived through. As someone who also has Irish ancestry (along with 1000 other things), it’s also really nice to feel a more personal connection to that background.

Summary (without spoilers)

Anne Gallagher is orphaned at a young age in America in the late 1980’s-2000’s but lives with extended family until she is old enough to move out and provide for herself with her writing. Her grandfather, Eoin, raises her and loves her as his own. They always remain very close and Anne considers him to be her closest friend, as well as a father figure. Eoin grew up in Ireland but decided he wanted to get away from all of the fighting and become a doctor. Even after Anne became an adult, he would never let her go there. This was his only wish, so Anne respected it. He still celebrated his Irish heritage by teaching Anne poems in Gaelic and showing her how to speak with a true Irish accent. They traveled around the world, together, for Anne’s writing, but she never wrote anything about Ireland. At one point, she decides to secretly start researching information about Ireland in the early 1900’s when her grandfather had lived there. She hadn’t gotten too far before, unfortunately, Eoin is rather old by the early 2000’s and on his death bed. She stays by his side, helping as much as she can. He starts saying things to Anne that don’t make logical sense, like how she was the one who taught him her favorite poem that he had taught her when she was little. One thing he makes very clear, though, is that she must go to his home town in Ireland and sprinkle his ashes in the lake next to his childhood home. He gives her family pictures and a stranger’s diary but refers to this stranger as a father figure. His mom, her great-grandmother, happens to look exactly like her. Why was Eoin showing all of this to her now? Why did he never tell her about this before, when there was more time? Why is she all of a sudden permitted to go to Ireland? Why can’t he go with her? Was he speaking illogically because he was dying or were his words somehow true?

The Official Rating

This book receives a whopping score of 101/95. Points were docked for unnecessary sexual content. Otherwise, it would have received a 105/95.

Conclusion

Anyway, if you have any interest in Irish history, I suggest reading this book for a more up close and personal learning experience. It truly is a great starting point and will allow you to understand historical events in a way you normally can’t, by reading a textbook. Of course, not every single thing in this book is historically accurate. History aside, it would still be an absolutely beautiful and captivating story. You can buy the book now, using this affiliate link!