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And They Danced by the Light of the Moon
Heather O'Neill revisits her award-winning novel Lullabies for Little Criminals with a trip back in time to Val des Loups, the town Jules was born in, and where he met Baby's mother, Manon. This story first appeared in the July/August 2012 issue of The Walrus magazine.
50 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
560 people want to read
About the author
Heather O'Neill
74 books2,675 followersHeather O'Neill was born in Montreal and attended McGill University.
She published her debut novel, Lullabies for Little Criminals, in 2006. The novel won the Canada Reads competition (2007) and was awarded the Hugh Maclennan Award (2007). It was nominated for eight other awards included the Orange Prize, the Governor General's Award and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize. It was an international bestseller.
Her books The Girl Who Was Saturday Night (2014) and Daydreams of Angels (2015) were both shortlisted for the Giller Prize.
Her third novel The Lonely Hearts Hotel will be published in February 2017.
Her credits also include a screenplay, a book of poetry, and contributions to The New York Times Magazine, This American Life, The Globe and Mail, Elle Magazine, The Walrus and Rookie Magazine.
She published her debut novel, Lullabies for Little Criminals, in 2006. The novel won the Canada Reads competition (2007) and was awarded the Hugh Maclennan Award (2007). It was nominated for eight other awards included the Orange Prize, the Governor General's Award and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize. It was an international bestseller.
Her books The Girl Who Was Saturday Night (2014) and Daydreams of Angels (2015) were both shortlisted for the Giller Prize.
Her third novel The Lonely Hearts Hotel will be published in February 2017.
Her credits also include a screenplay, a book of poetry, and contributions to The New York Times Magazine, This American Life, The Globe and Mail, Elle Magazine, The Walrus and Rookie Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 1, 2017
It seems I can't ever read anything by Heather O'Neill and not instantly wish she has written more.
She so expertly and unapologetically paints the bleakness of rural Quebec, and it was great to revisit Val-des-Loups which she first introduced us to in her debut novel - Lullabies for Little Criminals.
Her characters are always brash and imaginative and they have a strong independent streak which creates for great reading.
Keep doing what you do Heather O'Neill - but can you please do a lot more of it!
She so expertly and unapologetically paints the bleakness of rural Quebec, and it was great to revisit Val-des-Loups which she first introduced us to in her debut novel - Lullabies for Little Criminals.
Her characters are always brash and imaginative and they have a strong independent streak which creates for great reading.
Keep doing what you do Heather O'Neill - but can you please do a lot more of it!
June 12, 2017
Everything Heather O'Neill writes is gold. She brings a refreshingly honest and unflattering perspective of our lives as Canadians up for for everyone to see. There are no canoes or hockey games anywhere. Canadians are shitty people too, sometimes it's our own fault. Finally.
January 5, 2016
A lovely backstory to a book I really enjoy. There are some really fine lines and turn of phrase in this book that I really enjoyed.
Unrelated to the story - this was also the first time I had electronically checked out a book from my library! What fun
Unrelated to the story - this was also the first time I had electronically checked out a book from my library! What fun
November 16, 2018
Heather O'Neill has a wonderful way with words. This is a delightful short story. Not delightful like it makes you happy, because it is not happy, but delightful like the words dance around on the page, because they are magical. Next stop: Lullabies for Little Criminals!
December 31, 2024
She has the best way with words
"Manon liked how the word “fuck” sounded when it came out of Jules’s mouth. It was like something shiny and wondrous that lit up her whole being. It was like a little piece of dirt in the oyster’s mouth that would turn into a pearl."
"Manon liked how the word “fuck” sounded when it came out of Jules’s mouth. It was like something shiny and wondrous that lit up her whole being. It was like a little piece of dirt in the oyster’s mouth that would turn into a pearl."
February 26, 2025
the only fitting conception of Baby of Lullabies for Little Criminals fame with new life and love amongst all the grimy chaos. there’s beauty in everything, everything and the owl and the pussy-cat danced in that house jules was supposed to be house-sitting for indeed
October 31, 2020
Knew before beginning that it was a short story but it still ended too soon!
August 20, 2023
I just love her writing. This is a great little back story to one of my favourite books. I just wish it was longer!
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March 19, 2025I loved Lullabies for Little Criminals, so this was a nice chunk of sweet nostalgia. Heather O’Neill writes about Quebec in a way that is very dear to me.
February 14, 2017
A little bit about our friend Jules, the dad in Lullabies.
November 3, 2015
A simple backstory with clean, uncomplicated prose. It's not particularly clever or imaginative, but it is well written.
December 16, 2015
Just an average read. Anticipated more
June 20, 2016
I just love her writing. This is a great little back story to one of my favourite books. I just wish it was longer!
April 6, 2017
Short, but very good prequel to the Lullabies. It fills the gaps at the beginning of the other story.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews