The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien

This novel tells the story of two Irish girls, Caithleen Brady and Bridget Brennan, and their escape from a life filled with countryside and convent to the allure and the crowds, lights and noise of Dublin.

Kate and Baba are friends. Baba is nice to Kate. Kate loves Baba. Baba is mean to Kate. Kate hates Baba. On and on. With lots of Baba being mean.

Kate's homelife is...well, bad. Her dad drinks, and he turns into a monster. Her mother tries to cope. But not well. Baba's home is where Kate goes when things go south.

And then there is Mr. Gentleman, an older, married man.

I was fascinated with this story of two young girls living in the country, going off to school with nuns, heading to the big city, all in 1960s Ireland.

Edna O'Brien is so gifted, and I admired how she could conjure place & time so beautifully. The story is pretty sad overall, but that is her point about women in mid- to late- century Ireland. The patriarchy was (is?) powerful and relentless. I read this for my book club, and I am grateful to have read another women-author classic. It did take some effort to read. I think I liked her “Red Chairs” book a bit better.