The Cantankerous Molly Darling by Alvy Carragher – Blog Tour Book Review
Synopsis
Molly Darling wants life to be as simple as wellies and porridge – this is rural Ireland after all. Instead, Mum’s hiding in the attic; Dad’s run away, leaving only a PowerPoint to explain; her sister has a ham sandwich for a fiancé; there’s a boy and THE silence; her BFF will stop at nothing to go viral; and the chickens are missing. It’s enough to make a girl cantankerous. But she’ll fix it all. Easy, right?
Author
Alvy Carragher grew up in rural Ireland. She has an MA in Writing, as well as a first collection of poems published by Salmon Poetry. A former resident of both Louisiana and South Korea, she is currently holed up in Vancouver where she is tinkering away at a second novel and learning to speak Canadian.
Find her on twitter at @alvycarragher
What I Thought
This is such a fun book, from the very first line you know you are going to be in for something different.
The Molly Darling of the title is an Irish teen who has every right to be cantankerous. She lives on a run down farm, her parents are separated, her mum is throwing herself into her art and her new boyfriend, and neglecting Molly and her sister Polly.
To top it off Molly’s pet chickens have “just disappeared”. The chickens were the only bit of normality in her life, giving her companionship and routine. And they form much more of the plot than you might be expecting. Like Molly, and everyone on social media, you will fall in love with Lady Macbeth the rooster that is at heart a chicken. Will they get their peaceful ever after?
Mum’s new boyfriend happens to be the father of one of the hot boys in school and complicated relationships with boys, friends, enemies and veganism abound. Polly’s imminent wedding brings their absent father back into the mix too!
The rural setting of the farm gives a unique backdrop to daring chicken rescues, activist meetings in a chicken shed and a family farm house with a teetering Great Wall of Books on the stairs. With the addition of viral and doctored social media videos you just know the peace and tranquility is going to be toppled.
Alvy Carragher writes with wit, warmth and humour and this book is just simply a joy to read.
Thanks to Laura and Chicken House Books for my #gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog tour stops.
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Somewhere Close to Happy by Lia Louis – Blog Tour Book Review
Synopsis
Lizzie James is happy.
She has a steady office job (with a steady stream of snacks), has had the same best friend since school, and she sees her family ever Thursday night for take-away and trashy TV, Lizzie likes her uncomplicated life.
Then a letter arrives one day from her first love, Roman. A letter dated the day he disappeared, 12 years before. As Lizzie uncovers the secrets of the letter, she discovers what really happened the year her life fell apart – and all avenues lead back to Roman.
Lizzie James thought she was happy, or somewhere close to happy, at least. Now she’s not so sure.
About the Author
Lia Louis is a writer from Hertfordshire where she lives with her partner and three young children. In 2015, she won ELLE magazine’s annual talent competition with her contemporary love letter, #RelationshipGoals. Lia’s fascination with letters doesn’t stop with her writing: she also has a varied collection of old letters which are a source of inspiration to her. Somewhere Close to Happy is her first novel. Lia can be found tweeting at @LisforLia.
What I Thought
This debut novel hit the sweet spot for me with a tender YA style first love and a gradual unpicking of a mystery later in life.
Lizzie thinks she’s moved on and moved past what happened when Roman disappeared but the delivery of his twelve year old letter opens those wounds and there’s only one way to heal them. She needs the truth.
Her best friend Priscilla has been with her since school, through her time at The Grove (the mental health unit where she met Roman), the year he left and now she’s the Sherlock to her Watson. I loved the female friendships in this book, most notably between Lizzie and Priscilla but also with Katie, her sister-in-law. There was one scene where Katie’s support had me fist pumping.
Of course Somewhere Close to Happy also represents the fauxships too, in all their agonising false niceties.
The novel flicks forward and back in time and this gradual unfurling of the story of first love and first loss is deftly handled, it had me so invested. I wanted to hug young Lizzie and young Roman in particular.
With hugely honest and accurate mental health portrayal, that comes from the author’s authentic experience. The experience of anxiety and panic pulses from the page. Also the hurt of one’s experience not being validated is raw and the, “she’s being a teenager”, “she’s just being awkward”, comments show how much more awareness is needed. The family relationships in this story are complex, some good (Hubble – sweet Hubble), some complex (Mum and Dad) and some downright 🤬 (Auntie who Shall be named – see what I did there!).
This story just feels so real, so bittersweet and the writing just had me hooked. I needed to know what happened. Lizzie goes on a journey, and the outcome is one of self understanding and growth. The moments when she quietly and calmly is able to state what she needs are powerful.
As a personal note there is something that happens with Priscilla (no spoilers) that I hope becomes Louis’ second novel, because I know this author has the sensitivity to write that empathetically. I’d also love to spend more time with these characters.
Trigger warning for mental health, suicide, drug addiction and abortion.
Somewhere Close to Happy is out on Thursday.
Thank you to Alex and Orion for the review copy #gifted for the purposes of an honest review. I loved it.
This review is part of a blog tour, do check out what everyone else thought on the other stops.
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Give the gift of reading with #WeReadBox – #Kickstarter Launch Today
Two Dorset-based book lovers (hint – one of them is me) are launching a Kickstarter for a bi-monthly book subscription box aimed at 8-12 year olds – and anyone else who loves a good story.
The box will launch in September 2019 with September and November’s boxes being exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. Following a successful campaign the boxes will be available to the general public from January 2020, with gift cards available as the perfect Christmas gift.
Each box will contain:
A carefully selected, newly released middle grade book, in a mix of genres
A signed bookplate
A matching/themed bookmark
Themed collectible pin with locking back
WeRead Activity Booklet featuring content from WeRead members and monthly book club discussion and activity prompts
Author introduction video and post read Q&A (provided online)
Additional Item/s inspired by the monthly theme/book
An example WeRead Box
Each box will be carefully curated in the hope that the books and box contents will appeal to readers of all genders.
WeRead Box is committed to making their packaging and products as eco-friendly as possible.
Reading for pleasure has been shown to develop, among other qualities, kindness and empathy, things our world is in definite need of. The quote above epitomises WeRead Box’s ethos. We will package and present reading as something fun to engage in, whilst encouraging our readers to use what they’ve learned from the book in their everyday lives – all delivered directly to your door!
The Kickstarter launched at 8am Friday 7th June 2019 and will run for 28 days. By supporting it today, you can ensure access to our exclusive 2019 boxes and maybe even snag an early bird discount https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kirstyes/weread-box.
