Girl, Woman, Other

Bernadine Evaristo

This novel doesn't have one focal character, it has something far, far better ... an assortment of strong, sad, happy, frustrated, straight, bisexual and gay women, all bound together by their racial makeup. Each story uniquely different and fabulous to read. Some will make you laugh, some wince, some cry and some will make you feel quite content with your life. A worthy Booker Prize winner.

Extract

nobody talked loudly about growing up in a council flat on a sky-scraper estate with a single mother who worked as a cleaner
nobody talked loudly about never having gone on a single holiday, like ever
Nobody talked loudly about never having been on a plane, seen a play or the sea, or eaten in a restaurant, with waiters
nobody talked loudly about feeling too uglystupidfatpoor or just plain out of place, out of sorts, out of their depth
nobody talked loudly about being gang-banged at thirteen and a half

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