***LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN’S FICTION PRIZE 2015***
At birth, Nouschka forms a bond with her twin that can never be broken.
At six, she’s the child star daughter of Quebec’s most famous musician.
At sixteen, she’s a high-school dropout kicking up with her beloved brother.
At nineteen, she’s the Beauty Queen of Boulevard Saint-Laurent.
At twenty, she’s back in night school. And falling for an ex-convict.
And it’s all being filmed by a documentary crew.
At birth, Nouschka forms a bond with her twin that can never be broken.
At six, she’s the child star daughter of Quebec’s most famous musician.
At sixteen, she’s a high-school dropout kicking up with her beloved brother.
At nineteen, she’s the Beauty Queen of Boulevard Saint-Laurent.
At twenty, she’s back in night school. And falling for an ex-convict.
And it’s all being filmed by a documentary crew.
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Reviews
'I loved how strong Nouschka is - totally inspiring. And a stunning read!' Company.
'A marvelously intriguing novel of a family in dissolution, each member of which is richly and memorably characterized ... beautifully written, particularly rich in simile and metaphor and compulsively readable ... a delight' Booklist.
'Delightfully bizarre ... The author stuns with the vivid descriptions and metaphors that are studded throughout the book' Kirkus.
'For fans of the author, and high quality literary fiction this surpasses expectations ... strong storytelling and narrative drive' New Books.
'Peppered with sharply witty phrases ... There are touches of whimsy - but this is far from a whimsical novel. It's about fame and its fallout, parenting and irresponsibility, love and dependency ... What begins as a rambunctious, party girl's story ends in quiet hope with a riotous ride in between' A Life in Books.
'An exuberantly written coming-of-age story ... Flashbulb-bright and memorable ... Nicolas and Nouschka are the beautiful, frozen, fetishised symbols of separatist Quebec. As they try to wrench themselves into being, their story is as entrancing and antic and sensual as a dream' Amity Gaige, Guardian.
'O'Neill's prose is beautiful - her turns of phrase and vivid descriptions of Nouschka and Nicolas' life on the edge of society are nothing short of brilliant ... A brilliantly written coming-of-age tale where you never know what's going to happen next' **** Heat.
'O'Neill's voice is singular, brave, magical, and bursting with stark beauty' Lisa Moore, author of February.
'Reminded me a little of The Perks of Being a Wallflower as it is a coming of age tale with dark overtones. The writing is remarkable; Nouschka's unique way of looking at the world is reflected in the style ... A good read with memorable characters' We Love This Book.
An exuberantly written coming-of-age story . . . Flashbulb-bright and memorable . . . Nicolas and Nouschka are the beautiful, frozen, fetishised symbols of separatist Quebec. As they try to wrench themselves into being, their story is as entrancing and antic and sensual as a dream
Freewheeling novel strewn with whimsical details . . . Nouschka's tough-talking vulnerability will make you want to stick by her side as she finds her way in life
Book of the Week. Well-constructed book full of poetic quirks . . . Her characters are personifications of Montreal and a dark mirror of celebrity culture
Heather O'Neill does it again! The Girl Who Was Saturday Night is full of quaking love and true sadness, family rackets, heart attacks, feral cats of all sorts, risky trysts, and reeling abandon. O'Neill's voice is singular, brave, magical, and bursting with stark beauty
No one's depiction of the shady side of life is as luminous - or as heart-wrenching - as Heather O'Neill's
Delightfully bizarre . . . what really shines here is O'Neill's writing. The author stuns with the vivid descriptions and metaphors that are studded throughout . . . A coming-of-age story with a working-class, reality TV twist