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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Oh, dear, this book really was not enjoyable for me. I hate to say that, since O'Brien is so well regarded, and one of our foremost Irish authors of today, but I just didn't get on with this.
The writing is lovely. O'Brien captures a sense of growing up in the Irish countryside in the 1950s really well. There's a real sense of being there with Cáit (pronounced Cawtch, short for Caithleen, pronounced Kathleen. Note that she is never called Kate in this story, so the blurb is incorrect). Unfortunately, the setting and writing weren't enough for me with this story.
My biggest issue was the 'friendship' between Cáit and Baba. I wouldn't actually call that a friendship at all. Baba is quite cruel, and Cáit is more afraid of her than anything else. How does this make them friends? I really don't understand. Is it just lack of choice? It bugged me throughout the whole story anyway, and is the main reason I didn't get on with this book.
Another reason I didn't get on with it is the relationship between Cáit and a much older married man. From a 21st century perspective, this reeks of grooming. I don't know whether O'Brien would see it from that perspective herself now, but I'm pretty sure she didn't when she was writing it. There's no subtext to suggest that she did anyway. It makes for some really uncomfortable reading anyway. Cáit is around 14 when this relationship begins, and it goes on for a number of years. O'Brien's writing about it is quite sentimental, but looking at it from today's vantage point, the relationship is just creepy.
So, not for me, sadly. I may or may not read the rest of the trilogy: I haven't decided yet. I will probably read more by O'Brien, though, just because I think she's probably written better books than this, and I think I'd like some of her other work better.
The writing is lovely. O'Brien captures a sense of growing up in the Irish countryside in the 1950s really well. There's a real sense of being there with Cáit (pronounced Cawtch, short for Caithleen, pronounced Kathleen. Note that she is never called Kate in this story, so the blurb is incorrect). Unfortunately, the setting and writing weren't enough for me with this story.
My biggest issue was the 'friendship' between Cáit and Baba. I wouldn't actually call that a friendship at all. Baba is quite cruel, and Cáit is more afraid of her than anything else. How does this make them friends? I really don't understand. Is it just lack of choice? It bugged me throughout the whole story anyway, and is the main reason I didn't get on with this book.
Another reason I didn't get on with it is the relationship between Cáit and a much older married man. From a 21st century perspective, this reeks of grooming. I don't know whether O'Brien would see it from that perspective herself now, but I'm pretty sure she didn't when she was writing it. There's no subtext to suggest that she did anyway. It makes for some really uncomfortable reading anyway. Cáit is around 14 when this relationship begins, and it goes on for a number of years. O'Brien's writing about it is quite sentimental, but looking at it from today's vantage point, the relationship is just creepy.
So, not for me, sadly. I may or may not read the rest of the trilogy: I haven't decided yet. I will probably read more by O'Brien, though, just because I think she's probably written better books than this, and I think I'd like some of her other work better.
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Es muy dulce y las niñas parecen niñas -cosa que últimamente es muy difícil-, sin embargo la historia es demasiado simple y sin ningún misterio detrás de nada.
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Listened via BorrowBox
A book chronicling the life of two adolescent girls in Ireland. Well written and no doubt very true to life in that time. I can see why this shocked many at the time, but really it was life affirming.
A book chronicling the life of two adolescent girls in Ireland. Well written and no doubt very true to life in that time. I can see why this shocked many at the time, but really it was life affirming.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
I started reading this as part of a book challenge for the category of a book that has been banned somewhere. I really enjoyed it overall, it had a lot of narrative devices that I found engaging and I was quite invested in Caithleen's story. The entire book felt real and it didn't shy away from gritty or taboo subjects, therefore providing some biting commentary on what it's like in country Ireland and what some of the issues are with pervasive, highly conservative attitudes, especially in the context of children growing up and attempting to assimilate into a world of broader perspectives. This also explains why the book was banned.
Knowing more than Caithleen at many parts in the book becomes quite uncomfortable, especially when it is made clear that Caithleen herself knows more about or has reinterpreted her past experiences in the future. This was truly excellent writing - I don't think I've felt as uncomfortable about a character in a book since reading Wuthering Heights or Rebecca. The way O'Brien constructs the narrative makes the manipulation and exploitation of Caithleen feel completely unavoidable and realistic in a way that makes you examine interpersonal power relations in a new light.
In saying all of this, I did think the book had some less engaging parts, and I found that when the girls go to Dublin, it dragged quite a bit. I also think it glossed over some of the issues that migrants face and could have explored this deeper through the relationship between Joanna and Caithleen. However, I still very much enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to anyone, especially if they liked the narrative style of something like Wuthering Heights or Rebecca.
Knowing more than Caithleen at many parts in the book becomes quite uncomfortable, especially when it is made clear that Caithleen herself knows more about or has reinterpreted her past experiences in the future. This was truly excellent writing - I don't think I've felt as uncomfortable about a character in a book since reading Wuthering Heights or Rebecca. The way O'Brien constructs the narrative makes the manipulation and exploitation of Caithleen feel completely unavoidable and realistic in a way that makes you examine interpersonal power relations in a new light.
In saying all of this, I did think the book had some less engaging parts, and I found that when the girls go to Dublin, it dragged quite a bit. I also think it glossed over some of the issues that migrants face and could have explored this deeper through the relationship between Joanna and Caithleen. However, I still very much enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to anyone, especially if they liked the narrative style of something like Wuthering Heights or Rebecca.
Book club book.
Knowing the historical context of Ireland at that time helped make this a good discussion book.
Knowing the historical context of Ireland at that time helped make this a good discussion book.