What do you think?
Rate this book
After a Dance: Selected Stories
'These are some of the wildest, arresting, just plain brilliant short stories I've read in a long time.' - Roddy Doyle, author of The Woman Who Walked Into DoorsAfter a Dance is the compiled collection of short stories from acclaimed writer Bridget O'Connor, with an exclusive preface from the author's daughter, Constance Straughan.Bridget O'Connor was one of the great short story writers of her generation. She had a voice that was viscerally funny and an eye for both the glaring reality and the absurdity of the everyday.In After A Dance, we meet a selection of O'Connor's most memorable characters often living on the margin of their own from the anonymous thief set on an unusual prize to the hungover best man clinging to what he's lost, to the unrepentant gold-digger who always comes out on top. From unravelling narcissists to melancholy romantics all human life is here - at its best and at its delightful worst.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
160 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2024
22 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 22, 2024
There are three great stories in this that make up for the rest. "Love Jobs," about a guy who bonds with the men who tried to mug him. "Harp," about a homeless woman scheming to steal a harp. "Plastered," about a very lonely guy, essentially an incel type before the term existed, who finds sudden popularity when he's injured and needs a cast.
Good but not great stories: "After a Dance," "At Least Pull Your Jumper Up," "Gabriel Ascending," "Here Comes John," "Nerve Endings," "I'm Running Late."
Good but not great stories: "After a Dance," "At Least Pull Your Jumper Up," "Gabriel Ascending," "Here Comes John," "Nerve Endings," "I'm Running Late."
January 20, 2024
This collection of short stories feels as if they are suspended in midair, all angles exposed, for our inspection. Full of creatures and monsters trying to hide in the depths of normality. An eclectic collection full of sacred goldfish, one night stands, broken limbs, dysfunctional families, death celebrities, sacrificial drownings….This collection feels both reflective and brand new.
Bridget O’Connor’s After A Dance is a striking and witty display of genius. Chopped prose sells streams of grotesque melancholy and compelling insanity.
I am an avid reader of short stories and have a lot of favoured authors in this medium, and I think O’Connors collection is something I will come back to time and time again.
Thank you to Camilla at Picador for the advanced proof copy! It’s publish 15/02
January 29, 2024
I had the opportunity to review a taster of this book. These are really well written short stories of dysfunctional and often strange characters. Parts of some of the stories were awkward, and made for some uncomfortable reading at times, which is a positive. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 1, 2025
Struggled to get through this, writing style isn’t for me
sorry gerl
sorry gerl
Read
March 1, 2024I put this one aside after three stories. The writing style was not for me.
October 18, 2025
hmmm a lot of weird, so-so stories and some evil vibes but she does have a singular style and I can't say it hasn't inspired me as a short fiction writer in terms of Just Going For It
December 22, 2023
A gripping and surprising collection, that was entertaining and moving. Godfrey the goldfish was a particularly noteworthy story but all of the collection brought a certain something. The introduction was moving too.
August 13, 2025
3.5 stars
After a Dance is a posthumous collection of short stories that the BAFTA-winning screenwriter and playwright Bridget O’Connor wrote mostly back in the 90’s.
What I found was that the stories were quite dark topics that you probably shouldn’t laugh at but can’t help it as O’Connor wrote them in quite a humorous way! Even on taboo subjects like cancer, animal death and someone being mugged. It sounds uncomfortable right? But she somehow manages it without it being upsetting. It is all quite chaotic and unique with dysfunctional strange characters and bizarre situations.
The settings were a mix of dying seaside towns, bleak city centre buildings and other mundane type places. Yet O’Connor brightens up these locations with her comic take on it all.
Some stories were brilliant and had me chuckling to myself then others just didn’t quite pack as much of a punch but it was overall a brilliantly bizarre collection of short stories that felt a bit dated on some topics yet you can see just how much of a genius writer O’Connor was.
After a Dance is a posthumous collection of short stories that the BAFTA-winning screenwriter and playwright Bridget O’Connor wrote mostly back in the 90’s.
What I found was that the stories were quite dark topics that you probably shouldn’t laugh at but can’t help it as O’Connor wrote them in quite a humorous way! Even on taboo subjects like cancer, animal death and someone being mugged. It sounds uncomfortable right? But she somehow manages it without it being upsetting. It is all quite chaotic and unique with dysfunctional strange characters and bizarre situations.
The settings were a mix of dying seaside towns, bleak city centre buildings and other mundane type places. Yet O’Connor brightens up these locations with her comic take on it all.
Some stories were brilliant and had me chuckling to myself then others just didn’t quite pack as much of a punch but it was overall a brilliantly bizarre collection of short stories that felt a bit dated on some topics yet you can see just how much of a genius writer O’Connor was.
February 7, 2024
Published over a decade after the death of author and screenwriter Bridget O'Connor, After a Dance collates some of her finest short stories - mostly written in the 1990s - and packages them for a new audience.
It is a real talent to be able to write good short stories. To make the reader feel something in such a modest number of words requires wit, an understanding of the human condition and the ability to make a point incisively and memorably. O'Connor demonstrates this in spades, bringing bleak humour, pathos and a wry cynicism to stories of selfish, callow characters set in desolate seaside towns, declining city centres and family homes which just feel wrong in a way that makes you squirm.
Some stories feel dated - fatness is presented as horrifying, and a magical trans character appears whose unquantifiable nature allows them to act as an other-worldly guide to the protagonist. However, as a glimpse into a moment in time in a particular culture, these stories still have value.
At its best, in stories such as 'Heavy Petting', After a Dance foreshadows the work of Camilla Grudova, with the pleasing juxtaposition of the mundane and the surprising - sometimes the outright bizarre - and a whimsical, offhand way of describing true grotesqueries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
It is a real talent to be able to write good short stories. To make the reader feel something in such a modest number of words requires wit, an understanding of the human condition and the ability to make a point incisively and memorably. O'Connor demonstrates this in spades, bringing bleak humour, pathos and a wry cynicism to stories of selfish, callow characters set in desolate seaside towns, declining city centres and family homes which just feel wrong in a way that makes you squirm.
Some stories feel dated - fatness is presented as horrifying, and a magical trans character appears whose unquantifiable nature allows them to act as an other-worldly guide to the protagonist. However, as a glimpse into a moment in time in a particular culture, these stories still have value.
At its best, in stories such as 'Heavy Petting', After a Dance foreshadows the work of Camilla Grudova, with the pleasing juxtaposition of the mundane and the surprising - sometimes the outright bizarre - and a whimsical, offhand way of describing true grotesqueries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
February 26, 2024
Bridget O'Connor was an author, playwright and screenwriter who sadly passed away in 2010. This new collection includes a foreword from her daughter and brings together some of her short stories which all have a surreal element to them. The stories are set in the 1990s and feature characters whose perspectives are often disturbing, unnerving and, at times, perplexing.
While I highlighted some interesting turns of phrase and can see that O'Connor had a unique talent for capturing the language, culture and feel of a certain place and time, I really struggled to ground myself in the stories. It makes complete sense that she was a playwright and screenwriter. I think her writing style lends itself to the screen. The imagery in her stories is strong and almost visceral but, for me, they lacked a thread that allowed me to follow what was happening. I would sometimes get frustrated if I couldn't understand a story and just skim read it to get to the end.
The collection is a short read and is worth a try. The stories are a bit more on the experimental side and won't be for everyone. Sadly, they weren't for me but I can see that other readers will love them. There is no doubting O'Connor's talent and I hope this collection will help her work find a new audience that connects with her stories.
While I highlighted some interesting turns of phrase and can see that O'Connor had a unique talent for capturing the language, culture and feel of a certain place and time, I really struggled to ground myself in the stories. It makes complete sense that she was a playwright and screenwriter. I think her writing style lends itself to the screen. The imagery in her stories is strong and almost visceral but, for me, they lacked a thread that allowed me to follow what was happening. I would sometimes get frustrated if I couldn't understand a story and just skim read it to get to the end.
The collection is a short read and is worth a try. The stories are a bit more on the experimental side and won't be for everyone. Sadly, they weren't for me but I can see that other readers will love them. There is no doubting O'Connor's talent and I hope this collection will help her work find a new audience that connects with her stories.
November 22, 2024
After a Dance is a posthumous collection of short stories by the BAFTA-winning Irish writer Bridget O’Connor, the style certainly won't suit everyone, but I'm delighted to have picked this up.
O’Connor’s collection is introduced by her daughter, Constance Straughan. It begins with a colourful anecdote about the author’s grandmother having her copy of her granddaughter’s book exorcised. The priest called every Friday, but until then, she sat on the book, and this in itself is a story that would have fitted quite comfortably alongside the ones in this collection.
The stories, which all have a surreal element, are set in the 1990s and feature characters whose perspectives are often disturbing, unnerving, and, at times, perplexing.
O'Connor had a unique talent for capturing certain places and times' language, culture, and feel. The imagery in her stories is undoubtedly strong, almost viscerally powerful, as she delves deep into people's lives and characters to reveal the darker, more unpleasant realities. The stories are full of people who are living on the edge.
The collection is a short read, but everything feels a little out of control. As with all short story collections, I enjoyed some more than others, still, this read is well worth a try. 3.5⭐
Thank you to the publisher for kindly gifting me a copy. As always, this is an honest review.
O’Connor’s collection is introduced by her daughter, Constance Straughan. It begins with a colourful anecdote about the author’s grandmother having her copy of her granddaughter’s book exorcised. The priest called every Friday, but until then, she sat on the book, and this in itself is a story that would have fitted quite comfortably alongside the ones in this collection.
The stories, which all have a surreal element, are set in the 1990s and feature characters whose perspectives are often disturbing, unnerving, and, at times, perplexing.
O'Connor had a unique talent for capturing certain places and times' language, culture, and feel. The imagery in her stories is undoubtedly strong, almost viscerally powerful, as she delves deep into people's lives and characters to reveal the darker, more unpleasant realities. The stories are full of people who are living on the edge.
The collection is a short read, but everything feels a little out of control. As with all short story collections, I enjoyed some more than others, still, this read is well worth a try. 3.5⭐
Thank you to the publisher for kindly gifting me a copy. As always, this is an honest review.
February 12, 2024
After a Dance' is a collection of short stories by late british author Bridget O'Connor, who I am very glad to have been able to read from, since she is not a famous figure in France. I am usually not the biggest fan of contemporary short stories, for I think it is a format much more well-suited to horror for example, but I was amazed at her prose. It is indeed so vividly written, as if she had put into words some boiling thoughts that read so realistic. I especially adored the unhinged dialogue in 'Shop Talk' and the intricate feelings displayed in 'Heavy Petting', they were my two favourites.
That being said, I must admit that I was not really moved by any of the stories, although they tackle profound subjects such as family or loneliness. I would absolutely recommend this author to someone interested in smart Irish litterature, who really enjoys form, but maybe not to someone who seeks out a deep connection to the characters, who can look quite poser or bored at times. Overall, although a bit polarizing, Bridget O'Connor was undeniably a precious voice, who deserves to be rediscovered and recognised!
That being said, I must admit that I was not really moved by any of the stories, although they tackle profound subjects such as family or loneliness. I would absolutely recommend this author to someone interested in smart Irish litterature, who really enjoys form, but maybe not to someone who seeks out a deep connection to the characters, who can look quite poser or bored at times. Overall, although a bit polarizing, Bridget O'Connor was undeniably a precious voice, who deserves to be rediscovered and recognised!
June 21, 2024
This posthumous collection of short stories by the Oscar-nominated Irish writer is darkly hilarious in places, wistfully touching in others and completely unforgettable: the book’s beautiful introduction is written by the writer’s daughter, placing her mother’s work in context and providing fascinating insight into the author’s relationship with her own creative process. Though short, the stories within the book are packed with unique characters and cinematic levels of description which often suddenly tips you into magical realism: best to loosen your grip on the plot and just enjoy the ride. When viewed as a whole the stories’ loosely connected themes become apparent, circling around questions of reality and how each character chooses to perceive the world, and the fuzzy line drawn between fiction and real life. A viscerally challenging yet life-affirmingly nourishing read that’ll leave you astounded at the author’s creativity and seeking out her other works.
Featured in Book Club in Cambridge Edition magazine April 2024 - thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC
Featured in Book Club in Cambridge Edition magazine April 2024 - thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC
March 25, 2025
After A Dance is a collection of stories, varying in topics and relying heavily on their disconnected style of writing. Many times, the disconnect strayed into nonsensical, and while I understand that this cross between fiction and poetry is somewhat popular, the ideas and characters within each story changed so dramatically that I never really knew what was going on.
I think it was smart to start with an interesting introduction by the author’s daughter, as well as, arguably, the two best stories: Love Jobs and Heavy Petting. Sadly, the book then lost me as it delved into many stories which I couldn’t quite tell where satirical or actually offensive. Fat jokes, abuse, murder, and cancer—no topic was safe from being talked about, yet nothing said about them was particularly profound, and they never really had a conclusion.
I can see a few people who may enjoy this style of anthology, but sadly, it was not for me.
Thank you to Picador for the early proof copy in exchange for my honest review.
I think it was smart to start with an interesting introduction by the author’s daughter, as well as, arguably, the two best stories: Love Jobs and Heavy Petting. Sadly, the book then lost me as it delved into many stories which I couldn’t quite tell where satirical or actually offensive. Fat jokes, abuse, murder, and cancer—no topic was safe from being talked about, yet nothing said about them was particularly profound, and they never really had a conclusion.
I can see a few people who may enjoy this style of anthology, but sadly, it was not for me.
Thank you to Picador for the early proof copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 2, 2024
These were very quirky and sometimes really good short stories. There is quite a gap between some of them, quality-wise. I found that I really enjoyed the ones with a male pov, strangely, rather than the ones with a female pov. My absolute favourites were the one in which the main character, after meeting his ex at a wedding, makes friends with the two guys who were trying to steal his wallet; and the one of the guy with his leg in a cast. What links these stories is a sense of loneliness, of isolation or, better still, of estrangement. All these characters try to find a place in society, not always succeeding in their attempt. I really enjoyed the writing style, which I found pleasantly electric and reminiscent of Peep Show, especially in the male-pov ones. I think this author has some real raw talent to show, and I'll keep an eye on her future works.
*thanks to #netgalley for the #arc in exchange for an honest review*
*thanks to #netgalley for the #arc in exchange for an honest review*
February 14, 2024
After a Dance by Bridget O'Connor is a collection of the late author and playwright's short stories mainly set in the 1990's.
The protagonists are a rag tag bunch of misfits and the stories leave the reader a little off balance. There are frequent uses of the wrong colour and unpleasant smells in descriptions, which adds another dimension to the weirdness.
"He shoots up to the office in the morning with a skiddy stink of burning rubber. He shoots up the lift shaft. In the boardroom, above the mahogany table, he sees, as though through a funhouse mirror, his shirt distorted, his wavering sideburns. A giant green pulse beating down the centre of his skull. Thump, thump pulse."
A recommended read for lovers of short stories.
The protagonists are a rag tag bunch of misfits and the stories leave the reader a little off balance. There are frequent uses of the wrong colour and unpleasant smells in descriptions, which adds another dimension to the weirdness.
"He shoots up to the office in the morning with a skiddy stink of burning rubber. He shoots up the lift shaft. In the boardroom, above the mahogany table, he sees, as though through a funhouse mirror, his shirt distorted, his wavering sideburns. A giant green pulse beating down the centre of his skull. Thump, thump pulse."
A recommended read for lovers of short stories.
February 18, 2024
This collection of short stories is an exquisite tasting of a talent that was extinguished too soon. Bridget O' Connor was an author and playwright who shone humour into dark corners. She died in 2010 aged 49.
Heavy Petting is surreal but hypnotizing. A goldfish is hooped at a fairground, brought home to join a menagerie of other pets, and named Godfrey. Godfrey watches and swims for his life as a family disintegrates. Majella, a promising student, turns to drugs. Mum is on medication and becomes obsessive about making soup, even using Godfrey's bowl as a receptacle. Dad is a shadow of his former self, on painkillers.
Heavy Petting is surreal but hypnotizing. A goldfish is hooped at a fairground, brought home to join a menagerie of other pets, and named Godfrey. Godfrey watches and swims for his life as a family disintegrates. Majella, a promising student, turns to drugs. Mum is on medication and becomes obsessive about making soup, even using Godfrey's bowl as a receptacle. Dad is a shadow of his former self, on painkillers.
March 24, 2024
'After a Dance: Selected Stories' by Bridget O'Connor is a collection of short stories from a great storyteller of our times.
This short novel has 15 short stories in that display all kinds of life.
"In After A Dance, we meet a selection of O'Connor's most memorable characters often living on the margin of their own from the anonymous thief set on an unusual prize to the hungover best man clinging to what he's lost, to the unrepentant gold-digger who always comes out on top. From unravelling narcissists to melancholy romantics all human life is here - at its best and at its delightful worst."
These stories are well written and you feel a range of emotions reading them, from laughter to sadness and everything in between.
A lot of these stories stay with you after reading them and show what a great voice Bridget O'Connor had.
Recommended for fans of contemporary literature and short stories.
Thanks to the publisher for sharing this book in return for a review.
This short novel has 15 short stories in that display all kinds of life.
"In After A Dance, we meet a selection of O'Connor's most memorable characters often living on the margin of their own from the anonymous thief set on an unusual prize to the hungover best man clinging to what he's lost, to the unrepentant gold-digger who always comes out on top. From unravelling narcissists to melancholy romantics all human life is here - at its best and at its delightful worst."
These stories are well written and you feel a range of emotions reading them, from laughter to sadness and everything in between.
A lot of these stories stay with you after reading them and show what a great voice Bridget O'Connor had.
Recommended for fans of contemporary literature and short stories.
Thanks to the publisher for sharing this book in return for a review.
January 12, 2024
There's a compelling weirdness about O'Connor's writing - and I mean that in the best possible way. This is a collection that is brilliant in its construction of character and its use of language to hypnotise the reader. Moving, too. Reading these stories was more than simply a reading experience, it was a sensation of something similar to the writing process itself. Excellent and highly recommended. What a privilege to have read this ahead of publication. My grateful thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.
January 13, 2024
I requested this as I’d not heard of Bridget O’Connor before and I’m a fan of short stories. These were a lot different to anything I’d read before in terms of format and at times I found myself getting a bit bored of the same writing style. The Goldfish was my favourite, if you can call it that, story. Poor Godfrey, but I could visualise the scenes and the chaos of this disfunctional family. Like I said, the writing style was new to me and too ‘choppy’ but I was entertained enough to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc.
May 26, 2025
Interesting and different. I can imagine as a feisty woman with plently to say. The stories challenged with grit and wit.
There was something I couldn't put my finger on that jarred for me. I went from this book to Kirsty Gunn's 'Pretty Ugly'. These stories, in a similar vein, and with their full quota of grit and quikiness but it dawned on me - though pushing the boundary for the reader and set largely offshore - there was a distictive New Zealand style to the wrting thta made them at once familiar and real.
There was something I couldn't put my finger on that jarred for me. I went from this book to Kirsty Gunn's 'Pretty Ugly'. These stories, in a similar vein, and with their full quota of grit and quikiness but it dawned on me - though pushing the boundary for the reader and set largely offshore - there was a distictive New Zealand style to the wrting thta made them at once familiar and real.
March 13, 2024
A wonderful collection of short stories with very unique perspectives. Bridget O'Connor manages to captures ordinary lives in an insightful way with great attention to detail. Clever stories that can be picked up and read and then reflected upon. An under-recognised author. that deserves attention.
September 7, 2024
A collection of some wonderful stories. Did I fully understand everything that was happening in each of these? Not all the time. The narrative style and voice of the characters sometimes muddle the events of the stories. I also didn't always understand the slang the characters used. But, did this collection also contain some of funniest moments and lines that I've read in fiction? Absolutely.
December 23, 2024
2.5 stars
The first two stories in this really didn’t resonate with me and I almost gave up because I thought they were pretty weird and not very well written. I then read the final story and quite liked it so read all of the others. Not one of them is tied up nicely, allowing us to consider our options… but I don’t want to do that. I prefer a nice twist / resolved ending.
The first two stories in this really didn’t resonate with me and I almost gave up because I thought they were pretty weird and not very well written. I then read the final story and quite liked it so read all of the others. Not one of them is tied up nicely, allowing us to consider our options… but I don’t want to do that. I prefer a nice twist / resolved ending.
February 9, 2024
Really disappointed in this book, as I expected to love it (I'm a fan of Irish literature generally). Felt very disjointed, most of the stories didn't make sense at all and some of them actually made me angry in their pretentiousness.
February 13, 2024
Three excellent short stories full of dark humour, weird and fascinating. Bridget O'Connor was a great storyteller and I would like to read more by her
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
February 26, 2024
A perplexing collection of short stories that might kindly be called “quirky” or more honestly, chaotic and nonsensical.
I gave up after three stories - the style of writing is not for me.
The opening introduction by the author’s daughter was the highlight of what I read.
I gave up after three stories - the style of writing is not for me.
The opening introduction by the author’s daughter was the highlight of what I read.
April 4, 2024
Well, the friendly folks on RTE’s “Arena” let me down with this one. Wasn’t as wonderful as I thought it would be. However, very good writing, and the first story is a hoot. But overall, a little too dark for me.
April 26, 2024
I've never read Bridget O'Connor before, and much though I can see the craft and cleverness in her writing, I'm afraid these stories weren't really for me. I love to be able to really inhabit a character, and the style here is so poetic that it just didn't suit me.
September 3, 2025
Some of these stories (“Plastered”, “Heavy Petting”, “Harp”, “Gabriel Ascending”) will stay with me for a long time to come. So gruesome, dark and funny. Vivid imagery and (inner) dialogues - loved it. Others? I barely knew what was going on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews