Hen-Gen
Well-known member
I’ve just completed the book you posted a link to. “Island Dreams” by Gavin Frances. It was published on October 1st so was firmly rooted in the here and now.
No sentimentality here. No reflections on simple folk battling the elements to eke out a living. No references to community spirit.
It was an exploration of mans relationship with islands from Alexander Selkirk to his own love of islands. As a doctor he had travelled widely and finally settled in Orkney with his wife and growing family. His hypothesis was that man seeks to harmonise his needs for both connectivity and isolation. He also recognised that the pendulum swings from one to the other as one ages.
After 4 years in Orkney he and his wife realised that as a young couple they needed more connectivity and less isolation so moved to Edinburgh.
Altogether an excellent read. Thanks for the link and I’d recommend it to any “islandphiles” out there.
No sentimentality here. No reflections on simple folk battling the elements to eke out a living. No references to community spirit.
It was an exploration of mans relationship with islands from Alexander Selkirk to his own love of islands. As a doctor he had travelled widely and finally settled in Orkney with his wife and growing family. His hypothesis was that man seeks to harmonise his needs for both connectivity and isolation. He also recognised that the pendulum swings from one to the other as one ages.
After 4 years in Orkney he and his wife realised that as a young couple they needed more connectivity and less isolation so moved to Edinburgh.
Altogether an excellent read. Thanks for the link and I’d recommend it to any “islandphiles” out there.
