First published in Great Britain in 2020; published by Algonquin Books on December 1, 2020

Majella O’Neill is the big girl in the title. Aghybogey in Northern Ireland is the small town. It’s a gossipy town that children who have means or scholarship-worthy smarts leave as soon as they reach adulthood. Having neither, Majella is still there, working the counter at a fish and chips takeaway. The novel follows her during a few days of her uneventful life — deadening days that are enlivened only by Majella’s snark and Michelle Gallen’s gift for capturing the essence of the villagers and the place and time in which they live.

Majella isn’t particularly happy but she makes a point of not being overly sad. People occasionally upset her but, after she calms down, she’s stoic. Her life is boring. She has the same conversations with the same people, listens to and repeats the same jokes, takes the same orders from the same customers, day after day. She relieves her boredom by sleeping as much as she can. On Sunday nights she goes the pub and drinks alone, accepting such offers to shag as might come along. She doesn’t get excited about birthdays but she’s happy to have turned 27 because she likes the number. She has a long list (with subdivisions) of things she doesn’t like and a much shorter list of things, including sex, that she does like. List entries serve as chapter subheadings. The text that follows each entry illustrates why she likes or dislikes the listed item.

Majella is widely regarded as a spinster. She lives with her mother, whose fondness for whiskey and pain pills makes Majella the family wage earner. Her father has disappeared and her Uncle Bobby is said to have blown himself up while planting a booby trap for the IRA. She works with a gossipy married man and occasionally has sex with him because why not? Majella’s sex partner choices are limited but after she learned how to masturbate, she didn’t have much use for men anyway.

Majella’s life might not be the life she wants, but she has learned to cope because she sees no alternative and she doesn’t want to become the people she dislikes. As best she can, she avoids interaction with most people and tries not to make eye contact with anyone. What Majella lacks in ambition she makes up for with attitude and unspoken opinions. She doesn’t like the new doctor because, unlike the old doctor, the new one tries to diagnose problems rather than dispensing pain pills. She has little use for the police or drunks or townspeople who express their sympathy for the loss of her recently deceased grandmother. She dislikes flirting, hypocrisy, telephone calls, nicknames, and a variety of other things. Her daily illustrations of the things she dislikes range from amusing to hilarious.

Gallen’s rendition of the local dialect (“What canna get chew?” “But sure it’s wild hard these days tae find steady work, y’know.”) is a joy to read. She captures the atmosphere of Northern Ireland and the tension between Catholics and Protestants without ever taking it on directly. That narrative decision is true to the story, as Majella accepts the world in which she lives — the border guards who bothered her father when she was young, the arrests that villagers don’t talk about, the revered Cause that she doesn’t really understand — without giving it much thought. The novel is ultimately a snapshot of a few days in Majella’s life. The focus is on Majella and, as one would expect from a snapshot, everything in the background is just a bit blurred.

The murder of an elderly woman lurks in the novel’s background, as do arrests of Majella’s neighbors and customers. Speculation about the whereabouts of Majella’s missing father and the contents of her grandmother’s will contribute to the plot. Still, Big Girl, Small Town is the kind of novel that doesn’t need an identifiable plot. Learning how Majella lives her life, watching her move from one dreary day to the next, tells a story of its own. While the last third of the novel brings some change to Majella’s life, it isn’t clear that Majella is ready for change. An epiphany on the final page suggests she might have learned something from all the episodes of Dallas she watched, but the story brings no firm resolution. Majella has a good bit of life yet to live and the reader will just have to wonder what she might make of it. She is such a sympathetic character that the reader can’t help but root for her to make a wise choice.

RECOMMENDED

I’m all for a complicated relationship with a main character but I struggled to care about Majella and her life in the chip shop in her small town. The book is graphic in a way that was a bit cringe worthy for me. But what really got me was the description of drowning the kittens. It was so unnecessarily graphic, and could have had the same effect on the story by just mentioning that it had happened.

DNF at 50%

This is such a unique book, I enjoyed it immensely. Adding to the uniqueness of this book is that it was written in a Northern Irish dialect, think Derry Girls. Because of this, It took about 25% of the way into the book for me to fall into the rhythm of the story,

The book follows Majella for a week during her job in a chip shop, binging on Dallas DVDs, dealing with her alcoholic mother, and the brutal death of her grandmother. Some people find Majella a little odd. She has a list of likes and a much longer list of dislikes. Majella does not have it easy and I found myself rooting for her.

I enjoy character driven novels, and this book is all about the characters. The description of all the characters that patronize the chip shop is so entertaining.

I recommend this book for people who enjoy character driven novels, with a quirky main character, dark humor, and written with plenty of Northern Irish dialect, then this is the book for you.

I really hope there is a second book because I want to hear more from Majella.

This book made me laugh so much at times, I couldn’t get pass the Irish dialect, it was at times difficult to really get into the book when you are trying to understand the language. Majella, is a girl wanting to do more with her life, but the way she goes about it made me laugh so hard, reminds me of ME! Except for her being annoyed at damn near everything, and since there are no chapters its all divided into categories and subcategories or things she dislikes and likes, and her relationship with her coworker. The way the book was written made it difficult for me to even finish it, it took me too long to read, and I felt lost at times.

Travel to Northern Ireland to a small, fictional town where you will meet a character you won’t soon forget. The story takes place over a week and is told from Majella’s point of view as she deals with the tragic death of her grandmother, her alcoholic mother, and the disappearance of her father.

Initially, the dialogue was hard to follow, but as you keep reading it gets easier.

In her debut novel, Irish author Michelle Gallen introduces the world to the quirky Majella O’Neill. Big Girl, Small Town, which will be released in the U.S. on December 1st, is unique in its depiction of life in a small Irish town.

This book is very reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Normal People. Majella is quirky and weird in her own way and offers a unique perspective to the world around her (which isn’t all that big). This novel conveys that quintessential small town vibe where everyone knows everyone and gossip runs rampant. Majella is unlike any other narrator and you can’t help but want the best for her.

The only thing about this book is it’s very character-centric. It’s very narrowed to Majella’s thoughts and views, so if you’re looking for a plot-driven novel or a good mix of plot and character development, you might not find it here. There is also a lot of Irish slang and wording used in this book that I was unfamiliar with. I actually had to look up certain terms, so fair warning to my fellow non-Irish readers.

If you’re looking for a book to put you in someone else’s shoes or view life from a different perspective, then you will love this book. Fans of Sally Rooney will love this literary fiction debut and find Majella’s quirks and rules about life bizarre yet charming.

*I received an ARC from Algonquin Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Big Girl, Small Town is an original, darkly humorous and entertaining debut novel. The main character of the book, Majella, is an unforgettable, quirky heroine who works in a chip shop in a small town in Northern Ireland. The story is written in a style that is quite unique and intriguing. I enjoyed reading an authentic Irish voice, which added an extra layer of enjoyment to the story.

Author:Michelle Gallen Publisher: Algonquin Books
Release Date: February 20, 2020
Pages: 320
Type: Hardcover

Review:

My Book review for big girl small town by Michelle Gallen

Tragedy has striked Aghybogey. This small town in Ireland has witnessed something horrible. Majella's grandmother has been murdered. There is a killer on the lose and there is no sign of them. Majella has chosen to ignore her feelings and bury herself in her work. She serves greasy fish and chips, sausage and chips, coleslaw, and so on. She takes great care of her mother but cannot stand her at times. Will goodness strike Aghybogey or will more tragedy occur.
Majella O'Neill is a great character. She has so much personality. She does not care what her mother or anyone thinks. She does her own thing. She chooses to ignore thoughts about her dead grandmother and her missing father. Please pick up a copy of this book and explore life in Aghybogey.

Thank you to Algonquin Books for the advanced free copy for a book review.

-Rebeca

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for giving me the opportunity to review @michellegallenauthor’s debut novel #BigGirlSmallTown!

This quirky novel follows Majella who keeps to herself, doesn’t like gossip, and isn’t interested in knowing her neighbours business. But suddenly it seems that everyone from her small home town in Northern Ireland wants to know all about hers. Following her father’s disappearance during the Troubles, Majella has lead a quiet life working in the local chip shop and taking care of her alcoholic mother. She wears the same clothes every day, eats the same dinner every night, and watches the same show always from the safety of her single bed. Her life is predictable and she likes it that way. However, following her grandmother’s tragic death, Majella comes to realize that although she wants to return to “normal,” there may be more to life.

Gallen is so skilled at building up both her characters and the world in which they live in. Everyone we meet throughout #BigGirlSmallTown is unique and have their own flaws and virtues. While the story may seem a little slow for some, I personally really enjoyed getting a deeper understanding of Majella’s life and the changes she finds herself going through. Seriously, I never thought I would be excited to read about someone buying a new duvet cover, but I guess there’s a first time for everything! Gallen really depicts the tedious monotony of Majella’s life as well as the ways her grandmother’s death begins to impact it.

#BigGirlSmallTown is quirky, thought provoking and paints such a perfect picture of small town life and a girl who is beginning to realize that there may be more for her out there than she had originally thought.

Majella is a twenty-something woman living in a small town in Northern Ireland, some time after the precarious cease fire between the Protestants and the Catholics. Her life consists of taking care of her alcoholic mother and working at the local fish and chips shop. Everyone in town knows her family and they are the subject of gossip when her granny gets murdered. Majella has already suffered the death of her Uncle Bobby and sudden disappearance of her father during the Troubles. The death of her granny is greeted like everything else in her life, with a shrug.

She keeps a list of things she likes (sex, fish & chips, cleaning) and things she dislikes (small talk - with customers and co-workers, noise, periods). She introduces you to all the regulars at the chip shop. They all have nicknames and quirks. She knows them all but cannot call any of them friends. Not much happens in Majella's life but that's ok. That's just life in Aghybogey.

I could not love this book anymore! I love that it's written in exactly the voice of Majella. Some people might find it hard to follow, but I think that's what makes the characters come to life. and what makes this such a special book. I love this book so much that I downloaded the audiobook so I could hear it being read in a true Irish voice. I loved the series "Derry Girls" so it is a joy to hear Nicola Coughlan read this. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Set in a small Irish town, Majella O'Neill is an autistic young woman living with her mom. Majella lives her daily life through her comfortable day-to-day routine. We are taken through a tragedy in Majella's life and now, her comfortable routine is thrown off guard and she must figure out the big changes in her life.

Big Girl, Small Town was something that when I first read the synopsis, I was immediately interested in it. It was different from what I was used to so when I was invited to read this book, I jumped at the chance.

However, when I began to dive into Big Girl, Small Town, my attention faltered. I rated this book 2.5 stars overall. I did not include the language difference in my rating as this was using an Irish dialect and writing and it did leave me to have a little difficulty in reading this.

This was a difficult read to get through and I believe that it was because I was not fully invested in reading this. I had a hard time understanding what was going on with the plot throughout the book and some of the things were rather random and felt unnecessary to the story. It took me quite a while to finish this book and I was nearly tempted to not finishing this book. I pushed through this an finished it but rather reluctantly. It was a quick paced book which did not set me back at all and I think that the overall plot could have been more narrow. It seemed like a big jumble and made me confused here and there when reading this.

I am including both the audio and the written book in the review, because the audiobook made a real difference in my enjoyment of the story. Majella O’Neill is a young woman who lives in Aghbogy, a fictional town in Northern Ireland. She is autistic which makes living with her alcoholic, slovenly mother a challenge. Working in a local chip shop, she has no other plans for her future. Working in a shop where she is privy to all the gossip might be the dream of some small-town girls but Majella doesn’t like gossip or small talk. Told only from Majella’s point of view, she often thinks about “The Troubles” which took both her father and uncle. She is also dealing with the death of her Grandmother. It is a book in which nothing much happens, so it’s probably like real life for most of us. I got bogged down in the written book with the local dialect. I did not pick up any of the dark humor when reading, but in the audio version Nicola Coughlan’s voice brings life to the story. By the end of the audio version, I really felt I know Majella and knew that her autism was only a small part of who she is.

"Big Girl, Small Town" had promise but the dialect was difficult to follow. Majella seemed like an interesting and complex character but everyone in her life was deeply annoying. I like novels that take place in different and different time eras but this one lacked insight.

Thank you, Netgalley and Algonquin for the digital ARC.

While I did not finish this book, I was intriqued by the language and the characters. I will likely return to it when I have finished other books on my list. Irish life is always told in such wonderful language that it is worth spending time when reading.

Big Girl, Small Town is a character-driven slice of Irish life as (Neurodiverse? She stims, likes routine, doesn't make eye contact, etc.) Majella works at a chip shop and cares for her alcoholic mother. The small town aspect is seen in the secondary characters who live and gossip throughout the town about the murder of Majella's grandmother and the disappearance of her father.

Not a lot happens in the first part of the book and I found that I lost interest in the characters about half way through. I usually enjoy a character-driven novel, but because I wasn't connecting with the main characters, I wasn't motivated to keep reading and DNF after about 50%, so perhaps it picks up after that. Some reviewers love the book, so there must be something to it, just not for me.

Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish the book. I enjoy quirky characters and different settings, but the book just didn’t resonate with me at all. A few things turned me off and I decided to move on. Thank you for the ARC.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I appreciate Gallen's dry writing style, and her protagonist's wry humour sometimes. I also appreciate the sense of community in the book, and the occasional deadpan humour. However, this kind of slice-of-life novel wasn't to my taste. I found my attention wandering throughout the book, and found it especially hard to keep reading.

In a year, when I cannot travel, Michelle Gallen does a fantastic job of setting the scene in the fictional town of Aghybogey in Northern Ireland. I felt transported to the small town, as I had an insider's view into the comings and goings of the residents at the local chipper.

I think the marketing of the book as similar to "Derry Girls" is slightly off; for me, the great thing about Derry girls is the friendship and joy the friends share in the series despite the ongoing Troubles. In Big Girl, Small Town the main character Marjella is more of a loner, so we don't experience the funny shenanigans that makes up Derry Girls. However, the similarity between the two, is the biting, dark humor that runs throughout the novel, and the humor helps to sustain the book.

Majella is a captivating character. I enjoyed the humor within the book but wasn't a fan of the condensed timeline.

I loved this great little book. Everyone has a story and this was hers. Great for bookclubs. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!