Butterflies in November

(Paperback)

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Description

In a dark Icelandic November, the narrator sees her husband leave without a word of warning. At the same time, her best friend pushes her deaf mute five-year-old son into her care. In an attempt to get a grip, she sets off on a road trip around Iceland with the little man. On the way, numerous encounters and adventures all hilariously told, include a Latvian orchestra, an intrusive mother and a slew of exes trying to make a come back. Butterflies in November is a very light, extremely funny and very moving journey of a woman on the recovery path from missed motherhood and unsuccessful relationships.

Reviews

Funny and wistful... very moving, layered and optimistic -- Isabel Berwick Financial Times Evocative and humorous Observer [Butterflies in November] has many bleak moments, but plenty of funny ones too... we warm to Olafsdottir's clear-eyed, quirky heroine Daily Mail Playfully self-conscious... reflecting on the relationships between reading and experience Guardian Brilliantly written, and the main protagonist is such a fascinating character. The author... takes mudane subjects in life... and makes them quirky, fun, adorable and bizarre. You'll savour each page of this book Company Sadness and humour coexist beautifully in Butterflies in November Metro The darkly comic narrative touches and captivates at every turn The Lady Gorgeously quirky Stylist The prose is beautifully crafted and translated... Carefully observed, sensuously written, and often darkly comic - Butterflies in November is a moving story of self-discovery and motherhood. Highly recommended. Booktrust A comic, but also moving, story of divorce, escape and unplanned parental responsibilities Choice At once light, comical and uniquely moving. It is a legacy of life's mistakes; a deliciously unaffected commentary on the nature of relationships and motherhood; a feast of dramatic, rough-hewn landscapes, succulent local delicacies and peculiar customs. You will cry, you will laugh... and you will learn something new about the nature of love. Mumsnet What a fantastic novel! ... Just do yourself a favour and read this book Newbooksmag, 5-star reader review, and 5-star group read score Uplifting ... funny ... an addictive read PA Blackly funny and deeply moving Bookanista A funny, moving and occasionally bizarre exploration of life's upheavals and reversals Financial Times (Books of the Year) Amazingly different, witty, hilarious black comedy read...a must read which will bring a smile as you travel along with her and her young companion Lovereading Stunning story that holds you captive with its gentle intrigue and humour. A delightful, quirky book that you will love Lovereading A novel deeply indebted to feminine literary tradition...Laced with cynicism and irony... nevertheless a truthful and poignant study of a twenty-first century woman Lovereading Strangely addictive read, beautifully written Lovereading

Author Bio

Auour Ava Olafsdottir was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1958. She studied art history and art theory in Paris and is a lecturer in history of art at the University of Iceland and a director of the University of Iceland Art Collection. The Greenhouse, published in 2007 won the DV Culture Award for literature and a women 's literary prize in Iceland, was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Award and received unanimous acclaim. Auour Ava Olafsdottir lives and works in Reykjavik.