The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue

Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue | Edna O'Brien

Having finished the third novel & the epilogue in O'Brien's trilogy this morning, I am at a loss at how to adequately review it, especially as I didn't post a review for the second book in the trilogy. So I have decided to list a few random thoughts on the trilogy:
*The final book in the trilogy is incredible. It's my favorite of the three & reviewers who shied away bc it was ā€less rollickingā€* (NY Times) seem to have missed the point
(cont)

vivastory The second book, ā€The Lonely Girls, was my least favorite of the trilogy but was necessary overall esp as O'Brien was dealing with the backlash from the first book.*The Lonely Girls is where my feelings about Baba began to shift. I found her maddening in book 1.*This is a rare example of a work where the epilogue adds to the story.*Kate & Baba are two of my favorite characters that I have read this year & I won't be forgetting either one anytime 9mo

vivastory soon. They are not ā€perfectā€ characters, but they are interesting characters & that is what I want in a story. *I'm no expert on contemporary Irish fiction, but I think it is safe to say that O'Brien's influence is vast. Hard to imagine a John Boyne or a Sally Rooney without her blazing the way. 9mo

BarbaraBB So cool that you read this trilogy. I never did while I read some of her later works and agree that she must have a big impact on current Irish fiction. 9mo

vivastory @BarbaraBB I read one book in the trilogy per month over the past 3 months or so. Most of them are more novella length. I added a couple of her other works after I finished today & am really looking forward to reading those. 9mo

BarbaraBB A deep dive into Edna O‘Brien. Impressive 9mo

63 likes1 stack add5 comments

emilyhaldi

The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue: (The Country Girl; The Lonely Girl; Girls in Their Married Bliss; Epilogue) | Edna O'Brien

bailed

I started book two but lost interest after 3 pages... book one in this trilogy was enough for me. And vacation is too short to spend time on lackluster reading!!

Suet624 I have really started to sour on this author. 4y

LeahBergen Well, that sucks. I thought I‘d like this one. 4y

Mdargusch Move on! 4y

Reviewsbylola Omg I almost bought this. Glad I didn‘t. 4y

76 likes4 comments

emilyhaldi

The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue: (The Country Girl; The Lonely Girl; Girls in Their Married Bliss; Epilogue) | Edna O'Brien

Today was a good day ā€ļø¸
However, I finished book 1 of this trilogy and am still vacillating between enjoying it and feeling a bit "mehā€¯. The character development of Kate and Baba is quite interesting though so I think I will keep with it.

BarbaraBB I always feel a bit meh with O‘Brien. Your view is fantastic, where are you vacationing? š˛š´š¨¹ 4y

Kalalalatja That view š¨š¨ 4y

LeahBergen Ohhh, lovely! And your tan looks so dark! š® I have this trilogy (TBR) so I‘m hoping you enjoy it. š¤˛š¸» 4y

See All 8 Comments

Mrs_B Stunning view! 4y

youneverarrived What a view! 4y

emilyhaldi Oh! @BarbaraBB what have you read by her? I'm supposing that means the next two parts of the trilogy might not exceed "meh" ? We are on the Caribbean island of St Kitts and it‘s lovely! The resort is very secluded and quiet... just how I like it ?? (edited) 4y

BarbaraBB That sounds so exotic! Perfect! I read The Little Red Chairs and In the Forest. Both have great premises but for me didn‘t deliver in the end. 4y

Reviewsbylola I have been meaning to buy this. Maybe I shouldn‘t b 4y

85 likes8 comments

LeahBergen

The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue: (The Country Girl; The Lonely Girl; Girls in Their Married Bliss; Epilogue) | Edna O'Brien

Found at today‘s book sale:

Yet ANOTHER author I‘ve been meaning to read for years. Any fans of this trilogy?

batsy Nice find! I've been meaning to read her, particularly this trilogy, for years too š‰ 5y

readordierachel I'm loving that cover! 5y

BarbaraBB No, I‘ve been meaning to read this too for years. I did read and enjoyed this one though.

In the Forest

(edited) 5y

See All 20 Comments

CarolynM I tried The Country Girls once, but couldn't get into it. Might have just been a case of poor timing, but I've never tried again. 5y

Theaelizabet I read the first one. Works if you keep the publication date and the fall out that occurred in mind (condemnation from the pulpit, book burnings, etc.). The story seems so tame now. 5y

Lindy I read the first one and loved it. š‘¨ 5y

Reviewsbylola I‘ve been meaning to read her too! 5y

saresmoore I‘ll jump on the good intentions bandwagon. Beautiful edition! 5y

LeahBergen @batsy Buddy read in seven years? š† 5y

LeahBergen @readordierachel It‘s kinda groovy, isn‘t it? š„ 5y

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I always thought that one sounded great, too! 5y

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh oh! š³ 5y

LeahBergen @Theaelizabet I‘d always heard about how scandalized the Irish public was about this one. š¤·š¸»ā€¨ā™€ļø¸ 5y

LeahBergen @Lindy Oh good! š‘¨š¸» 5y

LeahBergen @Reviewsbylola @saresmoore Well, let me know if either of you ever feel like reading it! 5y

BarbaraBB @Reviewsbylola @saresmoore @LeahBergen If so, I‘m in too š€ 5y

Leftcoastzen On my TBR forever! 5y

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB š‘¨š¸» 5y

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen Right? š™„ 5y

emilyhaldi Yes, need to read this trilogy!!! Preferably that edition .... 5y

85 likes2 stack adds20 comments

vivastory

The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue: (The Country Girl; The Lonely Girl; Girls in Their Married Bliss; Epilogue) | Edna O'Brien

O'Brien's trilogy, published in the 60s, was the first post WWII fiction by an Irish woman to address social & sexual issues openly. Facing backlash from both the public & the clergy, all three of the books were banned & was even burned in public, including in her home town. I have not yet read this trilogy, but am hoping to soon. I was deeply impressed by her book The Little Red Chairs. #BadGirls @Mdargusch @emilyhaldi @Reviewsbylola @Cinfhen

vivastory #AnglophileApril 5y

Leftcoastzen Excellent choice! Still on my TBR 5y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen So many excellent books, so little time! 5y

See All 9 Comments

Theaelizabet I‘ve read the first one, The Country Girls. Must have been mind-blowing for its day. 5y

Tove_Reads Really enjoyed the first two, but then the third... 5y

Mdargusch Sounds like a perfect pick! 5y

Reviewsbylola This trilogy sounds awesome! 5y

emilyhaldi Stacking the hell out of these!!! 5y

vivastory @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi I have high hopes for them. I'm hoping to start the trilogy in a couple of months. 5y

76 likes1 stack add9 comments

cornfedwellread

The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue: (The Country Girl; The Lonely Girl; Girls in Their Married Bliss; Epilogue) | Edna O'Brien

@Lacythebookworm Thank you so much for the beautiful package! I wish that I had been able to do more with yours. Today was pretty rough, so it was nice to be able to come home and open this. #blanketandabookswap

Lacythebookworm Sorry to hear you had a bad day, but glad you had some surprises at home! Were the other goodies in the package as well? š 6y

cornfedwellread @Lacythebookworm yes, thank you! 6y

cornfedwellread @Lacythebookworm I'm sorry I wasn't able to do more with your package, but I've been unemployed for about two months now, so I don't have much money to spend. :/ 6y

15 likes3 comments

vivastory

The Country Girls: Three Novels and an Epilogue: (The Country Girl; The Lonely Girl; Girls in Their Married Bliss; Epilogue) | Edna O'Brien

I apologize for flooding your feeds, but I have a massive #bookhaul Thank Buddha for Holiday bonuses! The Gaiman/Riddell 3 book set is currently only $9 on Amazon!

TricksyTails Wow! Great haul! š¨ā™�ļø¸š¨ā™�ļø¸ 6y

LeahBergen I get this calendar every year. š‘¨š¸» 6y

vivastory @TricksyTails Thanks! I'm pretty happy! 6y

vivastory @LeahBergen This is my second year. Will definitely be getting it each year, because it's not like my TBR isn't already out of control š¬š‚ 6y

LeahBergen @vivastory I hear ya! š† 6y

62 likes5 comments

Leniverse

The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue | Edna O'Brien

The third book is partially narrated by Baba, which gives a more nuanced impression of her. She's still a self-centred bully, but she's also unapologetic, uncomplaining, sardonic, and rebellious. Her impression of the others tally with mine. All the characters here are flawed. I feel like I've been sucker punched repeatedly in the stomach. Breathless, stunned, bleak. Only the epilogue left. I need a drink.

24 likes1 stack add

Leniverse

The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue | Edna O'Brien

Going into the the third book! I preferred book 2 to the first one. And I have rarely been so afraid for a character! (Not in the thriller sense of fearing she'd get killed. Just... other fears.) The middle part of the book had me feeling like this: š³š¬š�š¤š°(simultaneously).
By the end there was a bit of blessed comedy and both narrator Kate and I are feeling a bit hopeful. Will our hopes get crushed? (Don't tell me!)

merelybookish Your reviews of these books have definitely piqued my interest! 7y

vivastory I've only read one Edna O'Brien book (Red Chairs) but I really liked it 7y

Leniverse @merelybookish @vivastory I think this the female counterpart to Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man". Not in terms of writing style, but in terms of growing up in a parochial, limited and limiting, Ireland and wanting a wider scope for life. 7y

vivastory There's an edition being published this year with all 3. I'm going to pick it up when it's released. 7y

Leniverse @vivastory Yeah. I bought a used copy, also with all three, but they are a bit hard to come by now. A new edition or reprinting is definitely due! Glad they're doing one. 7y

30 likes2 stack adds5 comments

Leniverse

The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue | Edna O'Brien

Started the 2nd book and I still hate Baba and the MC is still a tool. Was getting a bit bored. And then, bam! Holy hell and brimstone, Ireland! š³š¤š§I spent several chapters barely breathing and now it's 2:30 am. I'm at a relatively safe place, but I'm sure it will go wrong again soon. Need to stop and let the outrage and adrenaline wear off so I can sleep.

25 likes

Leniverse

The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue | Edna O'Brien

I've finished the first book. Baba is slightly less cruel, Kate is still easily led. Book ended rather abruptly. Not on a cliffhanger, but certainly with enough lose ends.

I can't believe this book was banned and burned due to the depictions of female sexuality. The female sexuality is sadly ignorant and naive in this book. The male, on the other hand, is a predatory sleaze-bag sexuality. (Also, there are no actual sex scenes.)

24 likes

Leniverse

The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue | Edna O'Brien

Only 35 pages in, but I can tell I'm going to have to take this one in instalments with something happy between each book. I desperately hope that Kate (the redhead) will grow a backbone and I want to slap her "friend" Baba silly. I know they're both victims of their circumstances, but Baba's behaviour towards Kate upsets me more than the alcoholic parents and sleaze ball neighbours.

quirkyreader Does this include "The Girl With Green Eyes"? 7y

JenP I didn't really care for this one. 7y

Leniverse @quirkyreader Yes, that's the second book. Except here it's called "The Lonely Girl" for some reason. 7y

Leniverse @JenP What didn't you like? Writing style? The characters? I'm finding it gripping so far, but it's still early days. 7y

JenP @Leniverse the content, plot. The writing was good. I'd have to go back and look at my review. I didn't hate it but I didn't like it enough to keep reading past the first book. 7y

26 likes5 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books