Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Monkey Grip
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
In ''Monkey Grip'', Helen Garner charts the lives of a generation. Her characters are exploring new ways of loving and living - and nothing is harder than learning to love lightly. Nora and Javo are trapped in a desperate relationship. Nora's addiction is romantic love; Javo's is hard drugs. The harder they pull away, the tighter the monkey grip. A lyrical, gritty, rough-edged novel that deserves its place as a classic of Australian fiction
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
keepingupwiththepenguins
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Mehso-so

Without any real plot or drive, Monkey Grip didn‘t exactly blow me away – but there are many moments of beautiful prose, like little glimpses of Garner‘s greatness to come. It might not be the best one of hers to start with if you‘re new to her work, but if you‘re already hooked and want to see where it all began, give it a go. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/monkey-grip-helen-garner/

review
Rissreads
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Pickpick

It‘s about time I read this book! My first for 2022. Garner writes like no one else but I must admit I was troubled by a lot of it, Especially where her daughter was concerned. I found it hard not to be judgemental and to comprehend that Nora is obviously an intelligent woman who is choosing to live this life. 33 is old enough to know better.
#Ozfiction

CarolynM But it's ok, because we know how well Alice Garner turned out😆 I love her writing, even when I'm struggling with the subject matter. 2y
MrsMalaprop I know what you mean Nerissa, but yes @CarolynM Alice is an awesome human. So is Helen; just a flawed one. And by golly aren‘t we all! 2y
Rissreads @MrsMalaprop @CarolynM it‘s so good that we know that, the outcome. I‘m going to read her other work this year. She is fascinating! 2y
Jeg I‘m listening to it and it‘s lovely hearing HGs voice. The ABC listen app has Aussie books to listen to and mostly narrated by the author. I‘ve read it before and trying to get into listening to books. 2y
Rissreads @Jeg thanks I will check that site out! 2y
27 likes5 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#3Books #BasedOnTrueStories

Monkey Grip and Moral Hazard are both based on particular periods in their authors' lives, The Lost Life is based on an episode in the life of TS Eliot. All #ozfiction.

Tanisha_A Loveeee your new profile photograph! ❤️ 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😊🙌🏻📚 4y
JennyM Great selection and ❤️❤️❤️ for your new profile pic 😘 4y
See All 11 Comments
batsy Fab new profile pic 🙂 4y
Cathythoughts Gorgeous new profile picture 💕 (edited) 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Oh yes, love your new profile pic! 😘 4y
TrishB Great new pic ❤️ 4y
OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚👍🏻 4y
CarolynM @Tanisha_A @JennyM @batsy @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @TrishB Thank you all, you're too kind😘😘😘😘😘😘 4y
Freespirit Lovely pic...and book selection! 4y
CarolynM @Freespirit Thanks Sally😘 4y
68 likes1 stack add11 comments
blurb
vivastory
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

I've yet to read Helen Garner, but I found the following LitHub article interesting as it broadly addresses the issues of categorization with autofiction writers. I have always been puzzled by people who make comments along the lines of, “That's not really a novel, it's more like autofiction“:
https://lithub.com/on-the-diaries-of-helen-garner-and-the-quagmire-of-the-fictio...

Tanisha_A I am going to read this. Thanks for sharing 🙂 4y
Tanisha_A And Lit Hub is good reading 4y
vivastory @Tanisha_A They're one of a handful of sites I check daily 4y
CarolynM Interesting article. I think Garner is a great writer. I would encourage you to read her. 4y
53 likes4 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#ThinkLocalGiveAway
Congratulations on your Litsyversary, Barbara, and thanks for this give-away.
There are lots of books set in Melbourne, many of them in my part of it. Monkey Grip is a classic from the 1970s about a young woman living a bohemian life in a share house with her young child and junkie boyfriend. It is at least semi autobiographical. I could take you to the house where it happened, about 15 minutes walk from here. The area has👇

CarolynM 🖕changed quite a bit. Most of the old share houses have been renovated to become expensive family homes. But there is still a lot that is immediately recognisable. And Helen Garner is a great writer. 4y
Cinfhen That‘s cool!!! #stacked 4y
LeahBergen Ooo! How awesome is that? 4y
See All 6 Comments
charl08 I love the idea of a bookish world tour led by Litsy members. Adding this one to my wishlist. 4y
BarbaraBB Echoing @charl08 ,that sounds so great! Thank you for entering Carolyn 💕 4y
Cathythoughts That‘s amazing ... it‘s like meeting one of the characters 👍🏻❤️ 4y
58 likes2 stack adds6 comments
blurb
WanderingBookaneer
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
blurb
CarolynM
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#CoolOldBooks #RomanAClef

A fictionalised account of Helen Garner's life in the early 70's in a share house in North Fitzroy with a young daughter and a heroin addicted lover. It caused a stir when it was published in 1977 but is now considered an Australian classic #ozliterature

43 likes1 stack add
quote
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#ReadingResolutions #Journal
Garner‘s first novel Monkey Grip was basically a rewrite of her diaries at the time. She has copped a lot of flak over the years for allegedly confusing fact and fiction.

blurb
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

1. So excited to be going to see Australian award winning authors, Helen Garner and Kim Scott talk to a sold out crowd about why literature matters TONIGHT as part of the #PerthWritersFestival2018 😍👏📚❤️.
2. 162cm
3. We moved to Perth, Western Australia from Melbourne in 1987, so...31 years. Current house for almost 10 years.
4. True Stories by Helen Garner & Midnight in the Garden Of Good & Evil by John Berendt for Book Club.
#friyayintro

Cinfhen Have fun tonight!!! 6y
mspixieears ha! I moved to Melb in 1987 (from London :D) 6y
CarolynM Would love to hear what you thought about your evening with Helen Garner and Kim Scott 6y
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#spookyoctober #takesplacenearme

This is the Monkey Grip house, the share hose where Helen Garner lived when the events in the story happened. North Fitzroy has changed a bit in 40 years.

MrsMalaprop 😍 Huge Helen Garner fan here. Are you in Melbourne? I‘m in Perth, but from Melbourne. 6y
CarolynM @MrsMalaprop Yes I live in Melbourne, used to be just around the corner from the house, now a short stroll away in Northcote. 6y
Sue Monkey Grip ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
CarolynM @Sue absolutely 6y
13 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Michelle_mck
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Pickpick

Finished this on the plane coming home today I really enjoyed it, very intense, it's a time and a lifestyle so foreign to me. It's incredible to see how far Helen Garner has come as a writer but for a first book it's incredible. That's #1977 of #readmymilestone done

quirkyreader I keep seeing all these great books from Australia that I want to read. 🐨 7y
Michelle_mck @quirkyreader we are lucky to have so many great writers and publishers who value Australian stories ❤ 7y
65 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Michelle_mck
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

We have had a family emergency and had to fly to NZ for the week - this is my first quiet moment - reading this Aussie classic for the first time. The red edges are amazing #helengarner

Shemac77 Hope everything is ok. 7y
MrsMalaprop Just finished and reviewed it about an hour ago! Hope all's ok in NZ. 7y
Theresa Sending good thoughts & best wishes that all is okay!! 7y
See All 6 Comments
Michelle_mck @MrsMalaprop I'm about 20% in and I'm enjoying it, not sure what I was expecting but it's good 7y
Megabooks I hope everything turns out okay! 7y
Cortg I hope everything is ok 7y
58 likes6 comments
review
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Pickpick

Inner suburban Melbourne in 1975. Nora loves Javo who in turn loves drugs. I went along for the ride. Helen Garner is one of my absolute favourite writers and this, her first novel, has been on my TBR for some time. The book is based on her diaries and I enjoyed looking through this window into her bohemian early 30s. The book has a rambling, aimlessness about it and as always her writing is exquisite. 👏

britt_brooke Great photo! 📷👌🏻 7y
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

Day 11. #setinabelovedlocation #17booklove The book I'm #currentlyreading just happens to be set in my beloved home town, Melbourne, Australia ❤. I was born and raised there, until my family relocated to Perth, Western Australia (incidentally, the most isolated capital city in the world) when I was 16. I still have friends and family in Melbourne and manage to get back there once a year 👍.

Reviewsbylola Love your bright blanket! 🌼 7y
LeeRHarry Good choice!! 😊 7y
31 likes2 comments
blurb
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#LitsyPartyOfOne in a grandstand. This is how I spend most of my Friday nights in summer: watching my son compete in Athletics. I do try to bring my book along and sneak it out for a read (when he's not running of course!). Really enjoying Helen Garner's first book (1977), having read most of her contemporary stuff. Party on Littens around the globe 🌏 🎉🤓🎈🎊👍

35 likes1 stack add
quote
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

This. Nora, after Javo leaves. ❤

quote
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

Nora's love for the drug-addled Javo. Such writing ❤.

blurb
MrsMalaprop
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#currentlyreading Starting this today. Helen Garner is one of my favourite authors and I have read most of her nonfiction. Monkey Grip was her first published book (1977). It's a novel but Garner has since admitted it was based on her diaries. As a child I remember my mum raving about it. I'll be interested to see what I make of it as an adult, about the same age as my mum would have been when she first read it.

LeahBergen Lovely photo (and I could just EAT the Penguin two-colour covers. I love them so)! 7y
Jeg I read this in the 70s and loved it. Have often thought about reading it again to see how I feel about it now. 7y
20 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Krysta
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Mehso-so

Have to be honest here, it took me months to finish this book. I actually don't dislike it; maybe I was just never really in the mood for it (read it for a reading challenge). Maybe it was because I was reading it digitally, which is usually fine but... Maybe it was that I could not identify with the drug use... I don't know.
I liked certain descriptions, the setting, and the overall idea; I just really could not connect. Maybe I will try again.

review
EnidBiteEm
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Pickpick

When I was first thinking about how to pay tribute to Helen Garner's birthday, I wondered if I could emulate any aspects of her semi-autobiographical novels. I decided against moving into a share house with my daughter and falling in love with a heroin addict. Nevertheless, this 1977 #australianclassic is worth a read. For the Aussies amongst you, yes this is a photo of Noni from Playschool, who played Nora in the 1982 film adaptation 😀.

48 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Krysta
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

#novembertbr Here are a few I'm looking at this month
#photoadaynov16
@RealLifeReading

Sweettartlaura In the Woods is great, & then you'll want to read the rest of the Dublin Murder Squad ❤️ 7y
Krysta @Sweettartlaura Haha probably! My tbr list is never ending anyway! 7y
Sweettartlaura I know, I know... There will never be enough time to read all the books I want to 😢 7y
Krysta @Sweettartlaura one of life's cruelties 7y
19 likes4 comments
quote
shirabaharin
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

"I wanted him to go away (he was carrying his belongings on his back: 'I'll stay away for a couple of days,' he said, 'and you can come and visit me.') because be was driving me crazy; but I wanted him to stay because when he was himself I loved him."

My copy is a bit worse for the wear, but I kinda like it. it feels like it suits the contents of the book.

5 likes1 stack add
review
McFarchie
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image
Pickpick

I really liked this window into the life of the Australian 1970s bohemian ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sue I love this book! 8y
78 likes1 comment
blurb
McFarchie
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

Starting another Helen Garner. What a world 😊

Sue I love this one 8y
SusanInTiburon Helen Garner is so good! The Spare Room blew me away, and her nonfiction is strong as steel. 8y
65 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Sue
Monkey Grip | Helen Garner
post image

It's #recommendsday!! I've been thinking about this book a lot recently. It's raw and awesome.

azulaco I need a book with a swimmer on the cover for a reading challenge I'm doing. This sounds way better than the other suggestions I've seen! 8y
Sue @azulaco Lol, glad I could help out 😁 8y
55 likes5 stack adds2 comments