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Life is Local
The Cult Debut Novel from Des McAnulty
Motherwell 2002. Whilst trying to come to terms with the bizarre suicide of his ex-girlfriend Clare, College student Stevie Costello dreams of a better life far away from his hum-drum existence. Before Stevie can change his life, he must first contend with his straight-laced boss Alastair, whose marriage to the breathtaking Marie is on the verge of collapse.
Stevie also finds himself caught between best friends, Stubbsy and Lisa, whose hatred for each other explodes one night into an intoxicating love under a blazing Motherwell sun.
Can Stevie somehow shake off the shackles of his surroundings or will he finally realise that love and life really is local…
Inspired by the music of Mogwai, The Delgados and Morrissey; as well as James Kelman's 'How Late it Was How late’ and James Robertson's 'The Testament to Gideon Mack'
Praise for Life Is Local:
"Des gives each character motives without judgement, merely explanation and leaves it to the reader to decide on the characters' worth." - Mark Wilson, author of Naebody's Hero
"McAnulty flits in and out of first and third person perspectives with ease, and has created lots of characters who are likeable and funny. The affection he lathers upon the leads is infectious." - Ryan Bracha, author of Strangers are Just Friends You Haven't Killed Yet.
"This book is clever but not in a way that makes you too aware of it. You are just drawn into the story, the people, the area and the emotions. It is violent and disgusting, earthy and,in its own way , spiritual. I loved it!" - Colette Brown, author of Weegie Tarot.
What the Readers Think:
"This is a brilliant book, the most enjoyable book I've read in a while.The characters just leapt off the page, and I could imagine this as a storyline for a film. It is well written, flows well, easy to read, and I look forward to reading more from Des McAnulty."
"Read it in one sitting - it drew me in and wouldn't let me go. Thoroughly good read although it made me shed a tear in the middle."
Motherwell 2002. Whilst trying to come to terms with the bizarre suicide of his ex-girlfriend Clare, College student Stevie Costello dreams of a better life far away from his hum-drum existence. Before Stevie can change his life, he must first contend with his straight-laced boss Alastair, whose marriage to the breathtaking Marie is on the verge of collapse.
Stevie also finds himself caught between best friends, Stubbsy and Lisa, whose hatred for each other explodes one night into an intoxicating love under a blazing Motherwell sun.
Can Stevie somehow shake off the shackles of his surroundings or will he finally realise that love and life really is local…
Inspired by the music of Mogwai, The Delgados and Morrissey; as well as James Kelman's 'How Late it Was How late’ and James Robertson's 'The Testament to Gideon Mack'
Praise for Life Is Local:
"Des gives each character motives without judgement, merely explanation and leaves it to the reader to decide on the characters' worth." - Mark Wilson, author of Naebody's Hero
"McAnulty flits in and out of first and third person perspectives with ease, and has created lots of characters who are likeable and funny. The affection he lathers upon the leads is infectious." - Ryan Bracha, author of Strangers are Just Friends You Haven't Killed Yet.
"This book is clever but not in a way that makes you too aware of it. You are just drawn into the story, the people, the area and the emotions. It is violent and disgusting, earthy and,in its own way , spiritual. I loved it!" - Colette Brown, author of Weegie Tarot.
What the Readers Think:
"This is a brilliant book, the most enjoyable book I've read in a while.The characters just leapt off the page, and I could imagine this as a storyline for a film. It is well written, flows well, easy to read, and I look forward to reading more from Des McAnulty."
"Read it in one sitting - it drew me in and wouldn't let me go. Thoroughly good read although it made me shed a tear in the middle."
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2013
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 8, 2012
So i got this book for a couple of reasons...one was it was written by a friends friend and second cos it was free. So here is the most honest review of a book you will ever see....
Bloody brilliant!! I seriously loved this book. Now don't get me wrong, its not fabulously written, needs a lot of editing but look past that to the story and it a lovely simple story which touches your heart. I loved the characters and the differences in them to others but the likeness to someone you know. I loved the descriptions of Motherwell and i really really loved the use of dialect, which a lot of people are afraid to use.
Give this lad a publishing house or at least an editor and this book could easily stand next to some of the best authors. Waiting for the next one now :)
Bloody brilliant!! I seriously loved this book. Now don't get me wrong, its not fabulously written, needs a lot of editing but look past that to the story and it a lovely simple story which touches your heart. I loved the characters and the differences in them to others but the likeness to someone you know. I loved the descriptions of Motherwell and i really really loved the use of dialect, which a lot of people are afraid to use.
Give this lad a publishing house or at least an editor and this book could easily stand next to some of the best authors. Waiting for the next one now :)
August 15, 2013
Scottish authors are by far and away my favourite breed. Ask me who I'm into and I'll throw back the likes of Chris Brookmyre, David Ross, Mark Wilson and above all others, Irvine Welsh. The tales they tell are usually honest, uncompromising, outlandish, hilarious and violent. More often than not they are all of the above at the same time, with a great taste in music to boot, and for the most part Des McAnulty stands shoulder to shoulder with all of the aforementioned authors in this debut novel. In short, I liked this book a lot.
Our main man is Stevie Costello. An intelligent, ambitious and good looking guy with a close knit circle of friends including the loyal hard man Stubbsy, and sisterly flatmate Lisa. He's still reeling from the suicide of his ex-girlfriend Clare, the abandonment of he and his dad by his mother, and then the subsequent emmigration to Australia by his dad. Costello ambles through life with a gnawing sense that he's yet to hit the pinnacle of his existence, and that he must leave his hometown of Motherwell in order to achieve it. He feels dragged down by the place, much to the chagrin of Stubbsy, a man who sees the romance in every little dank street and corner. Dotted in and around the story are Alistair, the workaholic eunuch and his stunning but sexually frustrated wife Marie, cheeky wideboys Eddie and Gerry, and incidentals such as Stevie's counsellor and others that help to put more meat on its bones. Stevie is a man that struggles to show emotion, and it's this that drives the plot along, added to the fact that he's an apparent bad luck charm for all of his friends but he's determined to change that, one way or another.
Okay, so Life is Local is essentially a love letter to Motherwell. This is another thing I like about Scottish authors, and Des McAnulty is no different. He writes so unashamedly with both affection and disdain in equal measures for his hometown, and it becomes as much a character as the living breathing and speaking people that wander in and out of this novel. It feels almost as if the town is the embarassing family member that you're totally entitled to take the mickey out of, but woe betide an outsider who feels like they could do the same, because you'll defend that family member with your life. As far as the story goes, there's no major crime, no flying saucers, no talking trees. There's just life. McAnulty flits in and out of first and third person perspectives with ease, and has created lots of characters who are likeable and funny. The affection he lathers upon the leads is infectious, and whilst Stubbsy the hardman beats yet another victim to a pulp, you can't help but egg him on, for his motives feel selfless, and justified. I personally related to Stevie Costello a hell of a lot, but that's the beauty of it. Des McAnulty has created a character for everybody. The thoughts and dialogue are bang on the money, and nothing feels fake or forced. I could feel the influence of the likes of Irvine Welsh coursing through the veins of the book, and whilst that can only be a good thing, Life is Local has its own voice, and its own opinions.
My only gripe is the twist. I won't spoil anything for future readers, but there's a twist that, although it came totally out of the blue and straight from leftfield, which deserves kudos in itself, it seemed unnecessary and implausible compared to the rest of the story. Don't get me wrong, I really like implausible, but it seemed out of place for this reader with the rest of the story, and it left me feeling somewhat deflated after such a great book.
Overall then? Brilliant. Des McAnulty has a great style, a way with words, and a deep affection for his hometown. The twist lets it down, but because the rest of the book is so good, I'm not going to let it spoil my day. Seriously, pick it up and fall in love with Motherwell.
Our main man is Stevie Costello. An intelligent, ambitious and good looking guy with a close knit circle of friends including the loyal hard man Stubbsy, and sisterly flatmate Lisa. He's still reeling from the suicide of his ex-girlfriend Clare, the abandonment of he and his dad by his mother, and then the subsequent emmigration to Australia by his dad. Costello ambles through life with a gnawing sense that he's yet to hit the pinnacle of his existence, and that he must leave his hometown of Motherwell in order to achieve it. He feels dragged down by the place, much to the chagrin of Stubbsy, a man who sees the romance in every little dank street and corner. Dotted in and around the story are Alistair, the workaholic eunuch and his stunning but sexually frustrated wife Marie, cheeky wideboys Eddie and Gerry, and incidentals such as Stevie's counsellor and others that help to put more meat on its bones. Stevie is a man that struggles to show emotion, and it's this that drives the plot along, added to the fact that he's an apparent bad luck charm for all of his friends but he's determined to change that, one way or another.
Okay, so Life is Local is essentially a love letter to Motherwell. This is another thing I like about Scottish authors, and Des McAnulty is no different. He writes so unashamedly with both affection and disdain in equal measures for his hometown, and it becomes as much a character as the living breathing and speaking people that wander in and out of this novel. It feels almost as if the town is the embarassing family member that you're totally entitled to take the mickey out of, but woe betide an outsider who feels like they could do the same, because you'll defend that family member with your life. As far as the story goes, there's no major crime, no flying saucers, no talking trees. There's just life. McAnulty flits in and out of first and third person perspectives with ease, and has created lots of characters who are likeable and funny. The affection he lathers upon the leads is infectious, and whilst Stubbsy the hardman beats yet another victim to a pulp, you can't help but egg him on, for his motives feel selfless, and justified. I personally related to Stevie Costello a hell of a lot, but that's the beauty of it. Des McAnulty has created a character for everybody. The thoughts and dialogue are bang on the money, and nothing feels fake or forced. I could feel the influence of the likes of Irvine Welsh coursing through the veins of the book, and whilst that can only be a good thing, Life is Local has its own voice, and its own opinions.
My only gripe is the twist. I won't spoil anything for future readers, but there's a twist that, although it came totally out of the blue and straight from leftfield, which deserves kudos in itself, it seemed unnecessary and implausible compared to the rest of the story. Don't get me wrong, I really like implausible, but it seemed out of place for this reader with the rest of the story, and it left me feeling somewhat deflated after such a great book.
Overall then? Brilliant. Des McAnulty has a great style, a way with words, and a deep affection for his hometown. The twist lets it down, but because the rest of the book is so good, I'm not going to let it spoil my day. Seriously, pick it up and fall in love with Motherwell.
July 15, 2012
It's not often I finish one book from an author and delve straight into another ( the last time I did so was with Jonathan Mayberry's wonderful Rot & Ruin books)' but as I enjoyed Des's Novella "STRAIGHT" so much, don't mind risking being labelled a fanboy when the writing is this good, and had time on my hands I went in with hungry eyes (not the Patrck Swayze sort). .
Now I'm not suggesting that McAnulty is anywhere near as accomplished as Mayberry, but in formulating flawed, weak very human characters whom he allows to grow, fail and shine throughout the book, Des shares some of Mayberry's skill.
Presenting us with complex (in other words true to life) characters whom we like, dislike, love, hate and pity; Des skillfully peels away at his characters, exposing unsuspected depths in each one. He gives each characters motives without judgement, merely explanation and leaves it to the reader to decide on the characters' worth.
Stubbsy is a fine example. Part Begbie, part Juice Terry, part Sam from Quantum Leap and the most complex character in the book. It's ultimate hero for me, and I'm hoping for some early tales of the big man in future.
Des writes in the Scottish tongue (first person), in the style of Welsh I suppose, but switched between a very Scottish narrative and a more toned down version as suits the characters' mental state at the time of the narrative. I've never been a fan of this in books and much prefer when writers keep the accented or colloquial phrases to the dialogue rather than narrative, but it never did Irvine any harm and it doesn't detract from Des's excellent story either. Merely a personal preference on my part. I think that Des is still experimenting with his preferred narrative and look forward to seeing how his work evolves in the next book.
Des's book is reflective of the culture it is set in (North Lanarkshire) in that it's rough, coarse In places, unpolished, unpretentious and beautiful in its heart and soul. It seems that Des loves and loathes his native county and presents it's ugliness and beauty in equally engaging doses.
I loved this book. A little polishing of its charming rough edges from an editor would quickly make a very good book into a potentially great book.
I'd recommend this book to anyone with a heart and a soul, this fine story with enrich both further.
Now I'm not suggesting that McAnulty is anywhere near as accomplished as Mayberry, but in formulating flawed, weak very human characters whom he allows to grow, fail and shine throughout the book, Des shares some of Mayberry's skill.
Presenting us with complex (in other words true to life) characters whom we like, dislike, love, hate and pity; Des skillfully peels away at his characters, exposing unsuspected depths in each one. He gives each characters motives without judgement, merely explanation and leaves it to the reader to decide on the characters' worth.
Stubbsy is a fine example. Part Begbie, part Juice Terry, part Sam from Quantum Leap and the most complex character in the book. It's ultimate hero for me, and I'm hoping for some early tales of the big man in future.
Des writes in the Scottish tongue (first person), in the style of Welsh I suppose, but switched between a very Scottish narrative and a more toned down version as suits the characters' mental state at the time of the narrative. I've never been a fan of this in books and much prefer when writers keep the accented or colloquial phrases to the dialogue rather than narrative, but it never did Irvine any harm and it doesn't detract from Des's excellent story either. Merely a personal preference on my part. I think that Des is still experimenting with his preferred narrative and look forward to seeing how his work evolves in the next book.
Des's book is reflective of the culture it is set in (North Lanarkshire) in that it's rough, coarse In places, unpolished, unpretentious and beautiful in its heart and soul. It seems that Des loves and loathes his native county and presents it's ugliness and beauty in equally engaging doses.
I loved this book. A little polishing of its charming rough edges from an editor would quickly make a very good book into a potentially great book.
I'd recommend this book to anyone with a heart and a soul, this fine story with enrich both further.
July 14, 2014
brilliant a real rollercoaster of a story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews