AIBU to be offended about OMG what a complete Aisling

[MrsIntrigued]

I recently read an article about the book OMG what a complete Aisling and a lot of what the authors said about their main character could have been written about me. AIBU to be annoyed/offended given that they say it started as a Facebook joke and have now made a 3 book deal and planning a film out of it?? See below quote - what is actually wrong with any of those things and why would it make someone want to run a mile from you?

'Aisling writes “suits you” under pictures of people holding babies on Facebook. As well as being a slave to brown mascara, she’s also dedicated to bootcut jeans. She can’t get her head around why people love avocados so much. And as for brunch! What’s wrong with sticking to eggs at breakfast and a nice big sandwich at 1pm? Now, she might sound like the type of person you’d run a mile from, but Aisling is a great friend, a good laugh, and will definitely mind the handbags on a night out.'

but I don't believe the authors were writing it in a self deprecating way.

How can you possibly know that? you haven't read the book, know the background, talked to the authors or understand any of it.

OP, if you are not Irish, don't have any experience of rural/urban Ireland, didn't know what a culchie is, and haven't read the novel, then taking offence over a perceived slight in an interview with two women who turned a slightly lame but inoffensive FB page into a novel is a bit mad, yes. Honestly.

Alright lads, I'll give you Borris as being the very definition of culchie

OP, one of the things that will always strike me is the difference between Irish and English humour, and in particular the difference between Irish and English female humour. I've been in the UK half my life and believe me when I tell you it's a big difference. That book is the very definition of self-deprecating.

What's wrong with brown mascara?

I stopped wearing make up way back in the noughties

due

Borris is like Byzantium compared to where I'm from.

I haven't read the book , I used to be a member of the Facebook pg , I left because the pg got too big and the comments got ridiculous. I wouldn't be insulted at the description it kinda describes a lot of Irish girls

Really interested to read this book because of this thread!! I really think if Irish social culture is unfamiliar to people then they would miss the point completely

After that description posted above I think I'm more Aisling than I thought!

What are MBT's though?

Catzpyjamas I think I might, I'll look out for it!

😂 at Byzantium

Just finished chapter 3 and it's FECKIN' BRILLIANT.

If you enjoyed Derry Girls humour, you'll love this.

MBTs are them big runners with massive soles that are meant to give you an arse like a greyhound.

Fierce expensive altogether.

If you're not Irish (or living here) and not part of the FB group you're not really the target market tbf. If you don't get all of the humour in it it's really not the authors fault, you're just not au fait with the culture.

Thanks Elsbeth! Never heard of them, I'm so out of touch these days.

Seems to me if they do make a film of it they’ll have problems with the casting, because it sounds like everyone who’s read the book has a very clear idea of what she is like. And it’s probably different for each one of them....

It stands for Masai Barefoot Technology, Struggling. The Masai are noted for their upright posture — I think the shoe design logic is that they have thick, curved soles to replicate walking barefoot, supposedly good for back pain etc.

I really loved the book but I didn’t realise there was such a difference between English and Irish life! I got that John did something really lovely at the funeral but I have no idea what he actually did

Not Irish but spent a lot of time working over there in the last decade. I read it at Christmas after reading about it on here and loved it - made me miss all my ex-colleagues over there, I could definitely relate the characters to some of the people I worked with.

Spoiler alert!

@Madison
Aisling was upset that GJ wasn't at the funeral, it was a huge snub both socially and specifically to her
But it turned out he was minding the house to make sure it wasn't robbed while the family were out. Thieves read the death notices and know when funerals are and that the house will be empty so it's traditional/sensible to have someone stay in the house to keep it safe. He also had mad Tom minding the other houses on the road so the neighbours didn't have to worry about their houses either.

Do Aisling thought he didn't care enough to come but he was actually taking care of her family just like her daddy would have wanted

(is anyone reading the thread about silly things that made them cry? This is making me cry!)

I understand your annoyance op but I think on this one YAB a little U. I've also read the book and the main character is positively portrayed - the concept of being the ultimate modern Irish country girl is played with in quite a clever, funny way. In fact Aisling says all of the things you've said in your op, in her own words throughout the book - it's not a mocking portrait certainly.

Its a book which plays with a lot of different archetypes in Irish society pretty affectionately I thought - there is Saidbh, the archetypal well-off, very cool Dublin girl who is tiny and blonde and swathed head to toe in Cos. But also a nice person, and a good friend to Aisling despite their polar opposites.

I thought it was quite a sweet book actually, with a little dab of depth - touches on losing a parent, having an abortion. If you like a light, funny read now and again you could do a lot worse imo.

Lads. Resurrecting this to tell you to go onto Amazon this instant minute and order yourselves The Importance of Being Aisling.

It’s bloody brilliant.

And now I have to go to bed as I have to get up for work in 6 hours. I just couldn’t put it down!