Country Girl: A Memoir | 
bailedSo, I intended to read The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien for my book club, and I downloaded her biography instead. I read the whole book BEFORE I realized that I was reading the wrong book. Unfortunately for me, I am not a fan of non-fiction. it just isn't my thing. Totally my fault for not verifying it was the right book, BUT the titles were almost identical, and it was the same author. I gave it 1 star. (Jan)
#BookedForLife
Today in English we were front loading vocabulary before reading Persepolis.One of the words was avant-garde, which made me think of the documentary,Blue Road,The Edna O‘Brien Story.Edna was a one of a kind,controversial,avant-garde author & personality.
Just adored the movie.I also was felt a burning anger at various points with the Catholic Church,her father,& men in general.Thanks to @Andrew65 who introduced me to her book,Country Girls.
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.
