A review by rosalind
The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is the equivalent of an indie film with an angsty soundtrack and lots of lingering artsy shots, where not a whole lot happens but you learn loads about the two central characters. The central theme is an age-gap romance and the pitfalls that come along with mixing trauma-bonding and sexual relationships. It’s an ode to first love, being in love in London - that heady mix of hormones and burgeoning sexuality and the new incessant rhythm of the city, calling you to your future - and working through trauma with, and for, the one you love. Think Rooney’s Normal People, but set amongst thespians.

I listened to Eimar McBride narrate this herself via Audible, and I’d highly recommend it. As well as her being a fabulous narrator, she is obviously best-placed to interpret her peculiar use of language, the strange, poetic sentence structure you may recall from A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing. I love hearing authors read their own work, especially when their use of language is unusual. Listening to McBride was a joy.

This book is certainly not for everyone, especially if you like your action direct and, well, actiony. But if you like a deep-dive into the inner workings of flawed humans trying hard to honour their love for each other, while sometimes letting their pride/ ego/ jealousy/ addictions/ naïveté/ traumatic childhood get in the way, then you’re in for a treat (and a trigger warning).
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