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Foreign Parts
From the beginning this novel's tension weaves warp and woof between hilarity and hell. Two women friends travel through France, encountering backroad-European misogynist crudities and the awkward experiences of being female, over thirty, with your teeth almost literally at your closest friend's throat, and "fancying men, but not liking them very much." Throughout Rona's random acts of innocent irritation and Cassie's caustic reactions, the funny and fumbled art of their compassion supersedes self-slaughter, stretches itself thin, but refuses to puncture, throughout years of pals together both on holiday and in troubled spirit.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Janice Galloway
53 books139 followersJanice Galloway was born in Ayrshire in 1955 where she worked as a teacher for ten years. Her first novel, The Trick is to keep Breathing, now widely considered to be a contemporary Scottish classic, was published in 1990. It was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel, Scottish First Book and Aer Lingus Awards, and won the MIND/Allan Lane Book of the Year. The stage adaptation has been performed at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, the Du Maurier Theatre, Toronto and the Royal Court in London. Her second book, Blood, shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize, People's Prize and Satire Award, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Her second novel, Foreign Parts, won the McVitie's Prize in 1994. That same year, and for all three books, she was recipient of the E M Forster Award, presented by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her story-collection, Where you find it, was published in 1996, followed by a series of collaborative installation texts for sculptor Anne Bevan, published by the Fruitmarket Gallery as Pipelines in 2000. Her only play, Fall, was performed in Edinburgh and Paris in spring, 1998. She was the recipient of a Creative Scotland Award in 2001.
Monster, Janice's opera by Sally Beamish, exploring the life of Mary Shelley, was world premiered by Scottish Opera in February 2002. Her third novel, Clara, based on the tempestuous life of pianist Clara Wieck Schumann, was published by Cape the same year and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize (Eurasia category) and the SAC Book of the Year, going on to win the Saltire Book of the Year. It was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 2003. Boy book see, a small book of "pieces and poems", also appeared in 2002. In 2003, Janice recorded Clara as Scottish RNIB's first audio book.
Rosengarten, Janice's 2003 collaboration with Anne Bevan exploring obstetric implements and the history of birthing, is now part of the premanent collection of the Hunterian Museum, and is also available as a book.
In 2006, Janice won the Robert Louis Stevenson Award to write at Hotel Chevillon in Grez sur Loing, and in 2007, was the first Scottish receipient of the Jura Writer’s Retreat.
Janice has also worked as a writer in residence for four Scottish prisons and was Times Literary Supplement Research Fellow to the British Library in 1999. Her radio work for the BBC has included the two-part series Life as a Man, a major 7-part series entitled Imagined Lives, In Wordsworth's Footsteps and Chopin’s Scottish Swansong.
Monster, Janice's opera by Sally Beamish, exploring the life of Mary Shelley, was world premiered by Scottish Opera in February 2002. Her third novel, Clara, based on the tempestuous life of pianist Clara Wieck Schumann, was published by Cape the same year and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize (Eurasia category) and the SAC Book of the Year, going on to win the Saltire Book of the Year. It was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 2003. Boy book see, a small book of "pieces and poems", also appeared in 2002. In 2003, Janice recorded Clara as Scottish RNIB's first audio book.
Rosengarten, Janice's 2003 collaboration with Anne Bevan exploring obstetric implements and the history of birthing, is now part of the premanent collection of the Hunterian Museum, and is also available as a book.
In 2006, Janice won the Robert Louis Stevenson Award to write at Hotel Chevillon in Grez sur Loing, and in 2007, was the first Scottish receipient of the Jura Writer’s Retreat.
Janice has also worked as a writer in residence for four Scottish prisons and was Times Literary Supplement Research Fellow to the British Library in 1999. Her radio work for the BBC has included the two-part series Life as a Man, a major 7-part series entitled Imagined Lives, In Wordsworth's Footsteps and Chopin’s Scottish Swansong.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 17, 2012
First, that pathetic excuse for a cover. With this cover, the publishers are saying: “Look! This isn’t a fragmented experimental narrative at all! It’s a light and airy road trip about two crazy ladies discovering their place in the world! It’s not difficult or challenging at all! Beach read! Beach read!” Nice try, Vintage. But Galloway’s second novel is an ambitious narrative flitting between first, second and third POVs, set in holidays past and present. Within these separate narratives, her language closely mimics the internal monologue of her characters Cassie and Nora as they embark upon a desperate voyage into middle age, along the lost highways of their sexuality and female identity, creating a breathtaking and claustrophobic portrait of two complex, literate women struggling (perhaps) with latent homosexuality. Galloway is arguably the strongest female voice in modern Scottish fiction (except Ali Smith) and this novel showcases the breadth of her technical expertise and defiantly original take on the female experience. As far as covers go, the Dalkey Archive edition cover is, naturally, the truest (if not the prettiest).
Secondly, to the six people who “reviewed” this novel unfavourably, no. Sorry, but no. You are not getting away with your lazy, half-cocked dismissals. Rebecca: Galloway is not chicklit. In chicklit books overbearing women with unlikely positions in advertising dream of being fucked senseless by Rochesters with their own TV companies. This is a passionate, witty and moving account of two people who, yes, “became like lesbians with each other by the end” (or, rather, Cassie’s sexuality comes to the fore throughout the trip, leaving her friendship with Nora suspended on a dark note). Comparing the novel to Brokeback Mountain is like comparing a delicious lemon parfait to a mouldy slice of rat-nibbled brie left round the bins. Take a cold shower.
Virginia Proud. To quote: “the journey itself was so blah that it didn’t add to the plot at all.” The journey is the plot—the rhythms of their trip (the practicalities, observations and snippets of small talk) creates the emptiness, frustration and camaraderie that drives this novel. The fragmentation was, to an extent, reminiscent of Michel Butor’s dizzying road trip Mobile, spliced with Ann Quin’s descent Tripticks, refracted through readable, cosier lens of modern lit-fic. If you were “waiting for Rona to kill Cassie in her sleep,” why didn’t you write that ending? Perhaps send to Mrs Galloway, c/o the Proud lady?
Caitlin King. So wrong I barely know where to begin. Try telling a roomful of hardcore feminists all they need in their lives is to be pumped with some penis (or vaginas) to solve their problems and you’ll be a popular dish in the room, best served cold. Next: not all armpits are stinky, not since the invention of showers and deodorants. Clearly, you’re missing out on a whole world of armpit-centred sensuality. Sweat has been a sensual trigger since people started humping in caves. It’s only our modern preoccupation with grooming that has repulsed people against the body’s natural, beautiful odours. Everyone out there, please lick your lover’s armpit tomorrow. You’re in for a treat.
Daisy, you said: “I couldn’t keep track of the characters (and there are only 2!)” Well done! Have faith in yourself, you did it, there are TWO characters in this book! Tomorrow, we learn the letter K! As for this book’s audience being “a white feminist poet in her late twenties,” I am a white non-feminist non-poet in his mid-twenties and I thought this book was swell. You must work in book marketing departments. Geraud: it’s “getting” on each other’s nerves, not “going.” More detail in your review, please. Psirene: “cutting edge hip Ireland writer.” A little tip for you. Never ever confuse Ireland with Scotland. You will be hastily sacrificed at the altar of Seamus McMullan O’Flaherty.
How’s that for GR bullying? Do I get a gold star?
Secondly, to the six people who “reviewed” this novel unfavourably, no. Sorry, but no. You are not getting away with your lazy, half-cocked dismissals. Rebecca: Galloway is not chicklit. In chicklit books overbearing women with unlikely positions in advertising dream of being fucked senseless by Rochesters with their own TV companies. This is a passionate, witty and moving account of two people who, yes, “became like lesbians with each other by the end” (or, rather, Cassie’s sexuality comes to the fore throughout the trip, leaving her friendship with Nora suspended on a dark note). Comparing the novel to Brokeback Mountain is like comparing a delicious lemon parfait to a mouldy slice of rat-nibbled brie left round the bins. Take a cold shower.
Virginia Proud. To quote: “the journey itself was so blah that it didn’t add to the plot at all.” The journey is the plot—the rhythms of their trip (the practicalities, observations and snippets of small talk) creates the emptiness, frustration and camaraderie that drives this novel. The fragmentation was, to an extent, reminiscent of Michel Butor’s dizzying road trip Mobile, spliced with Ann Quin’s descent Tripticks, refracted through readable, cosier lens of modern lit-fic. If you were “waiting for Rona to kill Cassie in her sleep,” why didn’t you write that ending? Perhaps send to Mrs Galloway, c/o the Proud lady?
Caitlin King. So wrong I barely know where to begin. Try telling a roomful of hardcore feminists all they need in their lives is to be pumped with some penis (or vaginas) to solve their problems and you’ll be a popular dish in the room, best served cold. Next: not all armpits are stinky, not since the invention of showers and deodorants. Clearly, you’re missing out on a whole world of armpit-centred sensuality. Sweat has been a sensual trigger since people started humping in caves. It’s only our modern preoccupation with grooming that has repulsed people against the body’s natural, beautiful odours. Everyone out there, please lick your lover’s armpit tomorrow. You’re in for a treat.
Daisy, you said: “I couldn’t keep track of the characters (and there are only 2!)” Well done! Have faith in yourself, you did it, there are TWO characters in this book! Tomorrow, we learn the letter K! As for this book’s audience being “a white feminist poet in her late twenties,” I am a white non-feminist non-poet in his mid-twenties and I thought this book was swell. You must work in book marketing departments. Geraud: it’s “getting” on each other’s nerves, not “going.” More detail in your review, please. Psirene: “cutting edge hip Ireland writer.” A little tip for you. Never ever confuse Ireland with Scotland. You will be hastily sacrificed at the altar of Seamus McMullan O’Flaherty.
How’s that for GR bullying? Do I get a gold star?
sampled
March 26, 2019Two Scottish friends approaching middle age travel through France on the cheap. They've taken trips before, and so well-established dynamics arise from the very start. The two friends, Rona and Cassie, could not be more different: Rona is a fastidious planner while Cassie is a daydreamer just along for the ride. She is also more of a deep thinker, tending to dissect her experiences, while Rona is more concerned with the surface practicalities of the trip. The narrative hinges on this dichotomy between the two friends. Cassie frets and obsesses; Rona moves about in an unconcerned and unselfconscious way. The story is mostly told from Cassie's standpoint in limited third-person, although Galloway plays around with point-of-view a bit, at times employing first- and second-person. Sometimes I find this experimentation interesting, but here it felt too much like artifice; I didn't feel like it added much to the reading experience. The telling of the trip is cut in with Cassie's first-person descriptions of photographs from other trips she took with her exes (mostly her long-term ex Chris, in particular). It's a cool technique for building character depth without sacrificing the immediacy of the trip's ongoing itinerary, but ultimately it wasn't enough to win me over.
In full disclosure I read over a third of this at which point I gave up and skimmed the rest. I almost never do this, preferring to completely jump ship if a book's not working for me, but I remained mildly curious about whether anything noteworthy would happen. The road trip novel is not among my favorite genres, and so conditions must be near-perfect to engage me. The plots of these novels are literally driven by the forward impetus of the trip itself. Character is key, and a compelling narrator can make all the difference in whether the story hooks me or not. Unfortunately this one fell short.
All in all, this was probably just not the right Galloway for me after really enjoying The Trick Is to Keep Breathing a few years back. And actually I almost changed my mind once I reread the description and realized it was a road trip novel. Bottom line: I still like her writing and this one had its moments, but I have too many other books waiting. I'm sure I'll return to her again at some point.
In full disclosure I read over a third of this at which point I gave up and skimmed the rest. I almost never do this, preferring to completely jump ship if a book's not working for me, but I remained mildly curious about whether anything noteworthy would happen. The road trip novel is not among my favorite genres, and so conditions must be near-perfect to engage me. The plots of these novels are literally driven by the forward impetus of the trip itself. Character is key, and a compelling narrator can make all the difference in whether the story hooks me or not. Unfortunately this one fell short.
All in all, this was probably just not the right Galloway for me after really enjoying The Trick Is to Keep Breathing a few years back. And actually I almost changed my mind once I reread the description and realized it was a road trip novel. Bottom line: I still like her writing and this one had its moments, but I have too many other books waiting. I'm sure I'll return to her again at some point.
January 18, 2018
This book is a morass of misery.
The other character at one point says "Why can't you just relax and try to enjoy something for once?" I screamed, "Yes, that is this whole book."
Do you want to hear somebody constantly complain for five hours about every little thing, about every little situation; who purposefully forces herself to do things she hates (for one thing go on holiday at all). The barrage of 'sarcasm' has no offset, so even the minutiae, the bland moments (which is everything) are laced with bile, so they are not really humorous; they are simply miserable. The tone and style demands that you share this misery too.
At one point, she says 'ah, a cup of tea, the one thing in my life I truly enjoy'. I was, like, 'oh, I get it', then she complained about the tea (the cup, the milk, the....arrgh)! I've never read anything so unpleasant, so filled with hatred. And since there is no let-up, I am forced to believe that the main character is pathologically and extremely depressed.
Even the 'payoff' at the end (literally in the last ten pages) is ruined, because the other character falls asleep. Which is typical of the book, really. Also, it was poorly delivered, as literally moments before she realises she's in love with Rona, she fantasises about the physicality of a penis, thus undermining the feminism that is supposed to be the point of the book. Hints of that emerge occasionally, but it's such a swamp of wretched worriment, I didn't care.
The other character at one point says "Why can't you just relax and try to enjoy something for once?" I screamed, "Yes, that is this whole book."
Do you want to hear somebody constantly complain for five hours about every little thing, about every little situation; who purposefully forces herself to do things she hates (for one thing go on holiday at all). The barrage of 'sarcasm' has no offset, so even the minutiae, the bland moments (which is everything) are laced with bile, so they are not really humorous; they are simply miserable. The tone and style demands that you share this misery too.
At one point, she says 'ah, a cup of tea, the one thing in my life I truly enjoy'. I was, like, 'oh, I get it', then she complained about the tea (the cup, the milk, the....arrgh)! I've never read anything so unpleasant, so filled with hatred. And since there is no let-up, I am forced to believe that the main character is pathologically and extremely depressed.
Even the 'payoff' at the end (literally in the last ten pages) is ruined, because the other character falls asleep. Which is typical of the book, really. Also, it was poorly delivered, as literally moments before she realises she's in love with Rona, she fantasises about the physicality of a penis, thus undermining the feminism that is supposed to be the point of the book. Hints of that emerge occasionally, but it's such a swamp of wretched worriment, I didn't care.
February 23, 2012
I didn't hate it, but boy oh boy I so wanted it to be better. And it could have been if we'd better understood the foundation of the relationship that made these two (apparently) inseparable. The journey itself was so blah that didn't add to plot at all, merely the device by which these two were confined to close quarters.
The choppiness doesn't help - Cassie's flashbacks into her fairly ordinary relationships didn't do much for me. We've all been there but this didn't make me identify with her, it was more of a 'so what?' response.
I did read all the way to the end, maybe I was waiting for Rona to kill Cassie in her sleep. Any response wouldn't have been good. I didn't understand her at all.
If we loved everything we read, then we'd never be able to single out anything as great and who wants that? So thank you Ms Galloway for providing the counterpoint.
The choppiness doesn't help - Cassie's flashbacks into her fairly ordinary relationships didn't do much for me. We've all been there but this didn't make me identify with her, it was more of a 'so what?' response.
I did read all the way to the end, maybe I was waiting for Rona to kill Cassie in her sleep. Any response wouldn't have been good. I didn't understand her at all.
If we loved everything we read, then we'd never be able to single out anything as great and who wants that? So thank you Ms Galloway for providing the counterpoint.
March 3, 2020
A very interesting read. Cassie's anger at men and maleness feels very relevant 25 years after the book was published. The irritations and affection of a long female friendship are also brilliantly drawn. Really enjoyed this!
May 10, 2025
Always up for more holiday trauma and bricolage courtesy of Janice Galloway
March 7, 2017
Janice Galloway gets it. She just really gets it.
December 18, 2013
a technical showcase, moving from 1st to 3rd person in smooth, effortless weaving (like romanian teen gymnasts, seemingly effortless, really superhuman strength and control) chronicles of the road trip of two old friends, from scotland to france, 2 weeks of pensions w/kitchen, or if that doesn;t work out, just sleeping in the car. through the innocuous recording, sort of like mark twain's travel journals, of their travels, and the re-telling and the simultaneous telling of the re-telling by the omniscient narrator, the reader feels like she is along for the trip, and you know how "trips" with "friends" can be, i mean i want to get all sexy with my bunk mate, in between times when i want to throttle them and never see them again,ever. "what are you thinking"? bad question. "want to go to the horse museum"? i dunno? what do you wanna do?" bad answer. but hell, like i said, it's like being in the car with them. i think back fondly to galloway's autobios while reading this fiction which seems very autobiographical. it is amazing galloway is not like mitch albom or james patterson or some other super popular author, because she is so talented and such fun to be around. that's what it feels like to read janice galloway, like being with her. This is Not About Me
January 24, 2015
Another snooze fest. It may seem like I am flying though books, but I am reading one at work and a different one at home and I just happen to finish at the same time. I was actually reading this one at home and got board and read Ice Tea and Elvis before just sucking it up and finishing this one. Foreign Parts is about two 30-something girls traveling across France. (Not Paris, which would have livened the story up a slight bit.) It is inter-spliced with stories about their past and traveling with boys, but they are not interesting at all. I sort of got the message that they became like lesbians with each other by the end, but I was too board to even care. It was no Brokeback Mountain which was a great little story. The movie did it proud.
grade: N/A
grade: N/A
June 27, 2008
I can count the number of books I can't finish on the fingers of one hand. Unfortunately, this is one of them. Worse - this was during a weekened break when I had nothing else to read.
But I absolutely hated it. It should have been right up my street. Cassie and Rona, friends (sort of), set out to travel across the French countryside.
By page 10 I couldn't keep track of the characters (and there are only 2!) and by page 20 I'd almost lost the will to live, let alone continue reading the book.
I hate writing negative reviews but I think that this novel has a very specialist audience (a white feminist poet in her late twenties) and I can't recommend it.
But I absolutely hated it. It should have been right up my street. Cassie and Rona, friends (sort of), set out to travel across the French countryside.
By page 10 I couldn't keep track of the characters (and there are only 2!) and by page 20 I'd almost lost the will to live, let alone continue reading the book.
I hate writing negative reviews but I think that this novel has a very specialist audience (a white feminist poet in her late twenties) and I can't recommend it.
October 6, 2008
I realize that this is a cutting edge hip Ireland writer but It was a painful read. I could not make it through the the first couple of chapters. I may be getting too old for cutting edge.
July 1, 2013
The highlight is on P9
August 25, 2022
i wanted to gobble this book up fast but found it was more like nibbling on your fav biscuits that are a little too dry and difficult to eat without a cup of tea.
the scottish women, interchanging perspectives and jumps from one scene to the past, to a dialogue, to another day without obvious introduction to each can be frustrating and hard to follow. paired with the unbelievable nothingness of anything significant happening, i couldnt rate it higher. however the point of following a pair of acquaintances travelling in this stark all-t0o-real kind of inner monologue style and seeing their relationship meander into something cute is a nice experience.
i'll lead you away from my convoluted review to some of my favourite completely out of context quotes. i love u janice galloway <3
'Rona said damn into the bag and chased something deeper inside it. She couldn't care less'
'A perfect print of nostrils shimmered for a moment near Cassies elbow then melted out. Rona sighed'
'i watch Rona watch a tree on the other side of the water for ten minutes without speaking, taking three flash photos of godknows.'
'Beards and jutting jawlines. Blank eyes.'
the scottish women, interchanging perspectives and jumps from one scene to the past, to a dialogue, to another day without obvious introduction to each can be frustrating and hard to follow. paired with the unbelievable nothingness of anything significant happening, i couldnt rate it higher. however the point of following a pair of acquaintances travelling in this stark all-t0o-real kind of inner monologue style and seeing their relationship meander into something cute is a nice experience.
i'll lead you away from my convoluted review to some of my favourite completely out of context quotes. i love u janice galloway <3
'Rona said damn into the bag and chased something deeper inside it. She couldn't care less'
'A perfect print of nostrils shimmered for a moment near Cassies elbow then melted out. Rona sighed'
'i watch Rona watch a tree on the other side of the water for ten minutes without speaking, taking three flash photos of godknows.'
'Beards and jutting jawlines. Blank eyes.'
August 30, 2020
Failed the 50 page test. Jumps around from past to present and pov to pov--and all within the heads of two miserable women who complain continuously. I should stop buying books that get prizes and are labelled 'experimental.'
July 24, 2021
Initially I enjoyed this novel. It had a good quality of writing, some inventiveness and detailed observation. As it went on, I was less impressed; it seemed to meander like the road trip itself and I felt I detected a vacuum at the heart of it.
October 14, 2023
An interesting read, capturing the essence of loving and being patient with friendships despite each others flaws. But I found this quite un-engaging to read and the flashbacks made it a bit clunky and hard to follow
July 7, 2024
This is a sweet book and a necessary read for any woman with woman friends who make her world go round. Mostly narrated in a stream of consciousness, and only a little hard to follow in places, you really get to know the two characters. The imagery is solid and many of the lines will stay with me.
December 8, 2016
Really didn't enjoy this writing style. It didn't flow as a story and tried, unsuccessfully to include too many characters that didn't add anything.
February 10, 2022
Nope. Tedious.
December 7, 2022
Irritable making but funny
December 17, 2024
It was certainly amusing and very clever, but it seldom pulled me in. I always seemed to be outside passively reading.
December 6, 2020
2.5
This book has a lot to recommend it, not least of all my little sister, who gave it to me as a birthday present. It’s funny, and and scathing of men, while still describing lust very well. It’s well-written and well-observed, and captures the way sometimes holidays are not that enjoyable: the heat, getting lost, having to pretend to be interested in museums and churches. I identified a lot with mean, bad-tempered Cassie who is driven mad by her well-meaning, long-suffering friend.
However, for me at this juncture of my life, the style made it feel too much like hard work, and I had to force myself to pick it up at times.
This book has a lot to recommend it, not least of all my little sister, who gave it to me as a birthday present. It’s funny, and and scathing of men, while still describing lust very well. It’s well-written and well-observed, and captures the way sometimes holidays are not that enjoyable: the heat, getting lost, having to pretend to be interested in museums and churches. I identified a lot with mean, bad-tempered Cassie who is driven mad by her well-meaning, long-suffering friend.
However, for me at this juncture of my life, the style made it feel too much like hard work, and I had to force myself to pick it up at times.
December 11, 2010
not the best J. Galloway.
the story of two friends going on a trip and going on each other's nerves.
bittersweet. nothing earthshattering which is a shame because Janice Galloway can be a great writer (see "the trick is to keep breathing" , " where you find it" )
the story of two friends going on a trip and going on each other's nerves.
bittersweet. nothing earthshattering which is a shame because Janice Galloway can be a great writer (see "the trick is to keep breathing" , " where you find it" )
April 6, 2014
I did come to this after reading a lot of second-rate modernist duds, but even so I think it's pretty good. Surprising amount of tension, compassion, irritation, anger and fear generated from such a simple premise. Yes it's intermittently humorous too, but always subject to tight wariness.
February 23, 2013
Easy, undemanding read made more interesting if you start thinking about relationships, dependence and responsibility.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews