Snowflake: Winner of Newcomer of the Year

This is such a genuine book dark and yet touching humour with fantastic characters and a thorough journey into mental illness with the mystery of what really happens in dreams.

Sally Rooney. Just wanted to get that out of the way early, as almost every review of this book I've read mentions the 'Normal People' author.I can see where the comparison comes from - this is a book that concerns the life of a twenty something young woman coming-of-age, finding her way as she charters the waters of university life at Trinity. But in another sense, having read Sally Rooneys ‘Beautiful world, where are you?’ recently, I think the two authors have different preoccupations. But I think when you look a bit closer, whereas Rooney is more focused on relationships and her generation finding its place in the world, Louise Nealon’s book is very much rooted in a rural dairy farm and her immediate family. Not that it matters, but I really enjoy both writers.Debbie has grown up on a dairy farm in County Kildare, with a mother who has taken to her bed and believes in the power of her dreams, and an uncle who lives in a caravan in the garden who loves beer, Greek mythology and the stars. The characters, alongside 'Santy' are quirky and believable and I liked spending time with them. Mental health, again well hidden in Ireland, plays a big part in the book, and raises the idea that what seems as a gift to some can be seen as part of the illness by others. It’s also about coping mechanisms – Debbie drinks, because that’s what the people around her do (especially her uncle). Her mother withdraws from the world. Trying to find the right help in the mental health system in Ireland (and I’m talking the whole island here) is like fumbling around in a huge mansion for a light switch. It's so well written, with a lovely flow and easy to read, full of humour and empathy. I felt the magic realism aspect gave the story another layer but I probably ended up wishing it could have been explored a bit more – it’s an interesting idea, dreaming other peoples dreams, but it felt a bit extraneous to the plot.The snowflake of the title of course has a modern meaning - that of being overly emotional, easily offended. But as one of the characters says at one point "Half a century ago, we landed on the moon. We can edit genes and clone sheep, but we still don't know how snowflakes grow. They're perfect."Much like the characters in the book, we're full of idiosyncrasies, and Louise Nealon does a fine job in capturing that beauty in all of us. Looking forward to seeing what this author does next.

I read Snowflake straight after Shuggie Bain, and both books are fiction based very much in experienced reality. I could see the settings, smell the farm, feel the snow and hear the dialogue. Ultimately the story is one of acceptance, love and belonging. Recommended.

Rating: 3.2/5There has been quite a lot of talk about this debut novel from Louise Nealon. Understandably, given the geographical setting and aspects of the premise, there have been comparisons made with Sally Rooney. That certainly piqued my interest, as I am sure it will with many other people too. Given the commercial and critical success of Sally Rooney's "Normal People", both in print and on television, it also raises the expectation level for "Snowflake" to a point that was always going to be difficult to live up to.A number of early reviews have labelled this as a "coming of age" novel, and that descriptor is hinted at by the book's official blurb too. However, although it contains certain "coming of age" elements it focuses far more on societal issues such as mental health and self-image than it does on the more general life journey from childhood though adolescence and into adulthood. These themes are handled with understanding and empathy. There is also a central motif running through the story relating to dreams and prophecies. In order to avoid spoilers I will not go into greater detail here, other than to say that I found it to be an intriguing concept and felt that there was far more potential that could have been explored by the author relating to this.Aspects of the writing are delightful and there is some wonderful imagery created by the writer. The structure of the novel comes across as quite naïve and raw in parts ... and that is often the very essence of its appeal. However, at other times I couldn't help feeling that the overall story needed an experienced and polished touch to pull the strands together and weave something truly magical.All in all, this is a sound debut and worth taking the taking the time to read.

As a man of over 60 years must admit got this thinking it would be a mocking condemnation of a younger generation. What I found was a stripped bare analysis of the trials and tribulations of a young woman which was both heartwarming and worrying. The author gives us an insight into the working of a young person's mind and it is often uncomfortable. Enjoyed the characters in the book, although I was longing for someone completely sane to arrive! To sort everyone out. Thank God for Audrey. Thought the story ended a bit abruptly, I was hoping we would see how the relationships played out. But overall great what an impressive first novel.

I enjoyed Louise’s style more than the actual story but I’ll definitely read any future work by her. I bought in to the characters but didn’t find the story very interesting.

Snowflake is a coming of age story about Debbie White, a young girl who has spent her life in a small village and everything that life entails. She begins to find herself when she gets a chance to study in Dublin. However the transition from country girl to city life isn’t easy when the ties to home are so strong.I really enjoyed Snowflake. Louise Nealon’s voice is fresh and shows what it is like to be young in rural Ireland today. Whilst her protagonist Debbie can sometimes be unlikable she is always easy to feel sympathy for. What is a lovely surprise is that at the end of the story is that you are feeling hopeful for Debbie. This is not something I have seen in modern literature recently.Snowflake by Louise Nealon is available now.