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Drystone
£9.99
Drystone—A Life Rebuilt
Running from places, people, and parts of yourself
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About the Ebook
Kristie De Garis spent years running – from places, people and parts of herself. But chaos always followed.
When she moved to rural Scotland, she hoped to find peace. Instead, in the space and silence, she was forced to confront everything she had tried to escape: racism, trauma, undiagnosed ADHD, addiction and the stark realities of motherhood.
Then, in the land around her – and in the slow, stubborn craft of drystone walling – she began to see a different life. One that was quiet, deliberate, and her own.
Drystone: A Life Rebuilt is unflinchingly honest and unexpectedly funny. A story about the weight of the past, resilience and the hard work of living on your own terms.
Some things may never change. What matters is the life you build anyway.
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- Discover Kristie De Garis's journey from chaos to confrontation
- Explore a powerful story of running and finally stopping
- Engage with honest, moving contemporary fiction
- Read another celebrated title from Polygon - an imprint of Birlinn Ltd
Reviews
'The bravest and brightest of memoirs to come out for some time — leaves the reader feeling hopeful that, with compassion and persistence, anything is achievable' Gutter Magazine, Books of the Year 2025
'A searingly honest, raw and visceral read — in short it is a triumph' Sunday Post
'Tells the truth of rural Scotland through worlds spun from a creative mind' The Times
'An incredibly powerful debut — an account of survival, strength, and quiet transformation that stays with you long after the final page' Rebecca Smith, author of Rural
'Drystone doesn't pull any punches — shockingly frank but also has the most beautiful literary touch' Tracy King, author of Learning to Think
'Honest, funny, direct and moving — a memoir of resilience and finding the life that suits you' Books from Scotland, Booksellers Books of the Year
About the Author
Kristie De Garis is a writer, photographer and drystone waller based in Perthshire, Scotland, where she lives a quiet and carefully curated life. Drystone: A Life Rebuilt is her first book.Publication Details
Publisher: Polygon (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd)
Publication Date: 07 August 2025
Print Length: 240 pages (Ebook edition)
ISBN (Ebook): 9781788856669
Format: Ebook
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