Scan barcode
sierrainstitches's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know how I came upon this probably Instagram but I reserved this at my library and I'm so glad I did. It's a new release I'd class as young adult/contemporary. It's about Majella who is 27 and what we would class as plus size. She's never left her home town, still lives with her mother at home and works in the local chippy.
The book reminds me of derry girls as stated on the cover, parts had me laughing out loud. There is no covering up here includes sex scenes and adult language. But a brilliant read. Majella does the same things daily in this story but it isn't boring. Majority of the book is set in the chippy she works at with it being a small town she gets everyone through her door and many stories along the way.
Her grandma has recently died so thats a huge part to her story too. The story itself is told over a week and time stamped throughout and I loved the whole layout of it. Like a diary format but a story. I love Majellas character but she seems stuck in her life at the moment. I really enjoyed it! A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
The book reminds me of derry girls as stated on the cover, parts had me laughing out loud. There is no covering up here includes sex scenes and adult language. But a brilliant read. Majella does the same things daily in this story but it isn't boring. Majority of the book is set in the chippy she works at with it being a small town she gets everyone through her door and many stories along the way.
Her grandma has recently died so thats a huge part to her story too. The story itself is told over a week and time stamped throughout and I loved the whole layout of it. Like a diary format but a story. I love Majellas character but she seems stuck in her life at the moment. I really enjoyed it! A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
lbriss11's review against another edition
2.0
I plodded through this book. (It definitely isn't a plot-driven read.) But I think I liked it!
Worth noting: the audiobook is narrated by Nicola Coughlan! (Derry Girls/Bridgerton)
Worth noting: the audiobook is narrated by Nicola Coughlan! (Derry Girls/Bridgerton)
craftychelc's review against another edition
3.0
Big Girl is Majella O’Neill, an underachieving young woman of stout proportions who is squandering her considerable academic potential by working six nights a week in her local chip shop. The small town is Aghybogey, during the Irish Troubles.
So Majella keeps a list of all the things she doesn’t like, including sub-categories. She also keeps a much shorter list of things she does like, many of which are related to food. She uses these lists to narrate the story of a week following the murder of her grandmother. Given that her father has disappeared ten years ago, Uncle Bobby died while priming a bomb 16 years ago, and her mother is a non-functioning alcoholic, this presents Majella with an opportunity to become an adult and master of her own destiny. Or she could just keep working in the fish shop.
In truth, not much happens during the week; and what does happen is glossed over by Majella as she focuses her thoughts on the foibles of the chip shop regulars, hating alcohol (because of what it is doing to her mother and her home life) and looking for bedding. She drinks a bit, has sex a bit, and eats fish suppers. The charm is in her cynical, comical way of looking at the world, mixed with tragedy that she resolutely refuses to take her place in the real world, instead just hiding behind routines and tics.
Big Girl, Small Town feels like it is mostly back-story. The story of the dead grandmother, although acting as a McGuffin, never really takes off and I’m not sure there’s any real character development. This means that some of the repetitiveness of Majella’s life does seep into the text. There are only so many ways of ordering a fish supper or having banter with your work colleague as you put the chips in the fryer. After we see Majella stand up for herself in the pub, I really hoped for a more optimistic ended, but in truth I feel like that wouldn't have been Majella's way.
So Majella keeps a list of all the things she doesn’t like, including sub-categories. She also keeps a much shorter list of things she does like, many of which are related to food. She uses these lists to narrate the story of a week following the murder of her grandmother. Given that her father has disappeared ten years ago, Uncle Bobby died while priming a bomb 16 years ago, and her mother is a non-functioning alcoholic, this presents Majella with an opportunity to become an adult and master of her own destiny. Or she could just keep working in the fish shop.
In truth, not much happens during the week; and what does happen is glossed over by Majella as she focuses her thoughts on the foibles of the chip shop regulars, hating alcohol (because of what it is doing to her mother and her home life) and looking for bedding. She drinks a bit, has sex a bit, and eats fish suppers. The charm is in her cynical, comical way of looking at the world, mixed with tragedy that she resolutely refuses to take her place in the real world, instead just hiding behind routines and tics.
Big Girl, Small Town feels like it is mostly back-story. The story of the dead grandmother, although acting as a McGuffin, never really takes off and I’m not sure there’s any real character development. This means that some of the repetitiveness of Majella’s life does seep into the text. There are only so many ways of ordering a fish supper or having banter with your work colleague as you put the chips in the fryer. After we see Majella stand up for herself in the pub, I really hoped for a more optimistic ended, but in truth I feel like that wouldn't have been Majella's way.
marbooks88's review against another edition
3.0
A story of a big girl trying to move past the tragedies in her family and find her place in a small town in Ireland. Told through the list of Majella's likes and dislikes as Majella tries to negotiate her town after the tragedy of her grandmother's death is added to the disappearance of her father and her mother's alcoholism.
The narrator transports a listener to Ireland and gives Majella a voice.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
The narrator transports a listener to Ireland and gives Majella a voice.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
karingoodell's review against another edition
4.0
I started a new job this year which means I have a much longer commute. I am thankful for fantastically narrated audiobooks to make it more bearable. This is one of the best I've listened to! Narrated beautifully by Nicola Coughlan of Derry Girls and Bridgerton, you will find yourself wanting the sequel. I was truly sorry to end my time with the heroine of the book, Majella. There are times when the accent is a bit thick, but it only adds to the charm and authenticity of the story. Highly recommend.
jmarsh4ll's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointingly slow and hopeless caricature of small town irish life with jokes that don’t land and a heap of irritating characters
aliceb5's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
jugglingpup's review against another edition
5.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this audiobook.
I saw that this was an Irish humor voiced by someone from Derry Girls and that was all I needed. If you want a wild ride, watch the show.
The narrator is pretty much perfect for this book. The way that she is able to make Majella’s mom so obnoxiously annoying is amazing. I just can’t stand her mom at all. The way she is constantly yelling Majella’s name just grates on my nerves. It was a great detail. Nicole Coughlan was a great choice. She is able to do thick Irish accents to a more subtle accent as needed. It was clear when there was dialogue and it was delivered with a wit that had me laughing, even when I was missing half the joke due to the slang that just has not made it to my American mind yet.
The book is one of those meandering slice of life sorts of books. It has a lot of details of duvets, fish, and just general family life. It was fascinating to watch Majella’s world expand and how she could handle it. At times she would notice small things and other times she would be a bit shocked by things. Nothing was too mundane for Majella to mention, but the things she noticed were fascinating. The way she reacted to social situations and stress made me read her as autistic. She often flicked her fingers and she thrived on schedule. I am not sure if she was intended to be neurodiverse, but it was nice to see her as such. A lot of other reviews mention that she is autistic so I am probably not reading too deeply into it. It was great to see an autistic character that had a job and had a life. So often autistic characters are relegated as background characters or challenges for the MC.
The book was often crude with its humor, but in a way that was actually fitting. Dog shit jokes are not ones that I normally find funny, but the way they were delivered and timed was pretty wonderful. I am surprised at how often I enjoyed the weird sausage jokes, despite knowing how cringe they were. Majella also knows they are cringe and gets annoyed at having to tell the same joke over and over again. It was so cool to see how drastically different she interacted with people she knew the rules for and new people. The difference between her interacting with her boss and the sales clerk for the duvet was so clear and felt so close to home.
I didn’t really care that there was a plot. I just wanted to hear about every single day and interaction that Majella had. My only complaint was listening to this book at work got me a few weird looks. Nothing like someone talking about “fish cunts” to get someone’s attention I guess.
I got an ARC of this audiobook.
I saw that this was an Irish humor voiced by someone from Derry Girls and that was all I needed. If you want a wild ride, watch the show.
The narrator is pretty much perfect for this book. The way that she is able to make Majella’s mom so obnoxiously annoying is amazing. I just can’t stand her mom at all. The way she is constantly yelling Majella’s name just grates on my nerves. It was a great detail. Nicole Coughlan was a great choice. She is able to do thick Irish accents to a more subtle accent as needed. It was clear when there was dialogue and it was delivered with a wit that had me laughing, even when I was missing half the joke due to the slang that just has not made it to my American mind yet.
The book is one of those meandering slice of life sorts of books. It has a lot of details of duvets, fish, and just general family life. It was fascinating to watch Majella’s world expand and how she could handle it. At times she would notice small things and other times she would be a bit shocked by things. Nothing was too mundane for Majella to mention, but the things she noticed were fascinating. The way she reacted to social situations and stress made me read her as autistic. She often flicked her fingers and she thrived on schedule. I am not sure if she was intended to be neurodiverse, but it was nice to see her as such. A lot of other reviews mention that she is autistic so I am probably not reading too deeply into it. It was great to see an autistic character that had a job and had a life. So often autistic characters are relegated as background characters or challenges for the MC.
The book was often crude with its humor, but in a way that was actually fitting. Dog shit jokes are not ones that I normally find funny, but the way they were delivered and timed was pretty wonderful. I am surprised at how often I enjoyed the weird sausage jokes, despite knowing how cringe they were. Majella also knows they are cringe and gets annoyed at having to tell the same joke over and over again. It was so cool to see how drastically different she interacted with people she knew the rules for and new people. The difference between her interacting with her boss and the sales clerk for the duvet was so clear and felt so close to home.
I didn’t really care that there was a plot. I just wanted to hear about every single day and interaction that Majella had. My only complaint was listening to this book at work got me a few weird looks. Nothing like someone talking about “fish cunts” to get someone’s attention I guess.