Snowflake

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Trotz dieser tragischen Geschichte ist das Buch unglaublich humorvoll, die Charaktere sind alle miteinander ein wenig skurril. Gerade für einen Debütroman ist auch die Sprache hervorragend. Ich wurde förmlich hineingesogen in das Buch. Sehr gut gefallen haben mir auch die etwas magischen Elemente. Sie geben dem Roman nochmal einen ganz eigenen Ton.

Fiction has a dreamlike dimension that invites us out of our sense of self and into someone else's imagination. It brings us in touch with a wisdom that is buried deep within us, a kind of fantastical knowledge that invites endless possibilities. I think I have secretly known that literature has the ability to save lives, ever since I was a child reading Alice in Wonderland, poking the pop-up book and reading Alice's worry: "I wonder if I've been changed in the night." An endearingly off-kilter coming-of-age story. . . . Debbie will win your heart." — People, "The Best New Books" It's a long time since I've loved a novel as much as Snowflake. The prose shines with observations about life love family mental health, milking the cows and what it means to be coming of age in the times we live in—I felt I had discovered a diamond—a real treasure!" — Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo This book is raw, dark and heartwarming all at the same time, and I absolutely loved it. I think Louise Nealon captured a girl on the cusp of the rest of her life so well, this absolute fine line between childhood and adulthood. A girl who absolutely does not know herself at all, does not know how to look after herself, and just needs to be kinder and more understanding to herself in all ways. This is very much a coming of age type novel, interspersed with some magical realism in a way thanks to Debbie and her mother's penchant for prophesising dreams, and Uncle Billy's reputation as a wise man. But is it really magical realism, or just a family with a bloodline that mean they are more sensitive to those around them, and the knowledge of the other plane of the world others have forgotten. Enchantment rings through the book and is found in the self-mythologising of the characters, the classical references and the focus on the self and identity. The splendour of Trinity is overshadowed by the mysticism of the farm, where calves are born deformed, sometimes with no head or extremities, and where lives are snuffed out.My generation is very confused about sex because we’re not sure what we’re supposed to be doing. You’re presented with ‘it’s pleasure’ and ‘you should enjoy it’ but there’s a massive responsibility that our generation is ignoring and you can’t ignore your feelings just to seem cool.” An accomplished debut novel. . . . One of newcomer Louise Nealon's many skills is in finding the tenderness lurking underneath everyday exchanges in a captivating story about a smart working-class country girl who is trying to adjust to Trinity College and its privileged social set. . . . Made me laugh out loud and cringe simultaneously. . . . the book has the power to make you gasp at its revelations and its sheer poetry, which often unfolds with the languid pace of a lucid dream. There hasn't been a book quite like it out of Ireland in years.” — Irish Central Nealon’s writing is sparse and when that’s coupled with a melancholic tone and the Irish setting, the inevitable comparison to Sally Rooney will be made. While i feel like it’s in a league of its own and not all upcoming female Irish writers should be dubbed ‘the next Rooney’, i can see the overlap between the two authors. They are complicated and intense, but not without good reason. Debbie comes from a house where mental illness is ignored until it winds up bloody and battered at the foot of the stairs – literally. She grew up in a community where "It is socially acceptable to be an alcoholic … as long as you don’t get treatment for it". Veľmi dobre je tu zvládnutá téma dospievania. Nie je to zabalené do cukrovej vaty, proste poukazuje na to, že ten prechod zo strednej na vysokú nie je taký plynulý ako sa zdá. A môže byť miestami dosť krutý. Plus hlavná postava pochádza z dedinky neďaleko veľkého mesta a neskutočne sa mi páčilo ako sa to prelínalo/kontrastovalo spolu.

She turned 30 recently and is looking forward to a new decade. “It hasn’t been the easiest decade of my life,” she says, referring to her 20s. “It’s been really messy and that’s why I find it quite bizarre that I’m seen to be successful now because I had just gotten used to being a failure.” Snowflake is mad and wonderful. I thought I was reading one thing, then discovered—several times—that I was reading a different, even better thing.” — Roddy Doyle The rest of the book is just a series of events in the lives of Debbie’s bipolar mother and depressed uncle. Debbie herself may or may not have mental health issues, but the topic is treated with such disdain and scorn that it’s hard to say where either Nealon comes down on it. It's disturbingly possible that she's on the side of the people who coined the snowflake [derogatory] version of the title. Snowflake is the brilliant first novel by Irish writer Louise Nealon, published in 2021 by Manilla Press.

I tend to avoid some books when they're being hyped up in the media for fear they will not live up to that hype, this is one of those books I avoided at all costs for weeks. I then started to see comparisons being made to Sally Rooney's Normal People and decided hell no not for me. (Apologies Sally Rooney fans!) Fast forward to a Borrowbox update and this beauty popped up in the audiobook section, I thought what have I got to lose. Debbie isn’t the only funny one. She comes home drunk, and her Uncle Billy gives her one glance and tells her he needs to teach her how to drink. Billy takes her to the local pub, and the lessons are hilarious. This is a quirky story laced with serious themes.