A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing
A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing
Book Brief
Beta205
Novel • Fiction
Ireland • 1980s
2013
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride is a stream-of-consciousness novel that explores the life of a young woman growing up in Ireland, grappling with family trauma, religious pressures, and personal struggles. The narrative delves into her complex relationships, predominantly with her brother who is dealing with a severe illness.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Eimear McBride's A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing captivates with its unique, fragmented prose, immersing readers in the protagonist's visceral experiences. Praised for its raw emotional depth, the novel's unconventional style can challenge readability. Nevertheless, it stands out as a poignant exploration of trauma and resilience, leaving a lasting impact.
Who Should Read A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing?
A reader who would enjoy Eimear McBride's A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing likely appreciates experimental and stream-of-consciousness narratives. Fans of James Joyce's Ulysses or Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse would find this novel's fragmented, poetic prose compelling, as it deeply explores trauma and identity with raw, immersive intensity.
A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing was written by Eimear McBride over the course of nine years before she found a publisher for the book.
The novel won the inaugural Goldsmiths Prize in 2013, which celebrates fiction that "breaks the mold or extends the possibilities of the novel form."
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Eimear McBride's debut novel is notable for its unique and experimental narrative style, drawing comparisons to writers like James Joyce.
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205
Novel • Fiction
Ireland • 1980s
2013
Adult
18+ years
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