Belfast Girls [Kindle Edition]

Gerry McCullough (Author)

Book Description

The story of three girls - Sheila, Phil and Mary - growing up into the new emerging post-conflict Belfast of money, drugs, high fashion and crime; and of their lives and loves.

Sheila, a supermodel, is kidnapped. Phil is sent to prison. Mary, surviving a drug overdose, has a spiritual awakening.

It is also the story of the men who matter to them -

John Branagh, former candidate for the priesthood, a modern Darcy, someone to love or hate. Will he and Sheila ever get together? Davy Hagan, drug dealer, ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’. Is Phil also mad to have anything to do with him?

Although from different religious backgrounds, starting off as childhood friends, the girls manage to hold on to that friendship in spite of everything.

A book about contemporary Ireland and modern life. A book which both men and women can enjoy - thriller, romance, comedy, drama - and much more ....

Editorial Reviews

Review

"fascinating ... original ... a refreshing examination of modern-day Belfast"
"multilayered ... expertly travels from one genre to the next"
Kellie Chambers, Ulster Tatler (Book of the Month, March 2011)

From the Author

Take the plotting agility of Desperate Housewives, mix in the romance of Sex in the City, add the humour and warmth of Friends, give it the depth of Andre Malroux's The Human Condition, set it in modern-day Ireland and you've got Belfast Girls!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 687 KB
• Print Length: 346 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Precious Oil Publications; 2 edition (July 8, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008J4NISK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,793 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars an important read April 6, 2011

By Tiffany A. Harkleroad TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Growing up in Belfast is not easy for Phil, Sheila, and Mary. As children, the girls all got along, and were shielded from the dangers of the times in Ireland. But as life progressed, they grew up, grew apart, and grew aware of the realities of life. Men, glamour, drugs, gangsters. Who will save these girls in their times of need?

I have to admit, the book had a little bit of a slow start for me. It took me a while to get into it, to really feel connected to the characters. But I am so glad that I stuck it out. Over the course of the timeline, we get to know these three women, and the important men in their lives, as closely as we do our favorite television characters. I would "tune in" to another chapter just to see what would happen to these girls that I now cared about. With the brilliant descriptions of the setting and action, this book would make a fantastic mini series.

This story has a lot going on, but the action gets really fast paced at one point, and keeps you rocketing to the end of the story. After the book is over, you need to take a few moments to let it all soak in.

I was not very familiar with the life and political climate of Ireland, so it took me a bit to catch on to this aspect of the book. But I definitely learned a lot. Which is why this book is so important.

I received a review copy of the book courtesy of the publisher.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterclass July 14, 2012

By Weescottishlassie

Format:Kindle Edition

Like the title of my review says, this book is a masterclass, and a vivid dissection of the human condition in all of its inglorious foibles. Whilst exceptionally well written, this is not necessarily an easy read by virtue of the trials and tribulations that the main characters face throughout the book; but you should read it nevertheless.

At times reading Belfast Girls it is like holding up an unforgiving mirror to our own lives and the lives of people very familiar to us, and the author is unapologetic and unflinching about that. Personally, I applaud the quality of the writing and storyline, as well as the courage displayed in tackling such aspects of the darkness that colours peoples lives.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read! February 18, 2011

By KW

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The author's writing is tight, to the point, not overly burdened with description, so the reader is able to move along at a good pace. The description of Sheila on the catwalk in the prologue was very nice. It gave a clear idea what she felt while having so many people watch her dance and pose around. Ending this with the kidnapping was expected (after reading the pitch) but well done. Having the first chapter opening to Sheila 16 years earlier as a homely and skinny ten year old set the stage for her to meet Phil, a Catholic girl (Sheila being Protestant), gives the reader an inkling of one of the themes that is bound to play a large part as the book progresses. Simply, it looks as though this is written with a clear sense of where this will develop: the drunken Protestant man picking up Phil and threatening to throw her into the fire was another good indication how large a part this novel will deal with the religious tensions in Northern Ireland a couple of decades ago.

Although I haven't finished reading this yet, I just felt I had to state that this is exceptional writing and well worth the purchase. I hope to see many more books by this writer.

More About the Author

Gerry McCullough has been writing poems and stories since childhood. Brought up in north Belfast, she graduated in English and Philosophy from Queen's University, Belfast, then went on to gain an MA in English.

She lives just outside Belfast, in Northern Ireland, has four grown up children and is married to author, media producer and broadcaster, Raymond McCullough, with whom she co-edited the Irish magazine, 'Bread', (published by Kingdom Come Trust), from 1990-96. In 1995 they published a non-fiction book called, 'Ireland - now the good news!'

Over the past few years Gerry has had around sixty short stories published in UK, Irish and American magazines, anthologies and annuals - as well as broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster. Her poems and articles have been published in several Northern Ireland and UK magazines, and she has also done readings from her novels, poems and short stories at several Irish literary events. She writes a regular literary blog - Gerry's Books - and guest writes for several other literary blogs.

Gerry won the Cúirt International Literary Award for 2005 (Galway); was shortlisted for the 2008 Brian Moore Award (Belfast); shortlisted for the 2009 Cúirt Award; and commended in the 2009 Seán O'Faolain Short Story Competition, (Cork).

She is now also an Amazon best-selling novellist and her novels include:
'Belfast Girls' a thriller/romance (Nov 2010, Night Publishing - 2nd edition June, 2012, Precious Oil Publications)
'Danger, Danger' (October, 2011 - Precious Oil)
'Angel in Flight: an Angel Murphy thriller' (June 2012 - Precious Oil)
'The Seanachie: Tales of Old Seamus' (January, 2012 - Precious Oil) her first collection of Irish short stories , previously published in an Irish weekly magazine.
'Lady Molly & The Snapper' (August, 2012 - Precious Oil) - a young adult time travel adventure, set in Ireland and on the high seas.

The Cúirt Award-winning story, 'Primroses,' and the Seán O'Faolain commended story, 'Giving Up,' have been extended and re-written as part of a series of seven more serious Irish short stories - to be published later in 2013, with another of these stories, 'Dark Night', being extended into a coming, full-length historical novel. Also coming soon will be, 'Not the End of the World' - a comic, futuristic, adult fantasy novel.