The Outrun by Amy Liptrot will feature on the Radio 2 Fact not Fiction Book Club on Friday 26 February.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK. Find out more about the non-fiction strand of the Radio 2 Book Club.
You can win 10 copies of The Outrun for your reading group – just visit our Noticeboard. We also have an exclusive extract available for you to read.
The Outrun
The Outrun is both the story of recovery, and a powerful statement about the restorative power of the natural world. It is in equal parts heart-wrenching and uplifting, beautifully written and extremely brave.
Amy Liptrot grew up on a sheep farm on Orkney. She was shaped by the wind-swept, sea-scoured islands where unexplained tremors shake the ground, but longed for the excitement of the city. A move to London led to a life that was hedonistic and fun – all she had craved – but she was unable to control her drinking. Alcohol gradually took over, ruining everything, exposing her to some terrifying situations and leaving her lost and lonely. At thirty she finds herself washed up back home in Orkney, and discovers that this place she once longed to escape is curative, its wildness and lore playing an essential part in her recovery from addiction. It is here that she is able to put herself back together.
Selection panel review
Our reading panel from libraries and The Reading Agency loved The Outrun – here are some of their comments:
“Largely about the relationship between nature and healing but also bringing in ideas of community, belonging, mental health, and dealing with addiction. It’s beautifully written, and I learned a lot about Orkney. I think it offers a lot to the reader whether or not they have experience of the things being discussed. It is the kind of nonfiction that fiction readers would read.”
“This book draws on the wild beauty and healing power of life on the Isles of Orkney. It contrasts the hectic impersonal life of the urban city with the more relaxed nature of this remote location. The story smoothly brings you forward using brief snapshots in the life of a recovering alcoholic exploring their addiction, the treatment and attitudes of the recovery process. It explores how returning back home and the enchantment of these isles gave them a chance to regain control of their life. This book has broadened my understanding of alcoholism and the setting, and it would encourage others to read more narrative non-fiction.”
“I adored this book. It is an excellent example of narrative non-fiction and is elegantly written. It would definitely encourage others to read this genre as the author’s past experiences are beautifully interwoven with her current self-imposed exile on Orkney. The book focuses on the author’s decline into alcoholism and her painful recovery. The narrative is frank, stark, insightful and lyrically expressed. But there is also much hope and scenes of breathtaking beauty. If anything, the book is a symbol of hope – of how the battle from darkness to light is won. It has given me a huge understanding of the disease of alcoholism, and how it can affect anyone from any background; and also the life-long battle for sobriety.”
About the author
Amy Liptrot has published her work with various magazines, journals and blogs and she has written a regular column for Caught by the River, out of which The Outrun has emerged. As well as writing for local newspaper Orkney Today and editing the Edinburgh Student newspaper, Amy has worked as an artist’s model, a trampolinist and in a shellfish factory. This is her first book.
A word from Amy
“I am delighted that my first book, The Outrun, has been chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club. There are several things I aimed to express in writing this: the unique culture and landscape of the Orkney islands, the restorative power that I have found in the natural world and, most importantly, the hope that those struggling with addiction can change their lives. Thank-you for giving me the chance to share these things with a wider audience.”
Get involved
Tune in to the Radio 2 Arts Show on Friday 26 February to hear an interview with Amy Liptrot talking about her book.
Have you read The Outrun? You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter, post a review or add the book to your group’s reading list.
Want to find out more? Follow author Amy Liptrot on Twitter, keep up on the latest information with the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website.
