Molly Fox's Birthday: Amazon.co.uk: Deirdre Madden: Books

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Product Description

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'A novel of great subtlety, beauty and strength. She is one of our finest writers.' --Anne Enright

Review

'Equipped with an almost celestial compassion, Madden is the constant genius of Irish letters.'

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
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3.7 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully tidy tale, 19 Jul 2009

By	Mrs. Katharine Kirby "Kate" (HELSTON, Cornwall United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Molly Fox's Birthday (Paperback)

The `action' all takes place on one special day and the narration by the unamed playwright who is her adoring friend. This is a gentle hymn to the art of the actor and the experience of being involved with the theatre in general. A quick read which leaves you wondering what may happen next...

The tantalising character of Molly Fox is the hook on which the book is set and the reader may come come to differing conclusions about her life from the writer.

All is carefully paced with helpful visits from important people in both her life and that of the writer, rather like a chorus, with their history attached. The penultimate guest is rather more problematic but again only in a gentle way. This book reminds me of Anita Brookner's writing and will definitely hit the spot with readers who enjoy a superbly written jewel of a book where much is hinted at but not a lot actually happens.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Molly doesn't do intimacy', 3 Aug 2009

By	J. Minogue (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Molly Fox's Birthday (Paperback)

'In the dream I was walking through the streets of a strange city in a foreign country I did not recognise'.

The novel opens with the narrator's dream as she awakens in the house of her dear friend Molly Fox. My heart sank a little - I thought starting with a dream didn't augur well for the novel. I was wrong. It's the best novel I've read in a while.

Molly Fox's Birthday examines the friendship between the playwright narrator, Molly Fox, an actor, and Andrew, an old university friend of the nameless narrator. Each of the three have siblings that have great importance in their lives; for the narrator it's Catholic priest Father Tom, for Molly it's Fergus, who has a voice as magical as hers but is psychologically fragile. For Andrew, his brother Tony continues to have importance, even though they were not close and had nothing in common.
Through the course of one day, midsummer's day and Molly Fox's birthday, the narrator thinks about all of these players and has visits with two of them and a phone call with another. The narrator mentions how as playwright and actor both she and Molly have an interest in the transformation of the self. And that is why I liked this novel so much - it's about self transformation, identity, the bits of ourselves that our friends see and the bits our family sees.

Molly has becomes great friends with the narrator's brother Tom and her dear friend Andrew - the narrator know that she isn't allowed similar privileges with Fergus Fox. After he visits the house, delivering a birthday present, she thinks about their conversation as she gets her supper `How completely I had bought Molly's version of him! And even more to the point , how completely I had bought Molly's version of herself'.

Deidre Madden is a fine writer. At one stage she remembers sleeping with someone `this time my whole body remembered, in a rush, a shock. It was like stepping onto something that wouldn't hold and falling through'.

The novel is reflective and thoughtful and it has made me think about long term friendships. It's also very good on artefacts, how the things we have identify us.

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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A subtle and beguiling read, 6 Mar 2009

By	Isabella O "Bookworm" (Spain) - See all my reviews

This is a book that weaves its way into ones consciousness in a subtle and understated way. The style of writing is simple, clear, unshowy, but full of atmosphere. The characterisations of Molly Fox and her life-long friend evoke the complexities of friendship, and its unconditional acceptance of flaws and idiosyncrasies. A mellow and beguiling read.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Dull
Although this book wasn't awful it was really dull.
I don't have a problem with books where 'not much actually happens' but I thought the narrators thoughts just didn't... Read more

Published 2 days ago by Ms. D. Callaway

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy contender for the 2009 Orange Prize....
I've taken it upon myself to read the 2009 shortlist for the Orange Prize to see how they measured up to the worthy winner 'Home' by Marilynne Robinson. Read more

Published 2 months ago by BlestMiss T

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed
The story is narrated by Molly's friend who is staying in her home for a short period.It explores life long friendships and our ability to love our friends 'warts and all'. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Ecosse Girl

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for 2009 books
The story is written concisely and beautifully about our interior lives and what friendships bring to it. Read more

Published 3 months ago by P. L. Lim

3.0 out of 5 stars A quiet book
Molly Fox's Birthday is beautifully quiet in it's un-fussy, yet extremely well constructed writing style. Read more

Published 3 months ago by M. de Saint Sauveur

1.0 out of 5 stars Orange prize-listed contender?
An Irish writer, an Orange prize-listed book and, as such, promising an interesting read. This was a huge disappointment and a truly gruelling monologue. Read more

Published 4 months ago by LADYJANE

2.0 out of 5 stars Who Cares?
At first seductively reflective and gentle, but ultimately disappointing and the balanced wisdom of middle years begins to pall and feel schoolmistressy. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Ms. R. Medlam

5.0 out of 5 stars Feeds the brain, and the heart too
Molly Fox is an actress, who has lent her Dublin home to her best friend, the playwright who narrates this story. Read more

Published 4 months ago by emma who reads a lot

4.0 out of 5 stars Molly Fox's Birthday (Book Review)
Molly Fox's Birthday by Deirdre Madden (Book Review)
Molly Fox's Birthday is written by Deirdre Madden. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Annette Dunlea Irish Author

5.0 out of 5 stars Molly Fox just fabulous
How wonderful to find a book so simply yet cleverly written! Molly Fox's Birthday is like having a good chat over coffee with an old friend, while encouraged ever so subtly to... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Caroline Lennox

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