Mother's Friend

by Naoise Dolan

First, Treasa fell. Then, Treasa left. This is what happened next.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Contemporary, Irish Literature, Literary Fiction, Ireland

20 pages, Unknown Binding

Published September 23, 2020

About the author

Naoise Dolan is a queer and autistic Irish writer born in Dublin. She obtained an English degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and later a Master's Degree in Victorian Literature from Oxford University. Her first novel Exciting Times had an excerpt published in The Stinging Fly by Sally Rooney and became a Sunday Times bestseller.

Reviews

[leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

a short story about a woman on the run from her abusive boyfriend in london. i just love naoise dolan’s writing style and need another book from her asap.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasa runs away from her abusive boyfriend, Seán, resulting in a miscarriage from a push down the stairs and flees to London to start over. Except she can't as there is are constant reminders of her ex in the items around her at work and her new flat. She lives in fear of him finding her and the trauma from the abuse starts to take hold of her throughout the story.

Dolan's style of writing is something I enjoyed immensely in both "Exciting Times" and "Family News" with its exactness in delivery in terms of description and humor is really effectively done here yet again. How Treasa mentally cuts into her ex, her boss and his advances, how she notices the sameness of the stationary store, how she wants to seek revenge, and her inability to communicate with her flat mates and others around her. She also views herself as useless and agrees with her ex on this.

But, the most telling commentary is reserved for the men around Treasa as the character attempts to come to terms with her male-dominated society and violence against women. How men in power can say things and still get away with it in 2020. Faced in such a society, there is not a lot for our protagonist to do as she accepts that she can not be what other people want her to be. Therefore, she has to be herself first. It all feels very real reading it.

This line sums it all up:
"There was a great deal that men couldn’t say anymore, and an abundance of phrases that allowed them to say it anyway."

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In Dublin I’d been Treasa, but in London I was Theresa. I was always trying to be easier for other people. It made me more difficult for myself, but that didn’t matter.”

Isn’t that lovely? It really resonated for me and from this point on (quite early in the story) I was pulled in.

I want so much more for dear Treasa/Theresa.

[harshali · Rating 5 out of 5]

every sentence was so beautifully crafted, what an impactful use of words. truly magnificent writing.

[e. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"i wanted to deserve so little that any mistreatment would make sense."

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the style of this: sad but accepting. London isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Men aren’t very nice to women. There’s a comfort in routine. Your heart does ache for Treasa.

REREAD: read this to see if it would be suitable as my suggestion for our own choice seminar (lol) and it’s better than I remember

[breeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naoise Dolan could run me over with a bus and I would say thank you.

Incredible as always.

[Orla · Rating 4 out of 5]

hey guys from here on out i will only be reading female rage lit

[prostderpoesie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really well narrated insight into something that you can barely call a life of a traumatised woman in dublin, i loved the title and its connection to the plot <3

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Thank you Charu for the link!)

The writing was so sharp, straightforward, witty, and earnest. Once again a marker of how short stories are truly the most fascinating because it’s a special skill to be able to say so much with so little.

It was incredibly realistic and nuanced, the way the author approached such a sensitive topic. The part about how the protagonist never received a response from the counseling place was super chilling. It stuck with me the most for some reason.

I have had her books in my to-read for a while now, I’m convinced! I think I’ll pick it up soon.

“I was always trying to be easier for other people. It made me more difficult for myself, but that didn’t matter.”

[Karen Chiang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really more of an essay (written for PORT Magazine) but it was just the right dose of existential, traumatic inner rambling one needs in that length. Between mundane moments and intense memories, Dolan illustrates trauma through her signature writing style— which only lightly traces over plot but digs deeply into how small details of life weaves into moments and then into days.

“I never used a hairbrush. You just had to brush again the next day.”

There’s a sense of emptiness and powerlessness she creates in so few words. A great bite-size Dolan read.

[char ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

“There was a great deal that men couldn’t say anymore, and an abundance of phrases that allowed them to say it anyway.”

[Shadab · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Vera Marsova · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I had nothing to do at work, I sat at my computer and applied lipstick. The wax was thick like a hog’s kiss. I rubbed my lips together and thought: My mouth could be fused shut, and I won’t know until I try to open it. It was wisest to say nothing. I could give up even trying to speak, and then I’d never find out if I could. You only realised you were trapped when you struggled. At work and in the flat, they knew I was Theresa. They knew I’d give them no trouble.

A great exploration of the direct aftermath of trauma.
Naoise Dolan's unique writing style – dry and matter-of-fact, yet cutting and deeply insightful – shines as always and is aptly suited for the story.

[Charu Sankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the pros of my frontal lobe developing is i know exactly what i like and fully embrace it. i have come to the obvious realization that when you like an author, you can read all of their publications. dolan is a new favourite of mine (even without the ireland fanfic aspect) and this was fantastic. the writing is whip smart and so so witty. deals with abuse very practically and honestly.

"I didn’t always cling to routine in terms of each day being the exact same, but I had my domino effects, where if I did a particular thing then I also did whatever followed." -a quote for my own recollection.

[QUYNH NGUYEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My boss was still touching my knee. There was no mounting drama to it. It was what he did.

‘I’d compliment your lipstick,’ he said one Friday, ‘but of course in this climate. . .’

The next Tuesday: ‘If times hadn’t changed so much, I’d say that skirt is rather short.’

A week later: ‘Of course, you can’t say this nowadays, but those trousers – .’ "

There was a great deal that men couldn’t say anymore, and an abundance of phrases that allowed them to say it anyway."
Sharp, witty, dry. I would read anything this woman writes.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have moved on to Naoise Dolan's short stories, after finishing both her books, considering to re-read "Exciting Times". Definitely recommend in case you are facing Dolan withdrawals inbetween books.
Her writing has me in a choke-hold, beautifully crafted, sophisticated while also making me feel all the feelings without being too on the nose. Cannot wait for her next book.

[Gabrielle Apolline · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In Dublin I’d been Treasa, but in London I was Theresa. I was always trying to be easier for other people. It made me more difficult for myself, but that didn’t matter.” AIEEEEEEEEEE
"There was a stationary shop near my flatshare, I never bought anything but I liked that it didn't change from day to day."

[nerea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐
"you only realised you were trapped when you struggled."
such a thought provoking story about a woman scaping her abusive ex, i love Naoise Dolan's writing style very much, she's very straight forward but still every sentence has a lot to untangle.

[Devanshi Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“With mother’s friend, you never heard a cry.” The stupor of being in a big city surrounded by things which have the potential to fix you, but don’t. Treasa is on the run, and will be for a while- there’s nothing to run towards yet.

[Andreea H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"There was a great deal that men couldn’t say anymore, and an abundance of phrases that allowed them to say it anyway."

[camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love naoise dolan

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There was a great deal that men couldn’t say anymore, and an abundance of phrases that allowed them to say it anyway.”

wow

[Ester · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There was a great deal that men couldn’t say anymore, and an abundance of phrases that allowed them to say it anyway.”
3.25

[kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ATE (https://www.port-magazine.com/literat...)

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant. I always love a good portrayal of the NHS’ incompetence around trauma.

[buse · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Dublin I’d been Treasa, but in London I was Theresa. I was always trying to be easier for other people. It made me more difficult for myself, but that didn’t matter."

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dolan uses her classic detached dialogue to explore a narrative about a domestic abuse survivor. Brilliant as always.