Items related to Grievance

Alexander, Marguerite Grievance ISBN 13: 9780007213566

Grievance - Hardcover

 
9780007213566: Grievance
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 

A moving novel about the relationships within families and between friends, told through the touching story of a young woman starting out on a new life in London, on a quest to escape the claustrophobia of her small hometown.

Nora Doyle, a young Irish girl, has come to university in London. A loving and idyllic childhood was brutally cut short when she was forced to assume the responsibility of looking after her Downs Syndrome brother while her parents, devastated by his birth, retreated into their collapsed lives. Only Nora gave her brother the love, care and attention he needed, but she had to endure the watchful eye of her bullying, dogmatic father and the resentment of her crushed, self-pitying mother.

To escape the small-town claustrophobia of a Northern Ireland battered by political and religious divisions, Nora begins a new life in London. In excited anticipation of finding friends and caring adults to replace her own lack of parental love and normal family life, she instead becomes the obsession of her narcissistic lecturer and finds it hard to connect with her peers who fail to understand her vulnerable reserve. Nora finally realises that she can escape from her family, but her behaviour and relationships with those around her continue to be shaped by her upbringing.

Written with sensitivity and a rare emotional insight, and cutting back and forth in time between Nora’s life in London and the sadness-tinged world of her childhood, this is a richly woven story about how we make connections and what it is that severs them.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

‘The harrowing experience of a child growing up in a family made brutal by social shame is powerfully rendered...there is an aching truthfulness in the writing...“Grievance” will stay with me for its emotional truth...We shall certainly hear more of Marguerite Alexander.’ Independent

‘“Grievance” is a campus novel with a difference. Its beautifully nuanced account of Nora’s moral and intellectual education and in particular its vivid, unsentimental portrait of Felix for which Marguerite Alexander acknowledges the inspiration of her own son, make for a debut of promise and distinction.’ Daily Mail

‘It is the most riveting debut novel – or indeed any novel – that I have read for a long, long time. This is a deeply human, hugely readable story and I’m telling everyone I meet how great it is.’ Mavis Cheek

Synopsis:
This is a moving and compelling novel about the relationships within families and those among friends told through the touching story of a young woman starting out on a new life. Nora Doyle, a young Irish girl, has come to university in London. A loving and idyllic childhood was brutally cut short when she was forced to assume the responsibility of looking after her Downs syndrome brother while her parents, devastated by his birth, retreated into their collapsed lives. Only Nora gave her brother the love, care and attention he needed, but she had to endure the watchful eye of her bullying, dogmatic father and the resentment of her crushed, self-pitying mother. To escape the small-town claustrophobia of a Northern Ireland battered by political and religious divisions, Nora begins a new life in London. In excited anticipation of finding friends and caring adults to replace her own lack of parental love and normal family life, she instead becomes the obsession of her narcissistic lecturer and finds it hard to connect with her peers who fail to understand her vulnerable reserve.

Nora finally realises that she can escape from her family, but her behaviour and relationships with those around her continue to be shaped by her upbringing. Written with sensitivity and a rare emotional insight, and cutting back and forth in time between Nora's life in London and the sadness-tinged world of her childhood, this is a richly woven story about how we make connections and what it is that severs them.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherFourth Estate
  • Publication date2006
  • ISBN 10 0007213565
  • ISBN 13 9780007213566
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages384
Buy Used
Condition: Very Good
A moving novel about the relationships... Learn more about this copy

Shipping: £ 4.80
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Destination, rates & speeds

Add to Basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780007213573: Grievance

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780007213573
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2007
Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Marguerite Alexander
ISBN 10: 0007213565 ISBN 13: 9780007213566
Used Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
WorldofBooks
(Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. A moving novel about the relationships within families and between friends, told through the touching story of a young woman starting out on a new life in London, on a quest to escape the claustrophobia of her small hometown. Nora Doyle, a young Irish girl, has come to university in London. A loving and idyllic childhood was brutally cut short when she was forced to assume the responsibility of looking after her Downs Syndrome brother while her parents, devastated by his birth, retreated into their collapsed lives. Only Nora gave her brother the love, care and attention he needed, but she had to endure the watchful eye of her bullying, dogmatic father and the resentment of her crushed, self-pitying mother. To escape the small-town claustrophobia of a Northern Ireland battered by political and religious divisions, Nora begins a new life in London. In excited anticipation of finding friends and caring adults to replace her own lack of parental love and normal family life, she instead becomes the obsession of her narcissistic lecturer and finds it hard to connect with her peers who fail to understand her vulnerable reserve. Nora finally realises that she can escape from her family, but her behaviour and relationships with those around her continue to be shaped by her upbringing. Written with sensitivity and a rare emotional insight, and cutting back and forth in time between Nora's life in London and the sadness-tinged world of her childhood, this is a richly woven story about how we make connections and what it is that severs them. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR002262895

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 3.16
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 4.80
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Marguerite Alexander
Published by Fourth Estate (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007213565 ISBN 13: 9780007213566
Used Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
AwesomeBooks
(Wallingford, United Kingdom)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Grievance This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780007213566

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 4.63
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 4.49
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Marguerite Alexander
Published by Fourth Estate 02/05/2006 (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007213565 ISBN 13: 9780007213566
Used Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Bahamut Media
(Reading, United Kingdom)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780007213566

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 4.63
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 6.98
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Alexander, Marguerite
ISBN 10: 0007213565 ISBN 13: 9780007213566
Used Hardcover First Edition Quantity: 1
Seller:
S.Carter
(NEWPORT, United Kingdom)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. UK1ST.EDIITON.1ST.IMPRESSION.A FINE HARDBACK IN A FINE DUSTWRAPPER.15/G Language: eng Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng 0.0 Language: eng Language: eng. Seller Inventory # 6UUG/G

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 5
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 12.90
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Alexander, Marguerite
Published by Fourth Estate (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007213565 ISBN 13: 9780007213566
Used Hardcover First Edition Quantity: 1
Seller:
Chapter 1
(Johannesburg, GAU, South Africa)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. light shelf wear on jacket. light scarring on the front end page. a clean copy, excellent binding. may require extra postage. [SK]. Our orders are shipped using tracked courier delivery services. Seller Inventory # 44tx

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 4.08
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 15
From South Africa to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds