Cacophony of Bone

Subtitle: The Circle of a Year

Author: Kerri ní Dochartaigh

Genre: Memoir

Format: Physical purchase

Publish Date: November 2023

Read: February 2024

Favorite Quote: Something about today feels so full of hope.

Synopsis: At the end of 2019, the author and her partner move into a small cottage in central Ireland. Then, the pandemic happened. Suddenly, they were isolated physically and, without broadband, virtually. They grew a beautiful garden, connected with people via social media, and grew together as a couple.

However, the author continued to experience untold grief and healing from her past. She sought and found solace in her connection with nature: the finches, the fields, the bones churned up from the weather. After years of being told conceiving a child was not possible, she finds herself pregnant. Full of joy, fear, and hope, the author and her partner set down roots after being nomadic for so many years.

Why does this book beguile? Cacophony of Bone is truly a book I picked up because of its cover. It’s a beautiful story, both straightforward and meandering, clear and confusing. Certain events are never mentioned outright, but the reader can guess. Feelings are rarely named but described in such achingly beautiful detail that you can easily relate.

Even if you haven’t experienced bone-deep grief or unbridled joy, Cacophony of Bone will unlock something in your heart that makes you remember you’re part of the human experience.

Rating: 5/5

Link*: Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ni Dochartaigh

If you’re interested in this, read*: Wintering by Katherine May