Agnes Owens (1926–2014)

After reading the first story in this collection I felt like I was on the verge of discovering a wonderful new writer. Except she's not new. The first story, Arabella, was terrific: mordantly black, funny, strong punchy narrative and descriptions.
That story remained one of the strongest, but there were many others too that delighted. The wicked black streak showed up periodically, especially in the later stories.
The writing is direct and concise. The author disappears, leaving only the show more reader and the characters. The stories mostly are of the working poor, unemployed and unemployable, set in Scotland. Agnes Owens came from that world, and she wrote of what she knew, and she has done it brilliantly. show less

Read this as part of her Collected Stories. Wonderful funny writing. Poor working class young man, a brickie, finding it tough to find work in mid 80s Scotland. He and his mates have few skills and even less ambition. They like their drink, but that's just an integral and unavoidable part of life. He still lives at home with his Ma. They're tough people that don't want to reveal any vulnerable softness, but it leaks out. The brief scenes with his mother, usually either leaving the house or show more coming home, are little pregnant gems of hilarious family ties. He and his mates are often desperate for money or booze, and some of the very black scenes made me laugh out loud. Terrific. show less

After reading the first story in this collection I felt like I was on the verge of discovering a wonderful new writer. Except she's not new. The first story, Arabella, was terrific: mordantly black, funny, strong punchy narrative and descriptions.
That story remained one of the strongest, but there were many others too that delighted. The wicked black streak showed up periodically, especially in the later stories.
The writing is direct and concise. The author disappears, leaving only the show more reader and the characters. The stories mostly are of the working poor, unemployed and unemployable, set in Scotland. Agnes Owens came from that world, and she wrote of what she knew, and she has done it brilliantly. show less

Read this as part of her Collected Stories. Wonderful funny writing. Poor working class young man, a brickie, finding it tough to find work in mid 80s Scotland. He and his mates have few skills and even less ambition. They like their drink, but that's just an integral and unavoidable part of life. He still lives at home with his Ma. They're tough people that don't want to reveal any vulnerable softness, but it leaks out. The brief scenes with his mother, usually either leaving the house or show more coming home, are little pregnant gems of hilarious family ties. He and his mates are often desperate for money or booze, and some of the very black scenes made me laugh out loud. Terrific. show less