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Women Talking Dirty
Ellen Quinn kept her sanity in the suffocating Edinburgh suburb where she grew up by imagining it was a hotbed of intrigue. A neglected child, she's still looking for love as an adult; and so she finds herself married to Daniel. How could she know that he would misbehave? Cora O'Brien is the total opposite; outrageous and outspoken, she inspires the children she teaches with her enthusiasm. The city can't soften her Highland lilt but her lifestyle would raise a few eyebrows back home. But her vividness is a most of her secrets she's still keeping to herself. Fast friends from the start, Ellen and Cora may have plenty to learn about life, but they always have vodka and each other to talk to when the unexpected happens!
249 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
8 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Isla Dewar
33 books65 followersBorn in Edinburgh, Isla Dewar now lives in Fife with her husband, a cartoonist, and two sons. Her first novel, Keeping Up with Magda, published in 1995, has been followed by a string of bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 27, 2020
I picked this up from a little free library as a while ago I had come across another novel by this author that was a pleasant surprise. However, this story, about the lives of two female friends in Scotland, was more disappointing. There was something off about the tone, which seemed both jokey and would-be profound but was hard to settle into, and the way people expressed themselves - occasionally in the midst of a dialogue, I’d read “she screamed” or “she yelled,” and be puzzled, as I’d had no idea the conversation had got heated. Some nice bits here and there, but not for me. Maybe the next little free library consumer will find it more to their liking.
February 6, 2022
never make decisions or love on an empty stomach
August 21, 2021
Bit more gritty than Isla's usual.
Not quite 5 star from me. A wee bit disjointed till the last quarter. Mind you this is just my perception. I found it troublesome to work out who's who. But a satisfying ending nevertheless. Enjoy.
Not quite 5 star from me. A wee bit disjointed till the last quarter. Mind you this is just my perception. I found it troublesome to work out who's who. But a satisfying ending nevertheless. Enjoy.
March 27, 2011
I finished reading "Women Talking Dirty" by Isla Dewar recently, and quite enjoyed it. It is the story of the lives and friendship of two women in Scotland, Ellen and Cora. Ellen is shy, a bit of a misfit, neglected as a child, unconfident, and has a on again off again marriage to a low life of a man. She falls into a career as a cartoonist and does not even realize that she is good at it. Cora is outspoken and wild, a single mom who put herself through school and enjoys being outrageous, though she does have secrets that she is hiding. These two opposite women become unlikely best friends.
I love the opening scene where they meet. Ellen and Cora are at a party when Cora looks at Ellen and realizes that they could be great friends. Cora goes up to the obviously very insecure Ellen and says: "You look like you could do with some serious corrupting" (p. 3). She then goes on to get Ellen drunk on vodka. It is a great way to begin this book and their friendship and certainly sets the tone. It also sets up another theme of the book, drinking lots of vodka.
Dewar expertly delves into the lives of these two women and makes connections. We see their growth and development, fears and anxieties. There is great dialogue and the story moves along well. I especially love the "women talking dirty" part, the way women are without men or children around, not editing, being themselves. There is a great quote that describes this:
In summer swallows dipped, swooped and cried. Children, kicking a football in the street, called to each other. And in small gatherings on the balcony women stood, arms folded, gossiping and laughing. That was Cora's favourite sound. That moment on summer evenings when women standing arms folded, discussing men, children, parents, stopped being wives, mothers, daughters and relaxed. That indiscreet cackle of women talking dirty. (p. 159)
This book is like that with the friendship of Ellen and Cora, they let down their guard (for the most part) and lay it out for each other.
Dewar also gives us a glimpse into Scottish culture, complete with fun and colourful characters. I liked some of the minor characters as much as the main ones. One of my favourite was Emily Boyle, Ellen's elderly upstairs neighbour who claims to have played piano with Rachmaninov. She, also, is out to corrupt Ellen :
Every Saturday afternoon Emily Boyle would link arms with Ellen and they would set off on a mushroom quest. They rarely returned with mushrooms, they rarely returned sober. They weren't drunk, of course, just drunkish, deliciously touching the edges of silliness. (p. 185)
Though generally, the writing was great, I did have trouble following the point of view at times. It changes from Ellen to Cora frequently and I did get confused. The characters also frequently drift into the past, and, at times, this was also confusing.
My emotions got wound up in this book a bit and I found myself in a bad mood, which I think had to do with some of the bad relationships described in the book. Perhaps this is a tribute to the calibre of Dewars's writing. Overall, I would highly recommend this book, especially to women who like books about friendship and good dialogue.
I love the opening scene where they meet. Ellen and Cora are at a party when Cora looks at Ellen and realizes that they could be great friends. Cora goes up to the obviously very insecure Ellen and says: "You look like you could do with some serious corrupting" (p. 3). She then goes on to get Ellen drunk on vodka. It is a great way to begin this book and their friendship and certainly sets the tone. It also sets up another theme of the book, drinking lots of vodka.
Dewar expertly delves into the lives of these two women and makes connections. We see their growth and development, fears and anxieties. There is great dialogue and the story moves along well. I especially love the "women talking dirty" part, the way women are without men or children around, not editing, being themselves. There is a great quote that describes this:
In summer swallows dipped, swooped and cried. Children, kicking a football in the street, called to each other. And in small gatherings on the balcony women stood, arms folded, gossiping and laughing. That was Cora's favourite sound. That moment on summer evenings when women standing arms folded, discussing men, children, parents, stopped being wives, mothers, daughters and relaxed. That indiscreet cackle of women talking dirty. (p. 159)
This book is like that with the friendship of Ellen and Cora, they let down their guard (for the most part) and lay it out for each other.
Dewar also gives us a glimpse into Scottish culture, complete with fun and colourful characters. I liked some of the minor characters as much as the main ones. One of my favourite was Emily Boyle, Ellen's elderly upstairs neighbour who claims to have played piano with Rachmaninov. She, also, is out to corrupt Ellen :
Every Saturday afternoon Emily Boyle would link arms with Ellen and they would set off on a mushroom quest. They rarely returned with mushrooms, they rarely returned sober. They weren't drunk, of course, just drunkish, deliciously touching the edges of silliness. (p. 185)
Though generally, the writing was great, I did have trouble following the point of view at times. It changes from Ellen to Cora frequently and I did get confused. The characters also frequently drift into the past, and, at times, this was also confusing.
My emotions got wound up in this book a bit and I found myself in a bad mood, which I think had to do with some of the bad relationships described in the book. Perhaps this is a tribute to the calibre of Dewars's writing. Overall, I would highly recommend this book, especially to women who like books about friendship and good dialogue.
January 15, 2014
This book was recommended to me and overall it was okay. I would give it a two star, but the stylistic writing puts it above the average chick lit. There are some disturbing elements that happen to one of the characters towards the end, and an abundance of chick lit moments that stopped me from thoroughly enjoying the book.
The book is about the lives of two women, Cora and Ellen. Both of whom are striving to discover the meanings of their middle age lives. Over the course of the book, you view their childhoods, teenage years, and finally their adulthood to give a deeper understanding of their psyche. Then the book ends. There is literally no plot, so don't look for an overarching theme or story. It's just a snippet of two women's lives who become friends through chance.
If you're looking for a quick fiction read about women with pretty decent writing. This book is pretty good, it certainly has some quotable moments. But if you're looking for a quick fiction read with a great story, I'd go elsewhere.
The book is about the lives of two women, Cora and Ellen. Both of whom are striving to discover the meanings of their middle age lives. Over the course of the book, you view their childhoods, teenage years, and finally their adulthood to give a deeper understanding of their psyche. Then the book ends. There is literally no plot, so don't look for an overarching theme or story. It's just a snippet of two women's lives who become friends through chance.
If you're looking for a quick fiction read about women with pretty decent writing. This book is pretty good, it certainly has some quotable moments. But if you're looking for a quick fiction read with a great story, I'd go elsewhere.
October 29, 2008
The two characters in this book were really funny and quirky. despite difficult situations in life, the book was really light-hearted and witty. definitely recommended if you want something girlie that's got a Scottish flavour to it as well.
February 17, 2010
Elen & Cora, I love you.
It is a very good book about friendship, ordinary women who are not that ordinary. The characters have so much depth! I was smiling at their wit, their positive attitude to live all along this book.
Good job, Isla Dewar. BTW, you're one of my favorite authors.
It is a very good book about friendship, ordinary women who are not that ordinary. The characters have so much depth! I was smiling at their wit, their positive attitude to live all along this book.
Good job, Isla Dewar. BTW, you're one of my favorite authors.
May 16, 2009
A pleasure, and fun! Two women. Set in Scotland.
"A novel to see you into the wee sma' hours." -SCOTSMAN
"A novel to see you into the wee sma' hours." -SCOTSMAN
October 26, 2017
I loved this book. Great story and characters.
(I haven't seen the film, but apparently it's dreadful).
(I haven't seen the film, but apparently it's dreadful).
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews