"No Bones" by Anna Burns is a novel set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, following the life of a young girl named Amelia as she grows up amidst violence and conflict. The book provides a strong impression of the challenges faced by individuals living in a nation torn apart by civil war, capturing the harsh realities of growing up in a war-torn environment. Through disjointed episodic vignettes, the author portrays Amelia's journey from childhood to a mentally ill adult, showcasing the emotional scars left by the violence surrounding her and the impact it has on her relationships and mental well-being.
Anna Burns employs a unique and idiosyncratic writing style, delving deep into the insane world she depicts with a voice that is both chilling and funny. The narrative weaves together dark humor, vivid descriptions of Belfast during the Troubles, and shifts in perspectives that enmesh the reader in the turbulent setting, creating a compelling and immersive reading experience.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains high content warnings, including graphic violence, mental illness, trauma, and themes of bullying and family dysfunction.
From The Publisher:
The shattering and darkly funny debut novel from the author of Milkman, winner of the Man Booker Prize.
No Bones is a book about feelings, family, sex, and Ireland-but don't tell Amelia that. She's the one growing up in the mad family, in the mad society, who doesn't want to know what's going on. But things are going on: eight-year-olds collecting very peculiar treasure; babies who might be, or might not be, bombs; schoolgirls bringing guns into schoolyards; and, of course, lots of food and bad, bad sex.
If Amelia is to live she needs to change. Can she, though, in a place where people don't know how to look after themselves, and so wouldn't know how to look after one another?
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
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About the Author:
Anna Burns, born in Belfast in 1962, is the author of No Bones, Little Constructions, and Milkman, winner of the Man Booker Prize.
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