Book Information
- Publisher
- Faber & Faber
- Published
- 2003-04-07
- Pages
- 336 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 14.5 x 3.2 x 22.5 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780571195015
- ISBN-10
- 0571195016
- Price
- 1638 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Literary
Maria Tambini is a 13-year-old girl with an amazing singing voice. Growing up above her mother's chip shop on the Scottish island of Bute, living at the centre of her family's dream of fame, Maria is an extraordinary girl making ready to escape the ordinary life. We first meet her amidst the faded grandeur of the seaside resort of Rothesay, with the Argyll hills and the Eighties in front of her, and behind her a long shadow: the secret story of her Italian-immigrant family. When Maria wins a national TV talent show she is taken to London and becomes an instant star of what used to be called light entertainment; she sings with Dean Martin and tours America, can fill the London Palladium, yet all the while 'the girl with the giant voice' is losing herself in fame and begins a private war against her own body. Maria becomes a living exhibit in the modern drama of celebrity: is it possible that she can be saved by love? Or is she to be consumed by an obsessive culture, by family lies and her number one fan? The cast of characters is so vivid and complex that they seem to encompass within their enthralling stories a portrait of a whole society, its history and its spirit.
Andrew O'Hagan is one of this generation's most exciting and serious chroniclers of contemporary Britain. He has been nominated for the Man Booker Prize three times and was voted one of Granta 's Best of Young British Novelists in 2003. He has won the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the E. M. Forster Award from the American Academy of Arts & Letters.
Reviews
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Personaity by Andrew O'Nagan
Andrew O Hagan became known to me after I watched a a tv series by him on Robert Burns. By accident I discovered a novel of his in our village library. So I was keen to and was delighted to find him on Kindle. Personalty is a compelling account of a young girl who becomes famous after being "discovered" on a talent show on tv at the tender age of thirteen and the way in which she is mismanaged from then onward with tragic consequencies. The story is partly set on the Island of Bute, which is just a few miles from the neighbouring Island of Arran where I live so it has a special relevance for me.
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a haunting book from life in Scotland last century,especially for me growing up there at that time
Besides originally coming from near Bute, a fascinating script and memories of the language used, His prose is so enjoyable
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Personality
I am on an Andrew O’Hagan rather obsessive read-a-thon - and loving it. This is my third O’Hagan and it’s a rip-snorter. Just finished and I’m singing ‘Personality’ loud and strong. Loved the set up of all of the characters in this book. Carefully revealed. Then, heck, we came to love them. Many many topics. The war - God bless it. Italian internment. Child prodigy (?) - good/bad/indifferent - discuss. OK - this was the 50’s and 60’s. Even so! Keep reading this book only gets better. Characterisations, spot on history, relationships, family interaction. Sadly, mental illness. Secrets and lies within a family. Absolutely super read. Congratulations Andrew O’Hagen - you’ve done it again! You’ve got to read this book - it will stay with you and you’ll love the ride!
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Good read
Good read
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As described
Good