Humanity Hallows Issue 5 Out Now
Pick up your copy on campus or read online
By Jamie Stewart
Amy Liptrot was born in Orkney, a group of islands in the north of Scotland, between the North Sea and the Atlantic. Her father lives with bi-polar disorder and is prone to manic episodes, her mother a born-again Christian. Amy moves away from her family home to London, a city as wild as the islands that she grew up on, but for different reasons. Spending a decade or so in London, she leaves behind her a trail of aborted relationships and menial jobs and eventually descends into alcohol addiction. In her book The Outrun, she describes frankly how a series of events led to a complete lack of control of her own life.
Needing change, Amy leaves London behind. She returns to Orkney and finds herself increasingly obsessed with nature – birds and sheep, tides and astronomy. Becoming more and more connected to the wildlife that surrounds her, she gets a job at an RSPB reserve, searching for the elusive corncrake, and adopts the moniker The Corncrake Wife.
She spends her Saturday mornings in the North Sea with the Orkney Polar Bear Club, her days roaming the different islands, and her nights looking for the Merry Dancers (the Northern Lights to non-island folk). Island life becomes integral to her recovery. However, the beauty and danger of the Isles don’t offer Liptrot solace immediately. Her journey is punctuated throughout with candid descriptions about her persistent cravings.
The Outrun is more than just a memoir. It is a touching story about one woman’s journey to recovery, and how her connection with nature aids her convalescence. She uses this strong connection with nature to her advantage, mapping her own history onto the islands of Orkney. In a chapter entitled ‘Personal Geology’, she writes: “The islands’ headlands rise above the sea, like my limbs in the bathtub, my freckles are famous landmarks and my tears rivers. My lovers are tectonic plates and stone cathedrals.”
What struck me most was Liptrot’s unwavering candour. She writes in a way that dissolves the stigma that is often attached to alcohol addiction, and focuses on healing. The Outrun is a perfect read for anyone who, like Liptrot, finds themselves born or living on the edge.
Featured image: Isabelle Dargue A powerful new film documenting Manchester’s Lights Up movement will premiere at The Savoy Cinema on 9 March as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. Lights Up is a free, community-led event organised by Bee Pedal Ready and Station South in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, We Are Cycling UK, MCRActive,…
Featured image: David Lindsay Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow will return to the decks for a special guest vinyl DJ set at The Garden Bar in Chorlton later this month. Chow, known for his distinctive geometric minimalist portraits of figures from Manchester and wider pop culture, is returning to his roots with an exclusive free DJ…
Following the passing of iconic Stone Roses and Primal Scream Bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mountfield, there have been growing calls for him to be immortalised in a way that reflects both his cultural impact and the deep affection shared between the musician and his home city. GRIT Studios has answered the calls from fans, announcing plans…
Featured image: Evie Peattie Often overshadowed in popular narratives by the heritage houses of Paris or Milan, London’s fashion ecosystem has long traded on creative freedom. As London Fashion Week prepares for its 42nd year, running from the 19 to 23 February, the British capital is poised to reaffirm its reputation not simply as a…
Leave a reply