Welcome to Litsy!

When Edna O'Brien's debut novel was published it was immediately condemned in her native land. It was even burned in her hometown. I did not read this for the scandalous content, but because I had previously read another of her works & wanted to try more. I LOVED this coming of age story of Cait & her complicated friendship with Baba. I was deeply moved by certain parts of the book & I am looking forward to diving into the second book today.

https://youtu.be/2QDmn869yKs

Intro

Highlights

The Christmas Tree by Jennifer Johnston

The Old Man and His Sons by Heðin Brú, John F. West (Translator)

Country Girl by Edna O'Brien

A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System 1879 to 1986 by John S. Milloy

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

This portrait of Edna O‘Brien was unveiled at the National Gallery of Ireland yesterday to celebrate the writer‘s 90th birthday ( pic from Irish Times )

#MOvember #girlgonewild
“I thought of life's many bounties, to have known the extremities of joy and sorrow, love, crossed love and unrequited love, success and failure, fame and slaughter..”

O‘Brien was driven to exile after the publication and controversy of her first novel, which details the ‘conflict of being a young woman ahead of her time, incurring the wrath of her family, the church and Irish rural society‘. Been meaning to read this.

My bff and I are reading this in our book club of 2. We will likely discuss some time in June when she moves back to NYC.

#attractiveauthors 🚺edition #junebookbugs.