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A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing

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A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing

By: Eimear McBride
Narrated by: Eimear McBride
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About this listen

Winner of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2014

Winner of The Desmond Elliot Prize 2014

Winner of the inaugural Goldsmiths Prize 2013

Winner of the Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction 2014

Shortlisted for the inaugural Folio Prize 2014

A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing is an unforgettable novel from a major new literary talent. Eimear McBride's award-winning debut novel tells the story of a young woman's relationship with her brother, and the long shadow cast by his childhood brain tumour. It is a shocking and intimate insight into the thoughts, feelings, and chaotic sexuality of a vulnerable and isolated protagonist.

The author's spellbinding reading illuminates every nuance of the text with feeling and sympathy. The listener enters the narrator's head, experiencing her world at first hand. This isn't always comfortable - but it is always a revelation.

©2013 Eimear McBride (P)2014 Faber Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Thought-Provoking Tear-jerking

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Critic reviews

"You only need to read the first paragraph of McBride's debut novel to know you are reading something special. She builds up images impressionistically over paragraphs and pages, and her writing has such glorious cadence that it should be read aloud." ( The Times)
"A virtuosic debut: subversive, passionate, and darkly alchemical. Read it and be changed." (Eleanor Catton, author of The Luminaries)
"Eimear McBride is that old-fashioned thing, a genius... The adventurous reader will find that they have a real book on their hands, a live one, a book that is not like any other... [it] is an instant classic." (Anne Enright, Guardian)
"A writer of remarkable power and originality." (David Collard, Times Literary Supplement)
"A brutal and brilliant debut... This book will arouse powerful emotions in anyone who accords it the respect of reading with attention." (John P. O'Sullivan, Sunday Times Ireland)
"A remarkable achievement." (John Boland, Irish Independent)
"There's an immediacy, an emotional directness as the narrator rails against a frustrating, unfeeling world. Brave, bold, brilliant." ( Daily Mail)
"Ten pages in and all the bells start ringing. It explodes into your chest." (Caitlin Moran)
"Soul-wrenchingly sad." ( Financial Times)
"McBride weaves something dazzling... She set out to pick up the experimental modernist baton from James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, and she has done just that." ( Observer)
"It truly is one of the most extraordinary things I've read in the last year." ( Harper’s Bazaar)
Most relevant  
Wow. I’ve never heard anything like it. A stream of consciousness that tells a heart-breaking account of a young woman’s life. It’s lyrical, poetic and utterly unique.
Listeners may take a while to get used to the style but DO stick with it, it’s worth the initial effort to listen to the words tumble and roll around, sometimes staccato and brittle, at other times gentle and yielding.
This is a work of art - the words are the inks that splatter and splash the story-soaked pictures into your mind where you will return again and again to marvel at their brilliance.

A literary work of art.

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Have not read another book quite like it. Brilliant! Difficult subject matter, but the biggest challenge comes from the prose itself. The writing style will not suit all, but persevere, it's worth it.

Poetry......

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So touching and sad. A very unique way of writing and was great to be read by the author.

Excellent.

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Such an unusual way of writing and telling a story that l found it completely engrossing. Sad and beautiful all at once

Astoundingly brilliant

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Despite it being deeply uncomfortable, I was captivated by this book. Incredible audio performance from the author herself - I recommend the audiobook to fully appreciate the style of this book. Not for the faint of heart, due to its merciless honesty, but do give this a read if you appreciate great writing

Ingenious writing- disturbing yet fascinating

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Where does A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In terms of the reading, this is one of the best I've heard.

Would you be willing to try another book from Eimear McBride? Why or why not?

On the basis of the excellence of the reading, I'd try another. However, the content of this one requires a strong stomach and some persistence. This is not light-weight material.

What does Eimear McBride bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

An amazingly fluent and rhythmic reading that gains momentum and emotion as it nears the end.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It should be listened to in one reading, but it is a grim story which is horrifying as much as it is beautiful and moving.

Any additional comments?

I didn't think I would like this, but it is difficult not to acknowledge how difficult this book must have been to write. While I did not like the story, I cannot help but admire the skill with which it is written as well as the way it is delivered in this very unique reading by the author herself.

Extraordinary reading - not for the faint-hearted

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I loved listening to this book. Not always an easy subject but the way it is read by Eimar McBride makes it less aggressive than I think it could be perceived on reading.
It's written like a stream of consciousness which I always struggle to understand or enjoy. I think if I'd read the book I would have given up but Eimar emphasises all the right areas to make it easier to decipher. If it's not something you'd usually listen to or a book you've struggled with, I'd say embrace it and go with the flow of the words, that's the best way to get the most from it and enjoy it. Well worth a listen.

Stream of Consciousness

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Definitely not a book to listen to if you're feeling low. The story is so sad but the writing is painfully beautiful. It took a little while to get into the style of the narrative but then it just flowed. It is almost like a poem and it was recited rather than narrated, which really brought it to life.
It's a book I'm glad I listened to but now I need to listen to something a bit lighter.

Challenging but beautifully written and narrated

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it is one of my favourite books, although the story make me feel sick and way too philosophical. I loved McBride's reading. it sounded better than in my head. I am happy i decided to listen to it.

tantalising

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An amazing performance of a disturbing stream of consciousness tale of one girl's growth in small town Ireland. Horribly real.

Disturbing, compulsive

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