The Sopranos
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Book Description
'Compassionate and rioutously funny. It is a long time since I read a novel which had me rocking with laughter' The Times
Product Description
The choir from our Lady of Perpetual Succour School for Girls is being bussed to the national finals in the big, big city. And it's an important day for the Sopranos - Orla, Kylah, (Ra)Chell, Amanda Konky and Fionnula (the Cooler) - pub-crawling, shoplifting and body-piercing being the top priorities. Then it's time to lose that competition - lose, because a nuclear sub has just anchored in the bay and, tonight, the Man Trap disco will be full of submariners on shore-leave. There is no time for delays. . . But after the fifth bottle of alco-pop up the back of the bus it's clear that all is not going to plan, for anyone. The Sopranos are never going to be the same.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Morvern Callar', Alan Warner's first book was bleak but beautiful, yet the sequel, 'These Demented Lands' was over ambitious and difficult to read, despite some crafted writing and original ideas. 'The Sopranos' restores Warner's place as one of Scotland's finest contemporary writers, telling the story of a day trip to Edinburgh for a school choir competition from the perspective of half a dozen teenage girls - the sopranos. Warner identifies with and writes authentically from the perspective of the six girls; the description, language and dialogue is vivid. Whilst the girls are rebellious and hilarious, we are also exposed to their hopes, fears and insecurities in what is a humane and delicate story. The level of detail brings out every facet of each of the girls' personalities, and Warner shows an exceptional understanding of his subjects' emotions and inhibitions. This is one of my books of the year - highly recommended.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a difficult book to describe. Following a school choir as they travel to Edinburgh for a contest, this does take a while to get going. Initially the characters are unsympathetic, there is little event to capture interest, and the school cliques are stifling.
As the girls take in the city, however, their masks drop, and we see a more human, vulnerable side to their characters. Events take a turn for the worse, and secrets come out.
Even so, it is only with the return to their hometown and a night on the tiles that we have some true tension and the various stories come to a close.
You finish the book with a subtle affection for the characters, and a hope that things will be alright no matter what. Strangely affirming, in that way.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this is a wonderfully crafted and written book. (i dont normally do criticism). my favorite aspect of Warner's writing is his usage of the scottish way of speaking, his books have actually affected the way i speak and write informally. another aspect that i find exhilarating is the bleakness that he presents in these highland characters. it is very consuming. like pointing out light things in a dark room. on the issue of the girls' sexuality, there are many reasonable complaints about the fact that these girls act the way a dirty old man might want them to act, but i'm not so sure. i know girls here in boston and other cities that throw themselves fully into being promiscuous, based on the fact that they feel theres no other way. the girls are living in some blank highland town with no future other than being poor, getting drunk, having as much sex as possible and in the end, getting knocked up. the seemingly self-destructive sexual behavior can account fr this. the bi-sexuality could as well be seen as a quest for something more than what existence has offered, but thats not an excuse because bi-sexuality does exist in great quantity and not just in fiction. in the end, this is just an incredible read, so so good. whether you feel it's a dirty man's wishbook or a tale of existing when yr existence means nothing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
one of my top 5 read of 2010
This book takes place over a short period of time and follows school girls Fionula (the Cooler), Chell, Manda, Kylah, Orla and posh girl Kay on their choir trip the big city. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Lucinda Stern
Sweet, sad and funny
The Sopranos takes place in the course of one day, following a group of Catholic schoolgirls as they take the bus from their small Scottish village to the city to enter into a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Book 1981
A compelling and tragi-comiedy
When we meet the titular Sopranos they are about to set off from 'The Port' (A thinly disguised Oban) to a choir-competition in Edinburgh. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. James A. Hinks
a coachful of garbage
24 hours in the lives of a bunch of teenage school girls as they travel from their small seaside town to the big city to compete in a choir contest. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2009 by Alexander Bryce
Not Recommended
Having read all the 5 star reviews, I was begining to think I was missing the point of this book, but on a closer inspection I see 4 reviews are from the same person "A Customer"... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2008 by Ken Woodmixer
Dirty old man
This book gets off to a strong start. The chapters that introduce us to the characters (particularly Orla) are wonderfully written. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2007 by Al
A Tale of Moral Vandalism
Like a lot of People , I was introduced to Alan Warner`s work by Lynne Ramsey`s film adaptation of Morvern callar. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2003 by Richard J. Westwood
how did he do it!
warner has written a book with so much knowlegde on small town scottish school girls it worries me how he did it. every character can be found across the playground in any school. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2002 by littlecherubwings@yahoo.co.uk
Humane eye, nice attitude
I was recommended to Alan Warner by Michael Moorcock who was enthusiastic about his quirky mindset and if you like that strange mix of surrealism and down-to-earth common sense... Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2002
Moving and funny
Warner is back on form with this one. An esemble piece rather than the single voice of his previous books, yet again he exactly captures small town Scotland (or anywhere). Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2001
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