emilyaix's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sillyzilly's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
Kind of dreary, because mid-century Ireland, but also has a bit of a My Brilliant Friend vibe (with a dose of Jane-Eyre-in-convent-school). Wonderfully written. (Spoiler, did not intend to read the other two, then got totally sucked into the second one.)
heathssm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
4.0
Moving, beautifully written feminist novel about growing up in the shadow of alcoholism. Caitleen is 14 when her mother dies, leaving her in the care of an alcoholic father, as well as the dubious care of neighbours. She receives a scholarship to a strict convent school, and ends up running away, due to the influence of her friend Baba. This story captures the beauty and misery of an Irish village in the 50s, the stifling power of Catholicism, as well as the sexism and sexual exploitation faced by young women. O'Brien captures Caitleen's character deftly and with great tenderness. I found this book very moving.
innergrace's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
garthranzz's review against another edition
4.0
2023 - 52 Weeks of Short Novels, A Buddy Read
From the book: A Year of Reading - Briefly Great Short Books by Kenneth C. Davis
Week #11
“If the author’s parish priest burns a book and politicians condemn it, pay attention: it is probably worth reading.”
This was a good story. I can see how it got in trouble for the time it was published but it was more than tame considering our times. I’ve never read a “coming of age”, boy or girl, until I started this short novel challenge this year. So far this is one of the best short novels of the collection and I may read the other two to finish the trilogy to see how Caite and Baba end up. Fully ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
From the book: A Year of Reading - Briefly Great Short Books by Kenneth C. Davis
Week #11
“If the author’s parish priest burns a book and politicians condemn it, pay attention: it is probably worth reading.”
This was a good story. I can see how it got in trouble for the time it was published but it was more than tame considering our times. I’ve never read a “coming of age”, boy or girl, until I started this short novel challenge this year. So far this is one of the best short novels of the collection and I may read the other two to finish the trilogy to see how Caite and Baba end up. Fully ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
ginsburd's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
caroparr's review against another edition
5.0
All told in a great rush of feeling and observation, as two innocents (one more so than the other) navigate growing up and leaving the countryside for the joys of the big city. This would be wonderful to listen to.