- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber (31 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 057123965X
- ISBN-13: 978-0571239658
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.6 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 419,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Molly Fox's Birthday
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'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
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Molly Fox is an actress, who has lent her Dublin home to her best friend, the playwright who narrates this story. The book tells the story of one midsummer day (which also happens to be Molly's birthday) with the playwright in Molly's spare room trying to write a new play, her twentieth. She discusses her relationship with Molly; her relationship with her family, including her brother Tom who is a priest; her highs and lows; her attitude toward love; and most of all, she discusses playwriting, acting and how people go about doing these as jobs.
It's this bit of the book that I wasn't expecting, and found really stimulating. If you've never thought much before about the process of acting, this is the most superb exploration of the weirdness of standing on a stage, 'being' somebody else, and why someone might end up wanting to do that for a job.
However, the book is also a great read in terms of the characters and the vividness with which it is all portrayed. It's a testament to the writing that you never have any trouble keeping track of the large cast of characters, who are all vividly conjured up. And as one other reviewer said, the house itself is a beautifully portrayed part of the novel, almost a character in itself. Madden's descriptions of Dublin on a hot summer's day are lovely too. A really wonderful summery read, with all the underlying strength and interest you could want from the most serious of books.
It's this bit of the book that I wasn't expecting, and found really stimulating. If you've never thought much before about the process of acting, this is the most superb exploration of the weirdness of standing on a stage, 'being' somebody else, and why someone might end up wanting to do that for a job.
However, the book is also a great read in terms of the characters and the vividness with which it is all portrayed. It's a testament to the writing that you never have any trouble keeping track of the large cast of characters, who are all vividly conjured up. And as one other reviewer said, the house itself is a beautifully portrayed part of the novel, almost a character in itself. Madden's descriptions of Dublin on a hot summer's day are lovely too. A really wonderful summery read, with all the underlying strength and interest you could want from the most serious of books.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Molly Fox's Birthday is beautifully quiet in it's un-fussy, yet extremely well constructed writing style. A book essentially about nothing much; the author appears to effortlessly (which is a true art) paint a picture of 4 peoples lives, one of which is only inferred. The books launching point is the actual birthday of the infamous Molly Fox, a well known actress with a velvet voice. What is so intriguing is that we only learn about 'who' Molly is by way of how the other 3 characters speak of her. This element of guardedness (no character ever truly discloses their or Molly's deepest secrets or desires) is what makes this novel a quiet yet beautiful portrait of 4 successful yet humanly flawed adults just making their way through the world as best as they can.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enchanting novel
I came across this book rather by chance whilst browsing the shelves of a bookshop; what a brilliant find it was. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ute
Take time to ponder on a single day
In Deidre Madden's Orange Prize shortlisted novel, the events cover just one day, in which the narrator wakes up in her friend's house, shops for food and gifts, and struggles to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by annie hughes
Elegant
An elegant and insightful novel which principally deals with identity and how peoples' actions have impact on others' lives. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Freckles
Varying shades of brilliance
Molly Fox is a well known and highly respected actor. While staying in New York, her friend, a well-known playwright, preparing for her next "project", is staying in her house in... Read more
Published on 27 April 2010 by Friederike Knabe
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
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 on 4 Nov 2009 by perpetual browser
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 on 19 Aug 2009 by BlestMiss T
'Molly doesn't do intimacy'
'In the dream I was walking through the streets of a strange city in a foreign country I did not recognise'. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by purpleheart
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 on 17 July 2009 by Ecosse Girl
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 on 13 July 2009 by P. L. Lim
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 on 6 July 2009 by LADYJANE
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