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Snowflake
An exquisitely talented young Irish writer makes her literary debut with this powerful and haunting novel—a tale of love and family, depression and joy, and coming of age in the twenty-first century that is a blend of Sally Rooney and Colm Tóibín.
Eighteen-year-old Debbie was raised on her family’s rural dairy farm, forty minutes and a world away from Dublin. She lives with her mother, Maeve, a skittish woman who takes to her bed for days on end, claims not to know who Debbie’s father is, and believes her dreams are prophecies. Rounding out their small family is Maeve’s brother Billy, who lives in a caravan behind their house, drinks too much, and likes to impersonate famous dead writers online. Though they may have their quirks, the Whites’ fierce love for one another is never in doubt.
But Debbie’s life is changing. Earning a place at Trinity College Dublin, she commutes to her classes a few days a week. Outside the sheltered bubble of her childhood for the first time, Debbie finds herself both overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the pace and anonymity of city life. While the familiarity of the farm offers comfort, Debbie still finds herself pulling away from it. Yet just as she begins to ponder the possibilities the future holds, a resurgence of strange dreams raises her fears that she may share Maeve’s fate. Then a tragic accident upends the family’s equilibrium, and Debbie discovers her next steps may no longer be hers to choose.
Gorgeous and beautifully wrought, Snowflake is an affecting coming-of-age story about a young woman learning to navigate a world that constantly challenges her sense of self.
Eighteen-year-old Debbie was raised on her family’s rural dairy farm, forty minutes and a world away from Dublin. She lives with her mother, Maeve, a skittish woman who takes to her bed for days on end, claims not to know who Debbie’s father is, and believes her dreams are prophecies. Rounding out their small family is Maeve’s brother Billy, who lives in a caravan behind their house, drinks too much, and likes to impersonate famous dead writers online. Though they may have their quirks, the Whites’ fierce love for one another is never in doubt.
But Debbie’s life is changing. Earning a place at Trinity College Dublin, she commutes to her classes a few days a week. Outside the sheltered bubble of her childhood for the first time, Debbie finds herself both overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the pace and anonymity of city life. While the familiarity of the farm offers comfort, Debbie still finds herself pulling away from it. Yet just as she begins to ponder the possibilities the future holds, a resurgence of strange dreams raises her fears that she may share Maeve’s fate. Then a tragic accident upends the family’s equilibrium, and Debbie discovers her next steps may no longer be hers to choose.
Gorgeous and beautifully wrought, Snowflake is an affecting coming-of-age story about a young woman learning to navigate a world that constantly challenges her sense of self.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,601 reviews
August 10, 2021
This was not a perfect book, but it was magical, and I'd take magical over perfect any day.
Also, any comparisons between this author and Sally Rooney are unfair - this is a far superior novel to 'Normal People', as its average rating suggests it to be.
*****
Also, any comparisons between this author and Sally Rooney are unfair - this is a far superior novel to 'Normal People', as its average rating suggests it to be.
*****
March 25, 2023
First, thank you GR friend Peter for reviewing “Snowflake” by Louise Nealon and gushing over her honest representation of the country/farm folk in Kildare County in Ireland. According to Peter, who hails from that area, there is little literature reflecting the lives of the people in that area. One main reason I read is to learn about something I did not previously been acquainted. I wanted to give this novel a shot because I was very curious.
The story revolves around Debbie, the narrator, who is embarking on her university years. She’s leaving the dairy farm for the sophisticated Trinity College in Dublin. This is a coming-of-age story in that Debbie has been protected at the farm, with little city involvement. She’s intimidated by not only moving to university, but also navigating the big city. This is the story of her finding her place in the world, learning what other lifestyles there are other than dairy farming.
At University, Debbie befriends Xanthe, who comes from a wealthy Dublin family. From her friendship with Xanthe, she learns how different her life is versus one who grew up in the city. Debbie is funny, in a deadpan way. Xanthe, like so many modern young adults is a vegan. She is aghast that Debbie drinks milk and eats meat. She asks Debbie if she uses Oat Milk, to which Debbie deadpans “I grew up on a dairy farm”. Xanthe suggests that Debbie meditate. Debbie replies, I do, it’s called milking cows. I’m not giving Debbie credit for all her witty one-liners. I chuckled quite a bit while I listened to the audio.
Debbie isn’t the only funny one. She comes home drunk, and her Uncle Billy gives her one glance and tells her he needs to teach her how to drink. Billy takes her to the local pub, and the lessons are hilarious. This is a quirky story laced with serious themes.
In an interview with the Irish Times, author Louise Nealon provided the roots of the novel as being personal. When she was 18, she awoke in the middle of the night convinced she was dreaming someone else’s dream. This was immediately dismissed as delusions. In Ireland, psychiatry is not thought of as being necessary, although it’s improving. Nealon wanted to write a story about the silence of mental illness in Ireland because for her, psychiatry didn’t help her, but reading literature did.
When Nealon had those dreams, she began to write them down, and in her writing, she discovered the characters of Debbie and Uncle Billy. In this novel, Nealon incorporates mental illness, especially ones involving dreams. Both Debbie and her mother, Maeve, are plagued with these sorts of dreams. Maeve makes it worse for Debbie, and it is this reason that Uncle Billy wants Debbie to go to university to get away from her mother. Debbie finds the move, from the comfort of her home to the mysterious city, difficult in defining herself, and navigating her way through life. We feel Debbie’s uncomfortable feelings, and we root for her success.
Nealon tells the Irish Times, “The title, ‘Snowflake’, addresses my generation who are often referred to as snowflakes in a disparaging way. A snowflake is a rare and wonderful thing. The six arms of a snow crystal reflect the internal order of water molecules. Like human cells, it reflects nature at its best. Snowflakes are also flawed. They are irregular in structure—evidence that nature is capable of failure, not just humans, which is a relief.” Debbie, of course, loves snowflakes, as does Uncle Billy.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Louisa Harland. I wanted to get an authentic Irish voice to match the narrator of the novel, Debbie. In my opinion, Harland was perfect in narrating Debbie, in her deadpan ways. I highly recommend the audio, although I think the novel itself would be an amazing read. I believe this will be on lists for the “Best of 2021” in fiction.
The story revolves around Debbie, the narrator, who is embarking on her university years. She’s leaving the dairy farm for the sophisticated Trinity College in Dublin. This is a coming-of-age story in that Debbie has been protected at the farm, with little city involvement. She’s intimidated by not only moving to university, but also navigating the big city. This is the story of her finding her place in the world, learning what other lifestyles there are other than dairy farming.
At University, Debbie befriends Xanthe, who comes from a wealthy Dublin family. From her friendship with Xanthe, she learns how different her life is versus one who grew up in the city. Debbie is funny, in a deadpan way. Xanthe, like so many modern young adults is a vegan. She is aghast that Debbie drinks milk and eats meat. She asks Debbie if she uses Oat Milk, to which Debbie deadpans “I grew up on a dairy farm”. Xanthe suggests that Debbie meditate. Debbie replies, I do, it’s called milking cows. I’m not giving Debbie credit for all her witty one-liners. I chuckled quite a bit while I listened to the audio.
Debbie isn’t the only funny one. She comes home drunk, and her Uncle Billy gives her one glance and tells her he needs to teach her how to drink. Billy takes her to the local pub, and the lessons are hilarious. This is a quirky story laced with serious themes.
In an interview with the Irish Times, author Louise Nealon provided the roots of the novel as being personal. When she was 18, she awoke in the middle of the night convinced she was dreaming someone else’s dream. This was immediately dismissed as delusions. In Ireland, psychiatry is not thought of as being necessary, although it’s improving. Nealon wanted to write a story about the silence of mental illness in Ireland because for her, psychiatry didn’t help her, but reading literature did.
When Nealon had those dreams, she began to write them down, and in her writing, she discovered the characters of Debbie and Uncle Billy. In this novel, Nealon incorporates mental illness, especially ones involving dreams. Both Debbie and her mother, Maeve, are plagued with these sorts of dreams. Maeve makes it worse for Debbie, and it is this reason that Uncle Billy wants Debbie to go to university to get away from her mother. Debbie finds the move, from the comfort of her home to the mysterious city, difficult in defining herself, and navigating her way through life. We feel Debbie’s uncomfortable feelings, and we root for her success.
Nealon tells the Irish Times, “The title, ‘Snowflake’, addresses my generation who are often referred to as snowflakes in a disparaging way. A snowflake is a rare and wonderful thing. The six arms of a snow crystal reflect the internal order of water molecules. Like human cells, it reflects nature at its best. Snowflakes are also flawed. They are irregular in structure—evidence that nature is capable of failure, not just humans, which is a relief.” Debbie, of course, loves snowflakes, as does Uncle Billy.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Louisa Harland. I wanted to get an authentic Irish voice to match the narrator of the novel, Debbie. In my opinion, Harland was perfect in narrating Debbie, in her deadpan ways. I highly recommend the audio, although I think the novel itself would be an amazing read. I believe this will be on lists for the “Best of 2021” in fiction.
October 5, 2021
This is a worthwhile debut, a coming of age story of young girl who lives a sheltered life on a dairy farm in Kildare with her mentally unstable mother and an alcoholic uncle.
Venturing into college life in Dublin, a world away, with excessive drinking and sexual escapades felt like nothing new and it became a little tedious for me (maybe it’s my age) . But the issues around identity and belonging, friendship, and those related to family and mental health issues were realistically portrayed, captivating and important to think about.
Debbie is a character, I couldn’t help but want the best for. Overall, the novel is well written and I will look for what Louise Nealon writes moving forward.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
Venturing into college life in Dublin, a world away, with excessive drinking and sexual escapades felt like nothing new and it became a little tedious for me (maybe it’s my age) . But the issues around identity and belonging, friendship, and those related to family and mental health issues were realistically portrayed, captivating and important to think about.
Debbie is a character, I couldn’t help but want the best for. Overall, the novel is well written and I will look for what Louise Nealon writes moving forward.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
September 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this coming of age story.
It’s set in Ireland and Debbie White is starting college in the city but lives on a dairy farm miles away.
Debbie has a close relationship to her Uncle Billy who lives in a caravan on their land and she has a strained relationship with her mom, who is thought to have mental issues. Her mother is obsessed with dreams..and Debbie is starting to have dreams too… these dreams sometimes precede real happenings that occur after she’s dreamt them.
Debbie is also having a rough transition into college life and in making friends.
I enjoyed this story and the characters!
A story of family, friendship, and madness.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
It’s set in Ireland and Debbie White is starting college in the city but lives on a dairy farm miles away.
Debbie has a close relationship to her Uncle Billy who lives in a caravan on their land and she has a strained relationship with her mom, who is thought to have mental issues. Her mother is obsessed with dreams..and Debbie is starting to have dreams too… these dreams sometimes precede real happenings that occur after she’s dreamt them.
Debbie is also having a rough transition into college life and in making friends.
I enjoyed this story and the characters!
A story of family, friendship, and madness.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
May 17, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.
I would say this is definitely my kind of fiction, modern and unique with a strong focus on mental health. For me it felt a like a mix between Sally Rooney and The Discomfort of Evening, maybe because it's set in Ireland on a farm? But also the writing style and content.
I would say this is definitely my kind of fiction, modern and unique with a strong focus on mental health. For me it felt a like a mix between Sally Rooney and The Discomfort of Evening, maybe because it's set in Ireland on a farm? But also the writing style and content.
April 28, 2024
culchie
noun Informal•Irish
an unsophisticated country person
I am a culchie. I grew up on a farm in County Galway, though I live in Dublin city these days. My country roots are something I might have run from in my youth, but lately I have grown to appreciate them. I have often felt that our tribe is underrepresented in modern Irish literature but finally, here it is. Snowflake is the Great Culchie Novel. When I saw references in the story to Wavin pipes, standing in gaps to move cattle and traditions like Cemetery Sunday, I knew I was in the hands of a true bogger.
But all joking aside, Snowflake is a terrific debut. Our narrator Debbie has recently finished school and is planning to study English at Trinity College. She lives on a dairy farm with her mother and Uncle Billy, who sleeps in a caravan at the back of the house. Her father has never been in the picture, though a gruff but kind Billy informally takes up some of these duties. James, a young man who helps to milk the cows, is in a relationship with Debbie's mum. She's an eccentric to say the least, known to dance naked in nettles and record her dreams in a compulsive manner. Dublin and Trinity are a huge shock to Debbie's system, having to ask a Garda for directions to the college on her first day. She befriends a beautiful girl named Xanthe, her wealthy South Dublin upbringing far removed from Debbie's experience. She's beginning to find her way in college, and understand how unusual her family are, when a tragedy strikes the farm, upending her life in ways she could never have expected.
Debbie is a very likeable character. Her innocence is endearing - she makes so many mistakes as she comes out of her rural shell but you're rooting for her all the way. She's also quite funny - her witty repartee with Billy and self-deprecating observations made me laugh: "Anyone else from the country is my competition. There’s only room for one gobshite from the back-arse of nowhere."
But she's also quite hard on herself, and one of the aspects of the book I most admired was the way it addresses mental health. Debbie suffers from anxiety and depression, and her mother has even deeper issues, but they both find help and come out the other side. Our country has not had a great track record in this area, and in rural Ireland the situation can be worse, as there is often a stigma attached to seeking assistance. As Debbie remarks: "It is socially acceptable to be an alcoholic in our parish as long as you don’t get treatment for it. Being fond of the drink is a form of survival around here." But I like to think we are getting better as a nation at discussing our feelings, and acknowledging our weaknesses, and books like Snowflake help to keep the conversation going.
Snowflake will no doubt end up being compared to another recent Trinity-based bestseller, but it's a really impressive novel in its own right. It's a coming-of-age story that is immensely readable, full of emotional intelligence and sparkling dialogue. If I'm being slightly critical, there is a subplot involving Debbie and her mothers' dreams that I didn't completely buy into. However, this is a minor complaint. Louise Nealon is a writer of major talent and Snowflake is an exciting debut. For this fellow culchie, her next book can't come soon enough.
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March 8, 2022No rating because I put aside for now. While I was thoroughly enjoying the writing and storyline, I wasn’t sure if the vegan jokes were humor or making fun. Also, some scenes in general with cows were too much for me. It may be best to avoid dairy farm settings for this animal lover. 😬
I received a gifted copy and hope to one day soon come back to this story.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I received a gifted copy and hope to one day soon come back to this story.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 24, 2021
Though seemingly unable to escape comparisons with Sally Rooney, this book is in an entirely different register from Rooney's work. While Rooney is interested in philosophical questions about our place in the world and how relationships work, Nealon's work is much grittier and down-to-earth. This is not a slight on either author: I've really enjoyed both of their work, but I think the similarities between them are superficial. Though Nealon's novel begins with Debbie going to university, this story is rooted in the world of a rural dairy farm. The world of Dublin and of Trinity college are secondary to the beating heart of the novel, which is Debbie's immediate family: her mother, Maeve, and her uncle, Billy. The family is loving, but struggles to function: Billy blames himself for his mother's death, and drinks heavily, while Maeve seems constantly on the point of breakdown. Debbie also uses alcohol to cope: it's all she's learnt. Though she was alienated at school, she also feels dislocated in university, and struggles to find her place, though she befriends the privileged but depressed Xanthe. This book is also an indictment of the struggling mental health systems and of clueless therapists, as characters try to seek help and meet bureacratic walls.
The ways in which we form connections and how we can cherish relationships between one another are at the heart of the novel: though crises abound, Debbie's love for her family and friends is central to her identity, and it's only through connection with others that she comes to respect herself. My only caveat about this novel is that the magical realism element -- that Debbie dreams other people's dreams -- doesn't feel fully realised, or even necessarry to the plot. The story could have worked just as well without it. Otherwise, this is an impressive debut, creating the reality of the dairy farm, and the messy emotions and experices of early adulthood. The reader always roots for Debbie as she finds her way to love herself and form her own identity.
The ways in which we form connections and how we can cherish relationships between one another are at the heart of the novel: though crises abound, Debbie's love for her family and friends is central to her identity, and it's only through connection with others that she comes to respect herself. My only caveat about this novel is that the magical realism element -- that Debbie dreams other people's dreams -- doesn't feel fully realised, or even necessarry to the plot. The story could have worked just as well without it. Otherwise, this is an impressive debut, creating the reality of the dairy farm, and the messy emotions and experices of early adulthood. The reader always roots for Debbie as she finds her way to love herself and form her own identity.
June 21, 2021
This is really more of a 3.5.
I thought the writing was excellent, the character development was impressive, and I appreciated the ending.
Overall though I can’t say I really enjoyed it. I can gladly acknowledge when an author has written a good book, and it definitely is that- the conversations are realistic (almost too realistic; the main character’s college experiences and her mother’s mental health issues made for uncomfortable reading at times, although that in itself is a sign of a proficient writer), even with the plot occasionally veering into magic realism with dream prophecies etc.
At no point though did I think “I can’t wait to get back to Snowflake”, and I mostly felt uneasy while reading it. I would definitely read more from the author though, as I said, the writing itself was beautiful. I might just be the wrong audience for the story itself.
I thought the writing was excellent, the character development was impressive, and I appreciated the ending.
Overall though I can’t say I really enjoyed it. I can gladly acknowledge when an author has written a good book, and it definitely is that- the conversations are realistic (almost too realistic; the main character’s college experiences and her mother’s mental health issues made for uncomfortable reading at times, although that in itself is a sign of a proficient writer), even with the plot occasionally veering into magic realism with dream prophecies etc.
At no point though did I think “I can’t wait to get back to Snowflake”, and I mostly felt uneasy while reading it. I would definitely read more from the author though, as I said, the writing itself was beautiful. I might just be the wrong audience for the story itself.
September 15, 2021
The September book for the Nervous Breakdown Book Club is a coming-of-age story, narrated in first-person with a minimum amount of angst and fuss, though the main character, living on the family dairy farm with her mother and uncle, deals with quite a few traumatic events, all while adjusting to her first year at an urban (Dublin) university. Mental illness versus psychic insight (and creativity) is a major theme.
The realistic dialogue holds engaging, understated humor. The title of the novel encompasses two meanings. I look forward to listening to the upcoming interview with the book’s author.
The realistic dialogue holds engaging, understated humor. The title of the novel encompasses two meanings. I look forward to listening to the upcoming interview with the book’s author.
October 9, 2021
so goddamn good.
made me feel like I was 18 all over again. And while I’d usually dissuade that notion from my mind, something about this lyrical prose made it feel like exactly the thing I needed to hear at this exact moment in my life
Amazing debut.
made me feel like I was 18 all over again. And while I’d usually dissuade that notion from my mind, something about this lyrical prose made it feel like exactly the thing I needed to hear at this exact moment in my life
Amazing debut.
September 30, 2021
Zauważyłem, że w ostatnim czasie mamy wysyp książek reklamowanych jako „nowa Sally Rooney”, porównywanych do „Normalnych ludzi” oraz innych dzieł tej irlandzkiej autorki. Nie inaczej było w przypadku „Snowflake”, któremu postanowiłem dać szansę pomimo tego, że z Rooney jest mi szczególnie nie po drodze i szybko okazało się, że to była trafna decyzja.
„Snowflake” jest prostą historią z gatunku coming-of-age o młodej dziewczynie, która powoli wchodzi w dorosłość, o jej problemach, rozterkach i przeżyciach. Debbie mieszka w małej irlandziej wsi pod Dublinem na farmie mlecznej wraz ze swoją matką, jej partnerem oraz wujkiem. Po skończeniu liceum postanawia rozpocząć studia w stolicy i dzielić swoje życie pomiędzy nowe, studenckie doświadczenia, a dom rodzinny.
To, co jest w tej książce wyjątkowego, to oniryczny klimat, który w niektórych momentach balansuje gdzieś na granicy snu i jawy, co potęgowane jest przez opowieści wujka głównej bohaterki na temat gwiazd i greckich bogów. Z drugiej strony Debbie musi poradzić sobie z pogłębiającymi się zaburzeniami psychicznymi matki, która bardzo silnie oddziałuje na córkę. Powracające sny, które przez niektórych uznawane są za prorocze i coraz bardziej skomplikowane relacje nie ułatwiają wejścia w dorosłość oraz w nowe środowisko.
Z jednej strony „Snowflake” był lekturą lekką i przyjemną, ale z drugiej nie boi się uderzać w mocniejsze struny, przez co osoby wrażliwe np. na tematy związane z samobójstwem powinny być szczególnie uważne. Dotyczy to zresztą nie tylko postaci głównej bohaterki, ale również innych, które przewijają się w trakcie powieści. Nie spodziewałem się, że książka spodoba mi się aż tak bardzo, a w tym momencie jest jedną z moich ulubieńców 2021 roku.
„Snowflake” jest prostą historią z gatunku coming-of-age o młodej dziewczynie, która powoli wchodzi w dorosłość, o jej problemach, rozterkach i przeżyciach. Debbie mieszka w małej irlandziej wsi pod Dublinem na farmie mlecznej wraz ze swoją matką, jej partnerem oraz wujkiem. Po skończeniu liceum postanawia rozpocząć studia w stolicy i dzielić swoje życie pomiędzy nowe, studenckie doświadczenia, a dom rodzinny.
To, co jest w tej książce wyjątkowego, to oniryczny klimat, który w niektórych momentach balansuje gdzieś na granicy snu i jawy, co potęgowane jest przez opowieści wujka głównej bohaterki na temat gwiazd i greckich bogów. Z drugiej strony Debbie musi poradzić sobie z pogłębiającymi się zaburzeniami psychicznymi matki, która bardzo silnie oddziałuje na córkę. Powracające sny, które przez niektórych uznawane są za prorocze i coraz bardziej skomplikowane relacje nie ułatwiają wejścia w dorosłość oraz w nowe środowisko.
Z jednej strony „Snowflake” był lekturą lekką i przyjemną, ale z drugiej nie boi się uderzać w mocniejsze struny, przez co osoby wrażliwe np. na tematy związane z samobójstwem powinny być szczególnie uważne. Dotyczy to zresztą nie tylko postaci głównej bohaterki, ale również innych, które przewijają się w trakcie powieści. Nie spodziewałem się, że książka spodoba mi się aż tak bardzo, a w tym momencie jest jedną z moich ulubieńców 2021 roku.
June 6, 2021
i rarely pick up on the style of writing of an author, mainly because i was never good at english and i tend to read books for what the story is rather than how it’s told, but this ones different :)
louise has a way of describing things that creates such a clear picture and feeling as well that i haven’t had with other authors
her similies and metaphors are very “everyday” and relatable which made me feel more connected to Debbie
i also thought all the characters were well developed and felt real
also the irish idioms were so endearing although i don’t think i would’ve understood some of them if i hadn’t had a crash course from my friends when i lived to Belfast last month!
so glad i borrowed this from my flat mate <3
louise has a way of describing things that creates such a clear picture and feeling as well that i haven’t had with other authors
her similies and metaphors are very “everyday” and relatable which made me feel more connected to Debbie
i also thought all the characters were well developed and felt real
also the irish idioms were so endearing although i don’t think i would’ve understood some of them if i hadn’t had a crash course from my friends when i lived to Belfast last month!
so glad i borrowed this from my flat mate <3
May 2, 2021
4,5 stars
‘ Snowflake’ reminds me of ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney. It’s about growing up and finding oneself, university, mental health, Ireland. As a matter of fact, I may even prefer ‘Snowflake’. The storytelling is excellent and the main character Debbie is funny, quirky and very likeable. Also her uncle Billy, her mum Maeve and her best friend Xanthe are original and great characters. I won’t be surprised if Louise Nealon will soon reach the bestseller lists.
Thank you Harper Collins and Edelweiss for the ARC.
‘ Snowflake’ reminds me of ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney. It’s about growing up and finding oneself, university, mental health, Ireland. As a matter of fact, I may even prefer ‘Snowflake’. The storytelling is excellent and the main character Debbie is funny, quirky and very likeable. Also her uncle Billy, her mum Maeve and her best friend Xanthe are original and great characters. I won’t be surprised if Louise Nealon will soon reach the bestseller lists.
Thank you Harper Collins and Edelweiss for the ARC.
June 24, 2021
You can yell and blurb and praise all you want, but it just isn't that good.
This isn't very funny, dynamic, compelling nor is it the new Sally Rooney.
Update: reading Caleb Nelson's Open water right after this, it confirms my opinion that Snowflake is nothing new, nothing special.
This isn't very funny, dynamic, compelling nor is it the new Sally Rooney.
Update: reading Caleb Nelson's Open water right after this, it confirms my opinion that Snowflake is nothing new, nothing special.
December 2, 2024
The best way to spend your last few days as an 18-year-old is to read a book about a girl's first few days as an 18-year-old.
October 3, 2021
3.5/5
Niesamowicie klimatyczna powieść coming of age, która wymyka się ramom jakiegokolwiek gatunku. Z jednej strony historia osiemnastoletniej Debbie to typowa opowieść o dorastaniu, wyjeździe na studia i próbie samodzielności, z drugiej zawiera w sobie elementy realizmu magicznego.
Główna bohaterka wychowuje się na farmie mlecznej razem z matką i wujkiem Billym. Gdy dostaje się na prestiżową uczelnię, jako prowincjuszka początkowo nie może odnaleźć się w wielkomiejskim zgiełku Dublina, ale w adaptacji pomaga jej nowa przyjaciółka o niezwykłym imieniu Ksante. To wielowarstwowa opowieść o problemach dorastania, która będzie szczególnie bliska pokoleniu postmillenialsów.
Mówiąc o Snowflake trudno uniknąć wszędobylskich porównań do innej irlandzkiej pisarki i jej głośnej powieści. I rzeczywiście, na poziomie fabularnym obie książki mają wiele wspólnego. W Normalnych ludziach mamy przecież podobne motywy - wyjazd na studia, poznawanie nowych ludzi, klasowość. W mojej ocenie, Rooney jest jednak lepsza warsztatowo. U niej wiele jest między wierszami, niedopowiedziane, przy czym Nealon zdaje się mówić wprost. Mimo że wprowadza motyw realizmu magicznego w postaci snów matki Debbie, to ostatecznie niewiele z tego wynika. Szkoda, bo to jeden z tych zdecydowanie najbardziej intrygujących wątków Snowflake. I choć całość jest bardzo sprawnie napisana to mam wrażenie, że tkwi w tej książce niewykorzystany potencjał. Na pewno jednak jest to solidny debiut, a Louise Nealon zdaje się być obiecującym nazwiskiem irlandzkiej literatury.
Niesamowicie klimatyczna powieść coming of age, która wymyka się ramom jakiegokolwiek gatunku. Z jednej strony historia osiemnastoletniej Debbie to typowa opowieść o dorastaniu, wyjeździe na studia i próbie samodzielności, z drugiej zawiera w sobie elementy realizmu magicznego.
Główna bohaterka wychowuje się na farmie mlecznej razem z matką i wujkiem Billym. Gdy dostaje się na prestiżową uczelnię, jako prowincjuszka początkowo nie może odnaleźć się w wielkomiejskim zgiełku Dublina, ale w adaptacji pomaga jej nowa przyjaciółka o niezwykłym imieniu Ksante. To wielowarstwowa opowieść o problemach dorastania, która będzie szczególnie bliska pokoleniu postmillenialsów.
Mówiąc o Snowflake trudno uniknąć wszędobylskich porównań do innej irlandzkiej pisarki i jej głośnej powieści. I rzeczywiście, na poziomie fabularnym obie książki mają wiele wspólnego. W Normalnych ludziach mamy przecież podobne motywy - wyjazd na studia, poznawanie nowych ludzi, klasowość. W mojej ocenie, Rooney jest jednak lepsza warsztatowo. U niej wiele jest między wierszami, niedopowiedziane, przy czym Nealon zdaje się mówić wprost. Mimo że wprowadza motyw realizmu magicznego w postaci snów matki Debbie, to ostatecznie niewiele z tego wynika. Szkoda, bo to jeden z tych zdecydowanie najbardziej intrygujących wątków Snowflake. I choć całość jest bardzo sprawnie napisana to mam wrażenie, że tkwi w tej książce niewykorzystany potencjał. Na pewno jednak jest to solidny debiut, a Louise Nealon zdaje się być obiecującym nazwiskiem irlandzkiej literatury.
abandoned-on-hold
July 1, 2021Oh god, it IS like Sally Rooney DNF @ page 25
September 23, 2021
Snowflake is a perfect story about imperfections.
Debbie is raised on her family's rural dairy farm. She lives with her mother, Maeve, a skittish woman who keeps her past and spends most of her days alone writing and dreaming. Maeve believes her dreams are prophecies. Rounding out their small house is Maeve's brother Billy, who lives in a caravan behind her house and fiercely love and protect Debbie.
However, Debbie is starting college soon. She has to step out of her dwelling place, commutes to classes and meets new people. In the first week, she was overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the anonymity of city life.
Besides being a coming-out-age story filled with complications and quirky moments, the story is also about self-acceptance and familial relationship. As Debbie steps out of her comfort zone, she has to navigate between new peers and the family bubble. Things eventually fall apart and the dark issues surrounding the family history and mental health are uncovered.
As the author went through depression herself, we could feel Debbie's struggles bleeding through the book. The story balances the dark themes and humour well. The discussion of mental health isn't too bleak, yet holding its weight. Do take note there are a few detailed scenes on animal cruelty.
I love how the author incorporates Irish culture into the story. The scenery, the people, the behaviour, the humour. I even stopped and search for the meaning of some Irish terms while reading.
"Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine"
"it’s in the shelter of each other’s shadows that we live"
Snowflake is a note to self to cherish your family and friends - and the moments spend alone with ourselves. Lousie Nealon is an Irish author that you shouldn't miss out on.
Rating: 5 stars
Debbie is raised on her family's rural dairy farm. She lives with her mother, Maeve, a skittish woman who keeps her past and spends most of her days alone writing and dreaming. Maeve believes her dreams are prophecies. Rounding out their small house is Maeve's brother Billy, who lives in a caravan behind her house and fiercely love and protect Debbie.
However, Debbie is starting college soon. She has to step out of her dwelling place, commutes to classes and meets new people. In the first week, she was overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the anonymity of city life.
Besides being a coming-out-age story filled with complications and quirky moments, the story is also about self-acceptance and familial relationship. As Debbie steps out of her comfort zone, she has to navigate between new peers and the family bubble. Things eventually fall apart and the dark issues surrounding the family history and mental health are uncovered.
As the author went through depression herself, we could feel Debbie's struggles bleeding through the book. The story balances the dark themes and humour well. The discussion of mental health isn't too bleak, yet holding its weight. Do take note there are a few detailed scenes on animal cruelty.
I love how the author incorporates Irish culture into the story. The scenery, the people, the behaviour, the humour. I even stopped and search for the meaning of some Irish terms while reading.
"Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine"
"it’s in the shelter of each other’s shadows that we live"
Snowflake is a note to self to cherish your family and friends - and the moments spend alone with ourselves. Lousie Nealon is an Irish author that you shouldn't miss out on.
Rating: 5 stars
June 20, 2021
3.75
this is another contemporary, coming of age tale which follows debbie, an 18 year old who lives on a dairy farm as she navigates her 1st year at university, while also trying to handle her eccentric and troubled mother and uncle. if you know me you know i love a coming of age story, so this premise was right up my street. the writing was beautiful and lyrical but also raw, perfectly capturing the mindset of what it’s like to be a young woman figuring out life and trying to survive university (perfect for fans of sally rooney and naosie dolan in that regard). it also had a small magical realism element related to dreams which i definitely think added something unique to the story, even though i do wish it was developed a bit more. i also really enjoyed the irish slang in the dialogue and the exploration of some of the folklore, i found it all so interesting to read about! nealon also touches on several themes in this book too, like mental illness, family dynamics, friendship, identity, alcoholism, the pressure of university, and more.
but can we talk about how RELATABLE this book was for a sec??? i was feeling very attacked while reading it, especially by xanthe because 1) we both have burnt-out gifted kid syndrome and refuse to accept less than a first on our uni essays, and 2) we have similar book taste (she’s a fan of just kids by patti smith, for example). although i don’t live on a farm like debbie, i am from a rural area so i also related to the parts about being from a small town where there’s not much to do. the general ‘fish out of water’ feeling/imposter syndrome you get when you first begin university was very relatable too.
however, the story did feel a bit disjointed at times and i would’ve liked a few things and some of the themes to be explored a bit more, which is why i didn’t give it a 4 star rating. but overall i thought it was a pretty solid debut, and very relatable, so i’ll definitely be looking out for whatever this author releases in the future!
this is another contemporary, coming of age tale which follows debbie, an 18 year old who lives on a dairy farm as she navigates her 1st year at university, while also trying to handle her eccentric and troubled mother and uncle. if you know me you know i love a coming of age story, so this premise was right up my street. the writing was beautiful and lyrical but also raw, perfectly capturing the mindset of what it’s like to be a young woman figuring out life and trying to survive university (perfect for fans of sally rooney and naosie dolan in that regard). it also had a small magical realism element related to dreams which i definitely think added something unique to the story, even though i do wish it was developed a bit more. i also really enjoyed the irish slang in the dialogue and the exploration of some of the folklore, i found it all so interesting to read about! nealon also touches on several themes in this book too, like mental illness, family dynamics, friendship, identity, alcoholism, the pressure of university, and more.
but can we talk about how RELATABLE this book was for a sec??? i was feeling very attacked while reading it, especially by xanthe because 1) we both have burnt-out gifted kid syndrome and refuse to accept less than a first on our uni essays, and 2) we have similar book taste (she’s a fan of just kids by patti smith, for example). although i don’t live on a farm like debbie, i am from a rural area so i also related to the parts about being from a small town where there’s not much to do. the general ‘fish out of water’ feeling/imposter syndrome you get when you first begin university was very relatable too.
however, the story did feel a bit disjointed at times and i would’ve liked a few things and some of the themes to be explored a bit more, which is why i didn’t give it a 4 star rating. but overall i thought it was a pretty solid debut, and very relatable, so i’ll definitely be looking out for whatever this author releases in the future!
January 25, 2025
I went back and forth on this one as I was reading it. I thought that the main character was interesting and quirky, but unfortunately I found the story itself to be all over the place. Juxtaposing the main character’s life on the farm/family life against her new life at university is obviously integral to the story, but l don’t think that this back and forth was handled all that adeptly. I had this feeling while reading that I wasn’t quite breaking through the surface of the story. There are lots of ideas, though most of them are not really pursued to the fullest in my opinion. This takes away from the impact of some of the more serious moments. 2.5 rounded up I think.
December 9, 2021
2.5
Na początku byłam zachwycona cudownym językiem, jego subtelnością i trafnością metafor, a jednocześnie urzekał mnie ten klimat przesycony smutkiem i spokojem, pewną melancholią. I to się nie zmieniło, bo pozostało pięknie aż do końca pod względem stylu. Ale sama historia do mnie nie trafiła. To, co podobało mi się w niej na początku, czym byłam wręcz zachwycona, z czasem się nie rozwinęło, miałam wrażenie, że ta fabuła jest wręcz statyczna, że cały czas czytam o tym samym, że to do niczego nie prowadzi. Lubię historie powolne i otwarte, ale tu miałam uczucia pewnego znużenia, niechęci i niesmaku - bo to mocno naturalistyczna książka, czego osobiście bardzo, BARDZO nie lubię. Opisów traktowania zwierząt, opisów chorób - mam wrażenie, że pisarze, którzy tworzą naturalistyczne historie prześcigają się w tym, jak zrobić książkę obrzydliwszą, jak paskudne metafory i niesmaczne opisy umieścić, by zapaść w pamięć. Ta książka nie była szczytem tego, co opisuję, ale mimo wszystko, jest tego dużo i nie podobało mi się to. Ale to moje własne upodobanie - ja nie lubię takich książek i już. Doceniam 'Snowflake' za pierwszą połowę i cudowny styl, do tego ciekawy motyw snów. Ale, niestety, to nie była książka dla mnie. Choć nigdy nie powiem, że była zła. Wręcz zachęcam do spróbowania, jeśli lubicie takie historie. A co do podobieństw do Sally Rooney - zależy, jak na to spojrzeć. Moim zdaniem, mocno przesadzone. Przynajmniej ja tego nie widziałam.
Na początku byłam zachwycona cudownym językiem, jego subtelnością i trafnością metafor, a jednocześnie urzekał mnie ten klimat przesycony smutkiem i spokojem, pewną melancholią. I to się nie zmieniło, bo pozostało pięknie aż do końca pod względem stylu. Ale sama historia do mnie nie trafiła. To, co podobało mi się w niej na początku, czym byłam wręcz zachwycona, z czasem się nie rozwinęło, miałam wrażenie, że ta fabuła jest wręcz statyczna, że cały czas czytam o tym samym, że to do niczego nie prowadzi. Lubię historie powolne i otwarte, ale tu miałam uczucia pewnego znużenia, niechęci i niesmaku - bo to mocno naturalistyczna książka, czego osobiście bardzo, BARDZO nie lubię. Opisów traktowania zwierząt, opisów chorób - mam wrażenie, że pisarze, którzy tworzą naturalistyczne historie prześcigają się w tym, jak zrobić książkę obrzydliwszą, jak paskudne metafory i niesmaczne opisy umieścić, by zapaść w pamięć. Ta książka nie była szczytem tego, co opisuję, ale mimo wszystko, jest tego dużo i nie podobało mi się to. Ale to moje własne upodobanie - ja nie lubię takich książek i już. Doceniam 'Snowflake' za pierwszą połowę i cudowny styl, do tego ciekawy motyw snów. Ale, niestety, to nie była książka dla mnie. Choć nigdy nie powiem, że była zła. Wręcz zachęcam do spróbowania, jeśli lubicie takie historie. A co do podobieństw do Sally Rooney - zależy, jak na to spojrzeć. Moim zdaniem, mocno przesadzone. Przynajmniej ja tego nie widziałam.
June 27, 2021
My bias against the first-person POV is mainly aesthetic. However, there are some practical reasons for my ire. The main one is that this choice of POV makes it even more difficult than it is already to keep from conflating ‘author’ and ‘protagonist’. Like, conceptually I know that MC Debbie and author Louise Nealon are two distinct entities and may indeed be radically different in every way. However, a bildungsroman-ish novel with clear autobiographical elements (Debbie’s arc is all about a country girl leaving home to study at Trinity; Nealon’s bio states that she’s from a farm in Kildare and studied English in Trinners) and a first-person POV? Let’s just say I’m not giving ‘Debbie’ much benefit of the doubt when she speaks like a tit in her early twenties.
Aside from the two main reasons I bought this book – supporting Irish authors and keeping up with the zeitgeist – I genuinely thought this might actually hit my buttons. I too was once a sheltered country girl going to the big city for college and feeling horribly lost from day one. However, right from the start I lost sympathy with Debbie.
“ ‘I lost my ticket,’ I say.
‘Love, if you bought the ticket you’d remember how much it cost.’
‘But I genuinely can’t.’”
Even I wasn’t this much of a dope. The ‘exceptionally smart’ Debbie also doesn’t realise she has to register for her course online and has to ask directions to Trinity. From Grafton Street. Um, okay.
The rest of the book is just a series of events in the lives of Debbie’s bipolar mother and depressed uncle. Debbie herself may or may not have mental health issues, but the topic is treated with such disdain and scorn that it’s hard to say where either Nealon comes down on it. It's disturbingly possible that she's on the side of the people who coined the snowflake [derogatory] version of the title.
“If Audrey had kept quiet and continued to drink at home, people would still have sent their kids to piano lessons. Audrey’s problem was admitting that she had a problem, and the problem was with alcohol, the one thing everyone loved.”
This is a description of the local therapist in Debbie’s home town. There are so many problems in these two sentences alone. The ONE thing everyone loves? Everyone? And is that really Audrey’s problem? Or is it the problem of the people around her? In addition, this is presented as received wisdom from Debbie’s neighbours. Debbie does not question this in any way. Yet she’s apparently very smart? I guess in the ‘I am very intelligent’ meme sense only.
Debbie has various encounters with the psychology and psychiatry services, which she describes thusly.
“At this stage, I’m expecting a warning not to put crayons up my nose.”
“I’ve been meditating on the farm for years. We call it milking cows.”
“Everyone knows St Pats [sic: should be St Pat’s]. It’s the place where alcoholics and anorexics go to surrender.”
Like. Wow. Can you spell ‘patronising’? Or ‘complete misapprehension of the function of therapy’?
“If I haven’t earned the title of depression, then neither has she. Because she is a lot less miserable than I am. Or she certainly ought to be.”
Oh. My. God.
Debbie is vulgar, self-obsessed, and unlikeable. She once visits her friend’s house nominally to make up after an argument and instead screams at her for being ‘entitled’. Remarkably, Xanthe doesn’t drop her after this, and instead joins a road trip with Debbie and her therapist that had me tearing my hair out about how this is not what therapy is. Therapy doesn’t exist to provide everyone with a Merlin-like mentor who teaches you the secrets of the universe. Therapy is a professional service to help you unfuck your life. Like hiring a professional carpet-cleaner when your Henry doesn’t cut it after a rager.
“ ‘Any chance of a shift?’ he asks.
I remove his hand from my shoulder and say, ‘Come back to me when your balls have dropped.’
His posse of friends laugh and I feel myself blushing, so I walk away.”
This is really very mean. We are not given any context for her being so rude, especially when she states that she was the go-to person for ‘the shift’ all through school. She employed no entry requirements before, so this random dude who knows her by reputation can’t really be blamed for asking. Also ONE PARAGRAPH LATER:
‘Once you start saying yes, it’s very hard to say no. I’ve kissed so many boys that I don’t fancy just because I feel sorry for them.”
That is deeply inconsistent? Why did you say no now, then?
“I inspect what I just squirted out of myself before I flush it away. Foam fizzed on top of the watery gold like froth on a pint.”
SO GROSS. There’s also two – TWO! – scenes describing Debbie raw-shaving her pubes. Why did I need to read this once, let alone twice?! She has the internet, she has a MACBOOK (despite her supposed poverty). GOOGLE. IT.
“ ‘But really, [Alice] shouldn’t belong to anyone, least of all Lewis Carroll. She exists independently of him.’
‘Except that he made her up,’ she argues.
‘He didn’t though.’”
HE ACTUALLY FUCKING DID THOUGH DEBBIE
“ ‘I can’t imagine someone going through life without grasping the concept of the iconic six-armed snow crystal,’ I say.
‘OK, I’m an idiot, I’m sorry.’”
Don’t apologise, Xanthe! Stop being friends with this asshole instead! Sometimes, the treasure was dumping the assholes you met along the way!
Nealon consistently refuses to use contractions, for no reason. It can’t be in service of rendering accurate Hiberno-English, because that would require more contractions, not less.
‘we are playing a word association game’
‘The label says they are distressed.’
‘They are doing well to survive the winter.’
‘they are a hardy bunch’
ARGH. I suppose I should be thankful she chose to use quotation marks.
Regarding the plots about
Loath as I am to say it, Sally Rooney deserves better than being comp'd with this offensive drivel.
Aside from the two main reasons I bought this book – supporting Irish authors and keeping up with the zeitgeist – I genuinely thought this might actually hit my buttons. I too was once a sheltered country girl going to the big city for college and feeling horribly lost from day one. However, right from the start I lost sympathy with Debbie.
“ ‘I lost my ticket,’ I say.
‘Love, if you bought the ticket you’d remember how much it cost.’
‘But I genuinely can’t.’”
Even I wasn’t this much of a dope. The ‘exceptionally smart’ Debbie also doesn’t realise she has to register for her course online and has to ask directions to Trinity. From Grafton Street. Um, okay.
The rest of the book is just a series of events in the lives of Debbie’s bipolar mother and depressed uncle. Debbie herself may or may not have mental health issues, but the topic is treated with such disdain and scorn that it’s hard to say where either Nealon comes down on it. It's disturbingly possible that she's on the side of the people who coined the snowflake [derogatory] version of the title.
“If Audrey had kept quiet and continued to drink at home, people would still have sent their kids to piano lessons. Audrey’s problem was admitting that she had a problem, and the problem was with alcohol, the one thing everyone loved.”
This is a description of the local therapist in Debbie’s home town. There are so many problems in these two sentences alone. The ONE thing everyone loves? Everyone? And is that really Audrey’s problem? Or is it the problem of the people around her? In addition, this is presented as received wisdom from Debbie’s neighbours. Debbie does not question this in any way. Yet she’s apparently very smart? I guess in the ‘I am very intelligent’ meme sense only.
Debbie has various encounters with the psychology and psychiatry services, which she describes thusly.
“At this stage, I’m expecting a warning not to put crayons up my nose.”
“I’ve been meditating on the farm for years. We call it milking cows.”
“Everyone knows St Pats [sic: should be St Pat’s]. It’s the place where alcoholics and anorexics go to surrender.”
Like. Wow. Can you spell ‘patronising’? Or ‘complete misapprehension of the function of therapy’?
“If I haven’t earned the title of depression, then neither has she. Because she is a lot less miserable than I am. Or she certainly ought to be.”
Oh. My. God.
Debbie is vulgar, self-obsessed, and unlikeable. She once visits her friend’s house nominally to make up after an argument and instead screams at her for being ‘entitled’. Remarkably, Xanthe doesn’t drop her after this, and instead joins a road trip with Debbie and her therapist that had me tearing my hair out about how this is not what therapy is. Therapy doesn’t exist to provide everyone with a Merlin-like mentor who teaches you the secrets of the universe. Therapy is a professional service to help you unfuck your life. Like hiring a professional carpet-cleaner when your Henry doesn’t cut it after a rager.
“ ‘Any chance of a shift?’ he asks.
I remove his hand from my shoulder and say, ‘Come back to me when your balls have dropped.’
His posse of friends laugh and I feel myself blushing, so I walk away.”
This is really very mean. We are not given any context for her being so rude, especially when she states that she was the go-to person for ‘the shift’ all through school. She employed no entry requirements before, so this random dude who knows her by reputation can’t really be blamed for asking. Also ONE PARAGRAPH LATER:
‘Once you start saying yes, it’s very hard to say no. I’ve kissed so many boys that I don’t fancy just because I feel sorry for them.”
That is deeply inconsistent? Why did you say no now, then?
“I inspect what I just squirted out of myself before I flush it away. Foam fizzed on top of the watery gold like froth on a pint.”
SO GROSS. There’s also two – TWO! – scenes describing Debbie raw-shaving her pubes. Why did I need to read this once, let alone twice?! She has the internet, she has a MACBOOK (despite her supposed poverty). GOOGLE. IT.
“ ‘But really, [Alice] shouldn’t belong to anyone, least of all Lewis Carroll. She exists independently of him.’
‘Except that he made her up,’ she argues.
‘He didn’t though.’”
HE ACTUALLY FUCKING DID THOUGH DEBBIE
“ ‘I can’t imagine someone going through life without grasping the concept of the iconic six-armed snow crystal,’ I say.
‘OK, I’m an idiot, I’m sorry.’”
Don’t apologise, Xanthe! Stop being friends with this asshole instead! Sometimes, the treasure was dumping the assholes you met along the way!
Nealon consistently refuses to use contractions, for no reason. It can’t be in service of rendering accurate Hiberno-English, because that would require more contractions, not less.
‘we are playing a word association game’
‘The label says they are distressed.’
‘They are doing well to survive the winter.’
‘they are a hardy bunch’
ARGH. I suppose I should be thankful she chose to use quotation marks.
Regarding the plots about
Loath as I am to say it, Sally Rooney deserves better than being comp'd with this offensive drivel.
July 6, 2021
I tend to avoid some books when they're being hyped up in the media for fear they will not live up to that hype, this is one of those books I avoided at all costs for weeks. I then started to see comparisons being made to Sally Rooney's Normal People and decided hell no not for me. (Apologies Sally Rooney fans!) Fast forward to a Borrowbox update and this beauty popped up in the audiobook section, I thought what have I got to lose.
It's not often I say this but this piece of writing is a sublime masterpiece brimming with beautiful imagery and descriptive passages that sit comfortably within the book. Often when a book is heavy with description and imagery the story or characters can get drowned out. This is the opposite with Louise's debut. The lives and personalities of Debbie, Billy and Maeve come to life with her use of language and they honestly feel like people I've know all my life.
Snowflake is a book that is a reality for so many who have travelled from somewhere small to a big city and initially felt consumed and smothered. Again, not only did Nealon show this, she makes us feel that lump growing in the back of your throat as Debbie battles through.
This is not just a simple coming of age story. Snowflake addresses mental illness, consent, suicide and addiction with a gentle yet realistic touch. Louise demonstrates the sad truth that there is still a huge amount of shame and silence surrounding these topics.
Louise Harland narrated the book and there could not have been a better person. She epitomises Debbie and really brings her character and little quirks to life.
If you've been putting this one off or even ignoring it completely, please don't. Don't let silly comparisons influence you, go devour this gem for the piece of beautiful art that it truly is. Without a doubt it will be in my books of the year and I cannot wait to see what's coming next from Louise Nealon.
It's not often I say this but this piece of writing is a sublime masterpiece brimming with beautiful imagery and descriptive passages that sit comfortably within the book. Often when a book is heavy with description and imagery the story or characters can get drowned out. This is the opposite with Louise's debut. The lives and personalities of Debbie, Billy and Maeve come to life with her use of language and they honestly feel like people I've know all my life.
Snowflake is a book that is a reality for so many who have travelled from somewhere small to a big city and initially felt consumed and smothered. Again, not only did Nealon show this, she makes us feel that lump growing in the back of your throat as Debbie battles through.
This is not just a simple coming of age story. Snowflake addresses mental illness, consent, suicide and addiction with a gentle yet realistic touch. Louise demonstrates the sad truth that there is still a huge amount of shame and silence surrounding these topics.
Louise Harland narrated the book and there could not have been a better person. She epitomises Debbie and really brings her character and little quirks to life.
If you've been putting this one off or even ignoring it completely, please don't. Don't let silly comparisons influence you, go devour this gem for the piece of beautiful art that it truly is. Without a doubt it will be in my books of the year and I cannot wait to see what's coming next from Louise Nealon.
August 13, 2022
Snowflake hat mich in vielerlei Hinsicht positiv überrascht. Am Anfang dachte ich, es wäre die typische Geschichte einer jungen Frau vom Lande, die völlig naiv an die Uni kommt, sich dort zurechtfinden muss und dabei kaum Unterstützung von zu Hause erhält. Das ist es zum Teil auch. Allerdings ist dies nur der äußere Rahmen, denn die Geschichte geht viel tiefer.
Mein häufigster Gedanke während des Lesens war einfach nur: Das arme Mädchen! Denn nicht nur, dass Debbie mit dieser neuen Situation klarkommen muss. Es wird auch nach und nach deutlich, mit welchen Schwierigkeiten sie daheim umgehen muss. Sie wächst auf einem Michbauernhof auf und muss vor der Uni oft noch beim Melken helfen. Ihr Onkel, dessen Aufgabe dies eigentlich wäre, trinkt und verschläft häufig. Dennoch ist er Debbies Stütze, da ihre Mutter psychische Probleme hat und fast den ganzen Tag verschläft. Als deren sehr viel jüngerem Freund ein großes Unglück zustößt, wird sie völlig depressiv.
Trotz dieser tragischen Geschichte ist das Buch unglaublich humorvoll, die Charaktere sind alle miteinander ein wenig skurril. Gerade für einen Debütroman ist auch die Sprache hervorragend. Ich wurde förmlich hineingesogen in das Buch. Sehr gut gefallen haben mir auch die etwas magischen Elemente. Sie geben dem Roman nochmal einen ganz eigenen Ton.
Ich bin schon jetzt gespannt auf das weitere Werk der Autorin.
Mein häufigster Gedanke während des Lesens war einfach nur: Das arme Mädchen! Denn nicht nur, dass Debbie mit dieser neuen Situation klarkommen muss. Es wird auch nach und nach deutlich, mit welchen Schwierigkeiten sie daheim umgehen muss. Sie wächst auf einem Michbauernhof auf und muss vor der Uni oft noch beim Melken helfen. Ihr Onkel, dessen Aufgabe dies eigentlich wäre, trinkt und verschläft häufig. Dennoch ist er Debbies Stütze, da ihre Mutter psychische Probleme hat und fast den ganzen Tag verschläft. Als deren sehr viel jüngerem Freund ein großes Unglück zustößt, wird sie völlig depressiv.
Trotz dieser tragischen Geschichte ist das Buch unglaublich humorvoll, die Charaktere sind alle miteinander ein wenig skurril. Gerade für einen Debütroman ist auch die Sprache hervorragend. Ich wurde förmlich hineingesogen in das Buch. Sehr gut gefallen haben mir auch die etwas magischen Elemente. Sie geben dem Roman nochmal einen ganz eigenen Ton.
Ich bin schon jetzt gespannt auf das weitere Werk der Autorin.
June 20, 2021
This book was not what I expected it to be (I’m not sure what I expected) and I’m finding it difficult to nail down my thoughts on it. I’ll articulate them as best I can.
What I loved
The dark humour - this was where the book really shone for me.
The budding friendship between Debbie and Xanthe is nicely done and the author captures how intimidating college life can be as an outsider.
The depiction of mental illness - it was frank, unvarnished, terrifying. Debbie’s mother was fascinating - an enigma I wish we’d gotten to know better.
What I didn’t enjoy
College life plays a central role in the first half of the book but barely features in the second half which was much flatter by comparison.
The magical realism (the dreams) - this wasn’t explored enough to make it work for me. It felt like a square peg in a round hole.
The drinking scenes made me feel uncomfortable. I guess it’s a testament to how well written they were but it evoked the same feeling I had reading Acts of Desperation. I cringed reading them.
The plot felt scattered. It was a frustrating rather than a satisfying read for me.
The gravely serious event in the book (no spoiler) seemed to be glossed over a little?
I felt strangely detached from the characters. There wasn’t an emotional connection for me.
Overall thoughts
The writing style is different to Sally Rooney’s; for me, the mere fact that the book is set in Trinity does not merit the comparison (in fact, it could be anywhere). That is no bad thing - Nealon’s writing is great and worthy of its own praise. All in all though, I found it a pretty flat, depressing book that left me feeling glum. Maybe it’s a case of, it’s not you book, it’s me 😕. 3/5 ⭐️
What I loved
The dark humour - this was where the book really shone for me.
The budding friendship between Debbie and Xanthe is nicely done and the author captures how intimidating college life can be as an outsider.
The depiction of mental illness - it was frank, unvarnished, terrifying. Debbie’s mother was fascinating - an enigma I wish we’d gotten to know better.
What I didn’t enjoy
College life plays a central role in the first half of the book but barely features in the second half which was much flatter by comparison.
The magical realism (the dreams) - this wasn’t explored enough to make it work for me. It felt like a square peg in a round hole.
The drinking scenes made me feel uncomfortable. I guess it’s a testament to how well written they were but it evoked the same feeling I had reading Acts of Desperation. I cringed reading them.
The plot felt scattered. It was a frustrating rather than a satisfying read for me.
The gravely serious event in the book (no spoiler) seemed to be glossed over a little?
I felt strangely detached from the characters. There wasn’t an emotional connection for me.
Overall thoughts
The writing style is different to Sally Rooney’s; for me, the mere fact that the book is set in Trinity does not merit the comparison (in fact, it could be anywhere). That is no bad thing - Nealon’s writing is great and worthy of its own praise. All in all though, I found it a pretty flat, depressing book that left me feeling glum. Maybe it’s a case of, it’s not you book, it’s me 😕. 3/5 ⭐️
dnf
October 1, 2021DNF 50%. Nie podoba mi się ta książka i nie zamierzam jej kończyć, mam poczucie marnowania czasu. Prosta obyczajówka, która scena za sceną ślizga się po powierzchni, bardzo filmowa, mało autentyczna. Nie ma w niej ani głębi typowej dla literatury pięknej, ani przyjemności z czytania dobrej obyczajówki. Bardzo nijaka.
Oczywiście z prozą Rooney nie ma nic więcej wspólnego jak tylko pochodzenie autorki i młodych bohaterów książki. Życzyłabym sobie (i tym wszystkim debiutującym pisarkom i pisarzom) mniej tych porównań do znanych i cenionych autorów i autorek. Nikomu to nie służy (poza zagraniom marketingowym, za którymi idzie kasa, wiadomo). Bo NAWET JEŚLI debiutantka czy debiutant wyprodukował(a)by powieść podobną do już nagradzanej i lubianej to czy to dobra reklama? No nie wiem.
Oczywiście z prozą Rooney nie ma nic więcej wspólnego jak tylko pochodzenie autorki i młodych bohaterów książki. Życzyłabym sobie (i tym wszystkim debiutującym pisarkom i pisarzom) mniej tych porównań do znanych i cenionych autorów i autorek. Nikomu to nie służy (poza zagraniom marketingowym, za którymi idzie kasa, wiadomo). Bo NAWET JEŚLI debiutantka czy debiutant wyprodukował(a)by powieść podobną do już nagradzanej i lubianej to czy to dobra reklama? No nie wiem.
October 2, 2021
Wspaniała historia coming-of-age, cudownie oderwana od rzeczywistości, a jednak boleśnie i jednocześnie pięknie przyziemna. Uwielbiam bohaterów razem z ich wadami, oniryczny, senny klimat, wątki zdrowia psychicznego, irlandzkość, wszystko! Literatura irlandzka nie przestaje mnie zachwycać, czekam na więcej od Louise Nealon <3
February 16, 2022
Ako snežik - magicky krásny
Veľmi dobre je tu zvládnutá téma dospievania. Nie je to zabalené do cukrovej vaty, proste poukazuje na to, že ten prechod zo strednej na vysokú nie je taký plynulý ako sa zdá. A môže byť miestami dosť krutý. Plus hlavná postava pochádza z dedinky neďaleko veľkého mesta a neskutočne sa mi páčilo ako sa to prelínalo/kontrastovalo spolu.
Najviac ma nadchlo ako celý dej je tak magický, ale zároveň prepletený krutou realitou. Hlavne pri jej mame vám to tak udrie do očí a neviete či máte byť ňou fascinovaný alebo ľutovať hlavnú hrdinku. Ale postupne sa vám to stane pri každej postave.
Hoci to má dlhý rozbeh, tak za polkou to ide šialene dolu kopcom. A koniec! Vločkin koniec bol také pohladenie na duši, kde cítite dobrý pocit z toho ako sa to celé vyvinulo. Proste také ukončenie som potrebovala.
Snehovú vločku prirovnávajú k dielam Sally Rooney. Avšak okrem toho, že sú obe írky a píšu spoločenskú beletriu, tak sú o dosť odlišné. Už len tým, že Nealon používa priamu reč a má zasnenejší, ale realistický štýl. Tým druhým si ma rozhodne získala a predbehla svoju slávnejšiu kolegyňu. Keď ste rojkom, často máte hlavu v oblakoch a následne vás prekvapí realita, tak veľmi sa stotožníte s touto knihou.
Veľmi dobre je tu zvládnutá téma dospievania. Nie je to zabalené do cukrovej vaty, proste poukazuje na to, že ten prechod zo strednej na vysokú nie je taký plynulý ako sa zdá. A môže byť miestami dosť krutý. Plus hlavná postava pochádza z dedinky neďaleko veľkého mesta a neskutočne sa mi páčilo ako sa to prelínalo/kontrastovalo spolu.
Najviac ma nadchlo ako celý dej je tak magický, ale zároveň prepletený krutou realitou. Hlavne pri jej mame vám to tak udrie do očí a neviete či máte byť ňou fascinovaný alebo ľutovať hlavnú hrdinku. Ale postupne sa vám to stane pri každej postave.
Hoci to má dlhý rozbeh, tak za polkou to ide šialene dolu kopcom. A koniec! Vločkin koniec bol také pohladenie na duši, kde cítite dobrý pocit z toho ako sa to celé vyvinulo. Proste také ukončenie som potrebovala.
Snehovú vločku prirovnávajú k dielam Sally Rooney. Avšak okrem toho, že sú obe írky a píšu spoločenskú beletriu, tak sú o dosť odlišné. Už len tým, že Nealon používa priamu reč a má zasnenejší, ale realistický štýl. Tým druhým si ma rozhodne získala a predbehla svoju slávnejšiu kolegyňu. Keď ste rojkom, často máte hlavu v oblakoch a následne vás prekvapí realita, tak veľmi sa stotožníte s touto knihou.
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