Big Girl Small Town by Michelle Gallen

Published: 2020, John Murray

Genre: Fiction

Themes: rural Ireland, the Troubles, autism, community

My rating (out of 5): ❤❤❤❤

I began reading this book in a state of slightly revolted fascination, but after I got over myself a bit, I found I liked the eponymous Big Girl, Majellah, and even admired her for her courage in protecting what is hers. This book is variously described as 'bawdy' and 'honest' but it is not something I would EVER offer to read for an audiobook. That may be my problem, but Jane Austen it isn't!

Majellah works six evenings a week in the chip shop in the small rural town of Aghybogey and every customer is greeted with her opening question:

'What can ah get chew?'

Her dad suddenly disappeared about ten years ago after he struggled to cope with the death of his brother Bobby. Bobby was right in the middle of setting an incendiary bomb when the detonator went off prematurely, and in the town his death is considered to be:

'A wild loss of a good man. A wild loss. Still, he died for The Cause. No Better Cause.'

Majellah is in her twenties and lives with her alcoholic mother. The two women are now trying to come to terms with the violent murder of her Granny who was beaten and left for dead in her old caravan just outside of town. Acts of violence are never too far away in Aghybogey but this senseless murder of an old woman has shocked even the hardest residents.

We get to know Majellah very well over the course of three hundred or so tightly packed pages, and you may be left thinking that some of the detail is something of an over-share, but if you are not too sensitive about it you will have yourself a good read and learn a few Irish expressions into the bargain.

Comments

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