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Book giveaway: Butterflies in November by Auður Ava Olafsdóttir - CLOSED

26 replies

RachelMumsnet · 07/11/2013 15:56

It's so exciting to be hear about a new bestselling author so we were delighted when copies of Butterflies in November arrived at MNHQ. Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir's is a prize winning author in her native Iceland and also international best-seller with Butterflies already translated into several languages and film rights snapped up. It is a both comical and uniquely moving story about motherhood, relationships and the legacy of life's mistakes.

Apply for a free copy and don't forget to submit a review or share your thoughts with other readers on this thread.

OP posts:
JimmyCorkhill · 07/11/2013 17:49

Just applied Smile

RubyGoat · 07/11/2013 22:47

Just applied. Love reading (rare luxury these days!)

tobron · 11/11/2013 19:12

hope I am lucky

thecatfromjapan · 11/11/2013 19:18

I've applied too. I'm excited by the promise of an Estonian element and pleased it's been translated - I don;t think I come across enough translated literature.

headintheclouds · 11/11/2013 23:33

Just applied, would love to be lucky !

HootyMcOwlface · 14/11/2013 13:40

This book sounds great, I hope I'm one of the lucky ones!

minsmum · 21/11/2013 13:38

I have just received a copy of this in the post. Really excited and looking forward to reading this as my first holiday abroad was a trip to Iceland on my own many years ago.

SunshinePanda · 23/11/2013 11:47

Have just started my copy - thanksSmile

katb1973 · 25/11/2013 23:07

I've just finished my copy, thank you Mumsnet. I liked this book but I didn't love it. The story was interesting, very much a woman at a stage in life desperately needing a change. A crossroads of sorts after parting ways with the significant men in her life. A lottery windfall is marred by having to take care of a friend's son who doesn't hear or speak. They decide to go on a road trip and this is what the book focuses on. The story from then on is very much a compilation of experiences and occurrences. Almost mini short stories in themselves. Whilst I liked the book, I found it hard to really enagage with some of the characters. This is a common occurrence for me and Scandinavian writers. They keep me at arms length which I find frustrating. A good book with some interesting recipes in the back. Worth buying just for that!!

tinypumpkin · 03/12/2013 13:35

Just checking in to say thank you for the book. I have not had chance to start it yet, sorry! I will do and catch up here I promise. I am looking forward to getting started :)

majjsu · 07/12/2013 03:27

Just finished the book and I did enjoy it. I would describe it as an eclectic, indie style of book. It has a sense of style that you either love or hate, through a very mixed narrative - of past and present, arty descriptions, some randomness, interesting observations and very poignant moments.

It is based on relationships, life and a road trip with a 4 year old deaf mute boy.

I found the book interesting and intriguing. The ending left me wanting to know and read more.

lolapops1 · 08/12/2013 21:24

I just didn't get this book at all,carried on reading it thinking I would get the point of it.
Ended quite disappointingly unless I was meant to make up my own ending?

tinypumpkin · 12/12/2013 20:17

I am checking it to say that I have started but I am struggling with it. I am disappointed so far. I hope it gets better although it seems like I am not the only one.

shaktar · 12/12/2013 22:32

I agree that it's a strange book; I've enjoyed it, but I think that may well be helped by me having a 4 and 17 month old, so am desperate for some easy escapism to dip into for 15 mins before I pass out every night!

It's evocative, quirky and very well written: unlike others here, I liked the narrator and found the situations that she found herself in both unusual and interesting. I didn't really feel it needed a 'proper' ending but felt that I had enjoyed joining her for some of her journey and wished her well, but was content to part company, if that makes any sense at all!

GrouchingTiggerHiddenSomething · 13/12/2013 14:50

Thanks for the book I have just finished it. I found it quite interesting to read, different from my usual sort of stuff. I found myself feeling quite disconnected from the narrator and story at times but I think that was deliberate to reflect the narrator's own sense of disconnection maybe. It was interesting to get glimpses of the past of the narrator and I somehow feel there was perhaps more depth to the book that my addled brain didn't quite connect with or pick up. Perhaps if I had read it in a more concentrated way (rather than a few pages when I had the time and quite spaced out) I would have appreciated it more. I quite liked it but I wouldn't say I was likely to want to read it again.

P.S. Her husband was a

SunshinePanda · 14/12/2013 12:35

I'm with Lolapops on this one. I finished it last week and thought maybe on reflection I would feel differently, but I don't. Didn't realise that I'd finished it until discovered recipes on next page. Confused

HootyMcOwlface · 15/12/2013 14:41

Hi, marking my place... I'm reading it pretty slowly as my 1 year old isn't sleeping well so most nights I find I'm too knackered to read before bed.

So far I really like the style. I feel a bit "disconnected" from the main character. She's quirky, embraces strange situations and I'm interested to learn more about her. This book has a very different feel to what I would normally read, which is a good thing.

So far I'm really enjoying it (I've read about 60 pages). Will come back to update when I've finished.

IsawJimmykissingSantaClaus · 17/12/2013 10:20

Just wanted to post to say I am currently reading this and haven't forgotten about the review! Initial impressions are good. I must admit to pulling a face when I read the blurb but I have been really enjoying it so far. I love the style and I really like the main character so far. Hopefully I will report back with more news soon. Thanks so much for picking me, I can't think of much nicer than getting a free book!

bimblebee · 21/12/2013 15:43

Just finished this book last night. It was a bit different to what I would normally choose to read. I really enjoyed the quirky writing style to begin with, however the further through the book the story seemed harder to connect with and I found myself getting a bit bored and skipping over passages. And, like SunshinePanda I didn't realise that the book had ended until I turned the page to find a collection of recipes. Surreal!! But I might be inspired to cook something different now.

RubyGoat · 23/12/2013 00:06

I've got most of the way through this, so far I would say it's a bit strange TBH. Both the central characters are rather detached; the boy due to his disabilities, the woman due to her character. This makes it (for me) harder to engage with her. The boy was more sympathetic/easier to engage with. Interesting contrast.

The book does seem to be composed of a series of episodes, not all of which appear to be integral to the plot. It can feel rather disjointed.

I looked at the recipes & knitting pattern - I'm sure a few of them are fine, however most look distinctly odd, or difficult to follow. The knitting pattern was impossible (I've written my own patterns before & I couldn't figure this one out at all).

tinypumpkin · 03/01/2014 20:55

I have to say that I have sadly given up on this which is so unusual for me. I am not normally a quitter! I just could not take to the style of writing. If anyone would like me to post on my copy I would be happy to do so. Just let me know.

Sorry MN, I did try!

highlandcoo · 08/01/2014 09:28

Thanks for my copy of this book!

I found it a quirky and whimsical read; not what I'd usually go for. So an interesting change. I did like the portrayal of the young boy and the developing relationship between him and the main character.

I also liked the insight I gained into life in Iceland.

I didn't find it a particularly gripping read at the time but strangely the atmosphere the book evoked has stayed with me since. I'm glad I read it.

thecatfromjapan · 03/02/2014 20:20

Hello. Thank you for the book!

Just checking in to say that I haven't forgotten about the review. I'm struggling a bit, to be honest: finding the style a mixture of quirky and serious that ... is a bit of a challenge for me.

I'll press on. It'll be interesting to see how/if my feelings change.

Labouroflove · 13/04/2014 16:21

Thanks for the book, I read it fairly quickly and enjoyed it but I don't think I'd go out of my way to find any other work by this author. It is not what I would call a gripping read and I found it hard to empathise with or relate to the main character. Confused

starlight36 · 15/04/2014 15:56

Thanks for the book which I enjoyed reading, probably because the style was different from my usual read. Like others I felt the ending was a little abrupt although I guess it signified the end of the journey east and there are reflections on how travelling with Tumi and having to care for someone else 24 / 7 has changed the protagonist's outlook.

I will certainly be interested in reading other books by this author.