<strong>A hilarious and moving road trip around Iceland in an old car, told by a recently divorced woman with a five year-old boy 'on loan'</strong>
After a day of being dumped - twice - and accidentally killing a goose, the narrator begins to dream of tropical holidays far away from the chaos of her current life. instead, she finds her plans wrecked by her best friend's deaf-mute son, thrust into her reluctant care. But when a shared lottery ticket nets the two of them over 40 million kroner, she and the boy head off on a road trip across iceland, taking in cucumber-farming hotels, dead sheep, and any number of her exes desperate for another chance. Blackly comic and uniquely moving, Butterflies in November is an extraordinary, hilarious tale of motherhood, relationships and the legacy of life's mistakes.
<strong>Au?ur Ava Olafsdottir</strong> was born in Iceland in 1958, studied art history in Paris and has lectured in History of Art at the University of Iceland. Her earlier novel, The Greenhouse (2007), won the DV Culture Award for literature and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Award. She currently lives and works in Reykjavik.
"Quirky and poetic, everything is there... An extraordinary novelist" <em>Madame Figaro</em>
"A poetic and sensory narrative" <em>El Pais</em>
Reviews / Votes
Funny and wistful... very moving, layered and optimistic -- Isabel Berwick * Financial Times * Evocative and humorous * Observer * [Butterflies in November] has many bleak moments, but plenty of funny ones too... we warm to Olafsdottir's clear-eyed, quirky heroine * Daily Mail * Playfully self-conscious... reflecting on the relationships between reading and experience * Guardian * The prose is beautifully crafted and translated... Carefully observed, sensuously written, and often darkly comic - Butterflies in November is a moving story of self-discovery and motherhood. Highly recommended. * Booktrust * Brilliantly written, and the main protagonist is such a fascinating character. The author... takes mudane subjects in life... and makes them quirky, fun, adorable and bizarre. You'll savour each page of this book * Company * Sadness and humour coexist beautifully in Butterflies in November * Metro * A comic, but also moving, story of divorce, escape and unplanned parental responsibilities * Choice * At once light, comical and uniquely moving. It is a legacy of life's mistakes; a deliciously unaffected commentary on the nature of relationships and motherhood; a feast of dramatic, rough-hewn landscapes, succulent local delicacies and peculiar customs. You will cry, you will laugh... and you will learn something new about the nature of love. * Mumsnet * What a fantastic novel! ... Just do yourself a favour and read this book * Newbooksmag, 5-star reader review, and 5-star group read score * Uplifting ... funny ... an addictive read * PA * Blackly funny and deeply moving * Bookanista * The darkly comic narrative touches and captivates at every turn * The Lady * Gorgeously quirky * Stylist * Amazingly different, witty, hilarious black comedy read...a must read which will bring a smile as you travel along with her and her young companion * Lovereading * Stunning story that holds you captive with its gentle intrigue and humour. A delightful, quirky book that you will love * Lovereading * A novel deeply indebted to feminine literary tradition...Laced with cynicism and irony... nevertheless a truthful and poignant study of a twenty-first century woman * Lovereading * Strangely addictive read, beautifully written * Lovereading * Quirky, fun, serious, unexpected * France Culture * Perfect * Le Monde * It is as rare to be hit in the heart twice as to win the lottery. yet that's what happened with the new novel by Au?ur Ava Olafsdottir * Elle * Enchanting and moving * Paris Match * A joyous celebration of life... love, tenderness and sex * La Vanguardia * A poetic and sensory narrative * El Pais * Quirky and poetic, everything is there... An extraordinary novelist * Madame Figaro *
Language
Place of publication
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78227-010-2 (9781782270102)
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Schweitzer Classification
Au?ur Ava Olafsdottir was born in Iceland in 1958, studied art history in Paris and has lectured in History of Art at the University of Iceland. Her earlier novel, The Greenhouse (2007), won the DV Culture Award for literature and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Award. She currently lives and works in Reykjavik.
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