Majella lives in the small town of Aghybogey, Ireland. She works in the local fish’n’chip shop, A Salt n Battered, and lives with her mother. She is relatively happy with her life. For enjoyment she watches reruns of Dallas and goes out the local pub once a week. But mostly, she codifies her life experience. There are a lot of things she doesn’t like, from loud noises to dirt. Really, it can best be summed up as one thing she doesn’t like: Other People.
The year is 1994, shortly after the ceasefire in Ireland. But the Troubles still ripple through the area, as Aghybogey is near the border. And while the fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants is officially over, there is still the possibility that it had something to do with the disappearance of Majella’s father. And no one knows the cause of the recent attack on Majella’s grandmother, that led to her death.
Majella’s days are spent taking care of her alcoholic mother and working in the chipper. She knows her customers and makes sure their orders are right. She pays attention to the supplies and the cleanliness in the restaurant. In short, she is all about the details.
Big Girl, Small Town is author Michelle Gallin’s study of one week in a young woman’s life. Majella tries to get her mother to eat something, she gets ready for work, she waits on customers, she has a fag, she warms up her fish and chips dinner in the microwave when she gets home after work. In need of some comfort, she buys herself a new duvet for her bed.
This book is mostly about Majella’s inner life, her thoughts on what makes her uncomfortable, her thoughts on her family, her thoughts on her future. It’s poignant and moving, sometimes funny and often sad. But Majella doesn’t lie. She doesn’t try to be someone she isn’t. She doesn’t impose herself on others. She just tries to get through each day as best she can.
The audio book of Big Girl, Small Town is read by Nicola Coughlin, best known for her role on Derry Girls. The accent she uses for Majella is a little broad, but it couldn’t be more perfect for the character. She embodied Majella from the first page to the last and brought her to life.
I was really looking forward to reading this book ever since I heart if got short-listed for the Booker Prize. However, I struggled with it. Majella’s inner monologue gets monotonous at times, and I had to work to keep my mind from wandering. I did think that there was some amusement in the story, but there were also sad circumstances that, in my experience with the book, outweighed the humor.
I liked Big Girl, Small Town but didn’t love it. I thought the narration was pitch perfect for the book, but it was the book itself that I had to force my way through.
A copy of the audio book of Big Girl, Small Town was provided by Workman Audio through NetGalley, with many thanks.
