Home, again...

Changed planes in Chicago, so more than three hours on the first leg and an hour and a half on the second. No delays, and being Business Select meant I could snag the even more space seats at the emergency exit. So I spent the flights working on the synopses for all three volumes of APoS. Here's what I culled Derry down to:

Derry, Northern Ireland. 1966. The Catholic minority is pushing for civil rights against the vicious control of the Protestant majority. Caught in the middle of this is Brendan Kinsella, a Catholic lad who just wants to live his life and follow his dreams. But after his father is murdered by two Protestants, his mother starts the family down a path to Irish Nationalism, which he thinks is pointless.

The third of her six children, Ma constantly picks at him and belittles him as simple-minded, despite his knack for repairing things. In response, he stays quiet, observant, and consistently goes his own way. Even though it sometimes leads him into trouble. 

Through the next six years, Brendan is caught up in Civil Rights demonstrations, the attack at Burntollet Bridge, the Battle of Bogside, the following August, and other situations leading up to Bloody Sunday, in 1972. 

There is also his growing love for Joanna, a Protestant girl, a relationship which could cause both of them serious harm, should it be found out.

Throughout this, all Brendan seeks is a place of safety in a world of chaos, but he slowly comes to wonder if that is possible.

(Volume 2 and 3 will be later)