- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Sceptre; 1st Edition edition (16 Oct 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340896671
- ISBN-13: 978-0340896679
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
36,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #66 in Books > Fiction > Women Writers & Fiction > Women's Literary Fiction
The Language of Others
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'It's the warmth and roundedness of her characters that give Morrall's novels their appeal . . . THE LANGUAGE OF OTHERS offers a suspenseful tale with a taut, spare style and real emotional impact. In this and in its brave challenge to our assumptions about what it means to be normal it's a more than worthy shelfmate to Astonishing Splashes of Colour.' (Guardian )
'A story of self-discovery, of difficult family relationships and redemptive friendships that slips between past and present and unfolds not so much a coming-of-age as a coming-to-understanding . . . An enjoyable, engrossing read' (Independent )
'A writer with a phenomenal imagination and power with words' (Scotsman )
'Pacy with an intriguing plot, Morrall has produced a joyful novel . . . Morrall combines thoughtful, satisfying writing with an accessible style. Expect plaudits all round.' (Birmingham Post )
'She [Morrall] also has a talent for making characters who might ordinarily alienate readers seem appealing, funny and moving. The result is a surprisingly joyful novel' (Daily Mail )
'Not only very readable, but very moving; a funny, and occasionally sad, account of what it feels like to be outside the norm' (The Times )
'Subtle and absorbing . . . Morrall has a talent for making pitiable characters triumphantly sympathetic' (Guardian )
'Morrall's rewarding third novel combines strong characters and vital evocations of place with a greater psychological intensity' (Financial Times )
'A story of self-discovery, of difficult family relationships and redemptive friendships that slips between past and present and unfolds not so much a coming-of-age as a coming-to-understanding . . . An enjoyable, engrossing read' (Independent )
'A writer with a phenomenal imagination and power with words' (Scotsman )
'Pacy with an intriguing plot, Morrall has produced a joyful novel . . . Morrall combines thoughtful, satisfying writing with an accessible style. Expect plaudits all round.' (Birmingham Post )
'Enthralling'
(Irish Times )'She [Morrall] also has a talent for making characters who might ordinarily alienate readers seem appealing, funny and moving. The result is a surprisingly joyful novel' (Daily Mail )
'Not only very readable, but very moving; a funny, and occasionally sad, account of what it feels like to be outside the norm' (The Times )
'Subtle and absorbing . . . Morrall has a talent for making pitiable characters triumphantly sympathetic' (Guardian )
'Morrall's rewarding third novel combines strong characters and vital evocations of place with a greater psychological intensity' (Financial Times )
Independent
'An enjoyable, engrossing read'
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An enjoyable novel that will probably prompt you to think twice about any assumptions you make about family, relationships and mental health.
Clare Morrall is obviously very good at being thought-provoking without being po-faced - I found this novel funny, moving and a satisfying read.
Without wanting to give too much away, The Language of Others centres on a very appealing main character (Jessica) who has always felt a bit out of step with the rest of the world in a way she can't place. Surrounded from childhood by bullying cousins, a sister she can't relate to, and eventually a domineering but compelling husband, she struggles to understand why everyone is behaving in such inexplicable ways.
I sat in an airport cafe, reading occasionally and then looking around me and wondering about what exactly 'normal' is meant to be. Sometimes the book made me laugh out loud, which must surely have made my fellow travellers wonder whether I was! An interesting topic, fleshed out by Morrall into a novel that's funny, thought-provoking and compassionately written.
Clare Morrall is obviously very good at being thought-provoking without being po-faced - I found this novel funny, moving and a satisfying read.
Without wanting to give too much away, The Language of Others centres on a very appealing main character (Jessica) who has always felt a bit out of step with the rest of the world in a way she can't place. Surrounded from childhood by bullying cousins, a sister she can't relate to, and eventually a domineering but compelling husband, she struggles to understand why everyone is behaving in such inexplicable ways.
I sat in an airport cafe, reading occasionally and then looking around me and wondering about what exactly 'normal' is meant to be. Sometimes the book made me laugh out loud, which must surely have made my fellow travellers wonder whether I was! An interesting topic, fleshed out by Morrall into a novel that's funny, thought-provoking and compassionately written.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was hard to put down... until I realised that if I carried reading so quickly I would reach the end too soon. Fortunately it stayed with me for a long time.
Morrall retains her rare talent for being funny, witty, and a very good read, while still being intellectually stimulating to the deeper reader. Nice to see subjects such as asperger's syndrome approached from such a positive light.... all those wonderfully colourful characters brightening up the streets of Birmingham.. can't wait to see the next one....
Morrall retains her rare talent for being funny, witty, and a very good read, while still being intellectually stimulating to the deeper reader. Nice to see subjects such as asperger's syndrome approached from such a positive light.... all those wonderfully colourful characters brightening up the streets of Birmingham.. can't wait to see the next one....
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The reviewer who wrote this book is a bit boring was being kind, in my opinion. It was very boring for me...story kept switching between main character's early childhood, early marriage, and current life with her 24 year old son. Each of these subplots dragged enough in themselves and switching between them lost any sense of interest that may have developed for me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Loved it...
I read it twice, enjoyed it both times and saw different things in it both times!
It's a lovely book with very real characters - very human characters that you can identify... Read more
It's a lovely book with very real characters - very human characters that you can identify... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sally Ann
The Language of Others
An extraordinary insight into the lives of families who have an Aspergers Member, but also how they can all be effected by the condition. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ms. Helen K. Lunt
An affront
This was indeed a dull story, which didn't seem to have any point other than to 'cash in on' the topicality of Asperger's Syndrome, now that so many more people have heard of it... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Molly Edric
Bit boring
I picked this book because of all of the positive ratings it had received. However, I found it quite dull and ungripping, despite reading it on holiday which is when I get most... Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009 by A. Ryan
Rather dull
My views on this book are strongly influenced by my dislike of female characters who allow themselves to be walked all over by anyone and everyone. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by Helena
Unabridged audiobook.
This was a fascinating study of relationships within a family that has to cope with some fairly common mental health problems. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by DubaiReader
The best yet
I've read all three of Clare's books and loved them but this is the best yet - I await the fourth with impatience! The characters evoke emotion (not always positively! Read more
Published on 24 May 2009 by Laura Clay
Not what I was expecting...
This is the first book I have read by this author and ordinarily I wouldn't have picked this up in a bookshop but it was recommended by a friend, so I started..... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2009 by Mrs. S. Payne
the language of others
This book was chosen by my book group. I must admit, I was disappointed and didn't think it was particularly well-written. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Ms. Jill M. Adamson
Fantastic Read
Another brilliant read from this author who can do no wrong. Her charactisations are spot on, and once again she manages to tackle emotive subjects with just the right touch. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2008 by Nicola
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