Donovan: Being Emily
December 6th, 2008 by editor
Donovan: Being Emily
Things are never dull in the O’Connell family. Still, Fiona, squeezed between her quite brother and her mischievous line-dancing twin sisters, thinks life in their tenement flat is far less interesting than Emily Bronte’s.
But tragedy is not confined to Victorian novels. And life for Fiona in this happy domestic set-up is about to change forever. Following the devasting events of a single day, her family can never be the same. But - perhaps - new relationships will develop, built on a solid foundation of love.
Check availablity on East Renfrewshire Libraries’ catalogue
I enjoyed this book though not as much as Buddha Da. One of the weaknesses was that I didn’t feel that Fiona’s ‘voice’ changed with her as she grew. A bit of a weakness in a coming of age novel.
That apart I would recommend it to any one, especially anyone who likes books in Glaswegian, ‘no’whit ah mean in at.
Read this with the Barrhead book club. Really enjoyed it but was worried I would not as it seemed a bit ‘contrived’ to start with. As with Budda Da, clever and wry view of Glasgow culture.I liked the integration of different parts of cultural experiences and the developing relationships within that.Took some surprising turns in the story which kept me reading after faltering start signof a great story teller!I would recommend it!
Like Chris, I enjoyed this book but not as much as Buddha Da. The setting, the story and the language are very similar to Buddha Da, but of course this time without the originality (unless of course you haven’t read Buddha Da!). However there were still moments of great humour and poignancy in Being Emily which made it all worthwhile