The Outrun by Amy Liptrot

Amy Liptrot recounts the experiences of her childhood and youth on Orkney,  subsequent turbulent life in London and journey into and emergence from wild, uncontrolled addiction.  She loses most of what normally matters before age 30: her house, partner and job.   Her subsequent return to Orkney during her recovery further deepens her affinity and healing connection with the land, which she has always felt part of and also strained away from. She reflects “My life was rough, windy and tangled”.

An epiphany comes to her “while watching the waves” as she correlates the science of their behaviour and hers, namely, the way waves necessarily and variously crash down once they have reached a certain height.

I found this biography well-written, intense,  eye-opening and positive. 

£8.99 paperback.