DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Oldladyvoice

A humorous and poignant coming-of-age tale

Elisa Victoria author Charlotte Whittle translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:And Other Stories

Published:5th Oct '21

Should be back in stock very soon

Oldladyvoice cover

Marina's summer with her grandmother amidst her mother's illness explores childhood's complexities in Oldladyvoice, blending humor and poignant insights.

In Oldladyvoice, we meet nine-year-old Marina, a girl whose sharp tongue and vivid imagination set her apart from her peers. While her mother battles a serious illness in the hospital, Marina is sent to spend her summer with her grandmother. This unexpected change in her environment comes with both freedom and uncertainty, as she grapples with the possibility of losing her mother and facing an uncertain future. The summer unfolds with no rules at Grandma's house, allowing Marina to explore her thoughts and feelings in a world where she feels both liberated and vulnerable.

As Marina navigates her surroundings, she is haunted by visions of sex and violence, which complicate her understanding of adulthood. Her unique perspective offers readers a humorous yet poignant glimpse into the mind of a child on the brink of growing up. Oldladyvoice is not just a coming-of-age story; it is a rich exploration of childhood, innocence, and the complexities of familial relationships. Marina's voice is both hilarious and perceptive, making her an endearing narrator who invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of growing up.

Through Marina's journey, the narrative delves into themes of loss, resilience, and the search for identity. Oldladyvoice reimagines the concept of childhood, presenting a vivid portrayal of a girl's struggle to find her place in a world filled with uncertainty and change, all while maintaining her sense of humor and individuality.

‘Sad, funny, sharp, and poetic: the best possible ingredients for a book. The perfect chronicle of a smart girl in a stupid world.’ Ben Brooks----‘Perfectly captures what it was like to be a kid in the mythologised ’90s.’ Vice ----‘Elisa Victoria handles the child’s narration dexterously . . . Relying on short, declarative sentences, Victoria has a knack for bringing characters to life in few words.’ New York Times ----‘As a general rule, I am opposed to fiction written from the perspective of a child. It’s not that I’m uninterested in childhood as a concept, or even in children themselves – far from it – but some writers use childhood as a lazy shortcut, an easy way to introduce such broad themes as “innocence lost.” . . . Happily, the Spanish writer Elisa Victoria’s debut novel, Oldladyvoice (translated by Charlotte Whittle), is the exact opposite of this. . . Childhood makes a lot more sense when you remember that children are basically madcap little degenerates, fascinated by their own filth, and I love that Victoria isn’t shy about portraying this.’ Phrasebook ----‘A tender and poignant story, full of light and just the right amount of wickedness.’ El Mundo ----'From the first page, a seductive universe comes into view. It's similar to love at first sight, and there's no need for hesitation, just for the most innocent surrender.' Elvira Linda, El País ----'Good novels find their protagonist's voice and make the reader feel close to them. Such is the case of Oldladyvoice. [...] The magic of Oldladyvoice also lies in its supporting characters (the grandmother, mother and mother's boyfriend) and the conversations they have with Marina, which can make you smile and break your heart in the same line.' Paula de Aguirre, Le Cool Barcelona ----'Marina is firing the last bullets of her childhood, and she does it in a clean, powerful shot of poetry, hope, and zest for life.' Cesar Prieto, Efe Eme music magazine

ISBN: 9781913505103

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

288 pages