Items related to Once in a House on Fire
With an introduction by Eimear McBride
A devastatingly powerful, moving and uplifting memoir - now a classic of its genre - that inspired others to tell their own true life stories.
When our stepfather staggered home reeking of whisky, ceramic hit the wall. We got used to the smash and the next-day stain, but eventually the wallpaper began to fade.
For Andrea Ashworth, home is not a place of comfort and solace, but of violence and fear. Her father died when she was five, leaving her close-knit, loving family to battle with poverty, abuse and the long shadow of depression. But from the ashes of 1970s Manchester and the hardships of her coming-of-age in the late 1980s, Andrea finds the courage to rise.
Written with eye-opening honesty, rare beauty and intense power, Once in a House on Fire is a ground-breaking memoir, endearing in its humour and compassion, and life-affirming in its portrait of terrible circumstances triumphantly overcome.
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Review:
Given her start in life, it is all the more remarkable that Andrea Ashworth should have turned out to be an Oxford graduate with such a compelling memoir under her belt. Her father died when she was five, her mother was left, poor and isolated in 70s, depressed Manchester to bring up Andrea and her younger sister singlehandedly. Along comes a physically abusive stepfather who sets about dragging the young family into the pits of despair, petty crime and sordid poverty. But Ashworth writes an enchanting story that blends social history (the 70s are rendered with an acute eye for detail) with poetic intensity. She turns a child's uncomprehending gaze on the domestic horrors of working- class life when it is dominated by a vicious man and drunken, self-pitying mother. We know, as we listen with Andrea, that her mother has decided to leave her man when she puts Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" on the turntable. Unfortunately, we know, too, that she was kidding herself when said man comes home and twirls her round the front room to the sound of Motown disco. We know, because Ashworth makes us re-live her childhood by dint of her astonishing gift for storytelling. --Lilian Pizzichini
Review:
This is a brilliant book. Brilliantly written, brilliantly thought, brilliantly remembered . . . Ashworth has written an extraordinary memoir; the only pity is that she had to live it to make it (Scotsman)
Enchanting and thrilling . . . As a chronicle of northern working-class life in the seventies and eighties . . . it would be hard to better this book. It is extremely moving . . . It is also at time surprisingly, and gratifyingly, very funny (Tim Lott The Times)
Full of energy, wit and a child's wide-open gaze . . . Andrea Ashworth escaped the fire to write a remarkable book (Blake Morrison Independent on Sunday)
One of the most extraordinary stories you will ever read of the triumph of the human spirit (Daily Mail)
It is strong and admirable; not a long book, but the reader lives a year or two in the telling (Hilary Mantel)
Enchanting and thrilling . . . As a chronicle of northern working-class life in the seventies and eighties . . . it would be hard to better this book. It is extremely moving . . . It is also at time surprisingly, and gratifyingly, very funny (Tim Lott The Times)
Full of energy, wit and a child's wide-open gaze . . . Andrea Ashworth escaped the fire to write a remarkable book (Blake Morrison Independent on Sunday)
One of the most extraordinary stories you will ever read of the triumph of the human spirit (Daily Mail)
It is strong and admirable; not a long book, but the reader lives a year or two in the telling (Hilary Mantel)
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- PublisherPicador
- Publication date2015
- ISBN 10 1447275128
- ISBN 13 9781447275121
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages368
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. When our stepfather staggered home reeking of whisky, ceramic hit the wall. We got used to the smash and the next-day stain, but eventually the wallpaper began to fade. For Andrea Ashworth, home is not a place of comfort and solace, but of violence and fear. Her father died when she was five, leaving her close-knit, loving family to battle with poverty, abuse and the long shadow of depression. But from the ashes of 1970s Manchester and the hardships of her coming-of-age in the late 1980s, Andrea finds the courage to rise. Written with eye-opening honesty, rare beauty and intense power, Once in a House on Fire is a ground-breaking memoir, endearing in its humour and compassion, and life-affirming in its portrait of terrible circumstances triumphantly overcome. A ground-breaking memoir Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781447275121
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Book Description Condition: New. With an introduction by Eimear McBride. A devastatingly powerful, moving and uplifting memoir - now a classic of its genre - that inspired others to tell their own true life stories. Series: Picador Classics. Num Pages: 368 pages. BIC Classification: BGA; BM. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 198 x 130 x 24. Weight in Grams: 304. . 2015. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9781447275121
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Book Description Condition: New. With an introduction by Eimear McBride. A devastatingly powerful, moving and uplifting memoir - now a classic of its genre - that inspired others to tell their own true life stories. Series: Picador Classics. Num Pages: 368 pages. BIC Classification: BGA; BM. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 198 x 130 x 24. Weight in Grams: 304. . 2015. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9781447275121
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