pickLate one evening Dev opens his door to find out that the Ferdias‘ brothers has kidnapped a young boy. They wish to stay at Dev‘s because of his remote location. The young boy‘s older brother owns the brothers money and they want them back.
We follow Dev, the young brother Doll and his girlfriend and mother, and his brother Cillian, and learn how they handle it and are willing to do.
pickReally unique structure; I liked some of the linked vignettes more than others. This felt different and more interesting than typical writing about teenage girls, which I appreciated. I‘d give it a slightly low pick overall given the unevenness. Am glad I read it and wonder how it‘ll do in #tob25!
pickMy last book of the year and very much a favorite. Beautifully written, the structure is clever and I loved the stories of the girls. I did not find the boxing too much. I loved that it gave them a commonality and focus. Highly recommend!!!
Only on chapter 3, hoping it hooks me soon
#bookandbreakfast
pick#booker #booker2024 #longlist
My last longlist book. This is an interesting narrative style, a series of snapshots from each fighter‘s past, future, and rather violent present. The 8 girls fighting for the u-18 boxing championship in-front of 12 fans in a neglected arena. But the narrative is doing a lot more than just following our neglected lady gladiators.
My full longlist summary will go in the comments.
pickA drugs-related kidnapping of a young lad: not a book I'd have picked up, were it not for its #bookerprize longlisting.
I enjoyed the characterisation (poor Dev, especially, and hapless Doll, and prematurely adult Nicky). There's something feels not quite complete about it though, and it could do with one more edit: not least to clear up the nonsensical imagery I kept tripping over (eg. the appearance of a distant building compared to an aspirin).
pickOstensibly about a drug-deal related shakedown, this is actually an exploration of the lives of people living at the margins and at risk. It‘s described as “darkly funny” and I don‘t agree at all—I found it to be an encouragement to look more deeply at quiet desperation. #TOBlonglist
@TheKidUpstairs tagged me in a post about favorite books from our #AuldLangSpine matches from previous years. It was fun to reflect on books I wouldn‘t have otherwise read without @monalyisha and her matchmaking skills.
2022 @Mitch “The Book of Memory” - Petina Gappah
2023 @TheKidUpstairs “The Colony” - Audrey Magee
2024 @IndoorDame “Foster” - Claire Keegan
2025 @Singout — SO looking forward to digging in to your list next month!
pickPosing Copper with the🎄has been a challenge this season! Or maybe he only cooperates when I tell him it is for Litsy?! 😂
Audio 🎧 was a good way to experience this and I give kudos to the narrator Cassandra Campbell 🌟 Her voice was perfect for the present tense and the repetition. We get such interesting insight into a broad view of the female psyche; how diverse our wants and needs might be. We are fighters all.
