Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd is an historical novel set in the 1980’s and is set against the backdrop of the troubles of Northern Ireland. The themes of this book are quite dark and heavy including the fact that the brother of the main character, Fergus McCann, is on hunger strike. Other themes include the discovery of a body in a bog, illegal couriering for the IRA and the story contains dark flashbacks and dreams throughout.
I personally found this book extremely difficult to read. I am an avid reader normally and I am usually happy to read a variety of book types. However, it's a long time since I struggled to finish a book like I did with this one. I found it disjointed, hard to follow, dark in parts, boring and I really think the average teenager would struggle to read this book. It contained some coarse language and one scene of intimacy with the opposite sex.
Perhaps it would have a place on the history curriculum as the subject matter is, I’m sure, an insight into that time in Irish History. As an English novel however, I fail to see the inspirational or literary value of this particular book. It is an interesting fact to note that the Italian translation of this text has been given the title: The Demented Child.
Verdict: Not suitable for study on the English curriculum and most definitely, not at Junior Level.
Reviewed for IrishParents by Jack D., Parent & Educator, Co.Limerick