
The Lip
a novel of the Cornwall tourists seldom see
$53.22
- Hardcover
384 pages
- Release Date
26 July 2021
Summary
‘This unsparing debut novel portrays the unromantic side of Cornwall few visitors see and which so many novelists choose to overlook. Charlie Carroll inhabits his damaged heroine completely’ Patrick Gale
‘A moving and affecting novel about life on the edge, with a very special flavour of wild and rugged Cornwall.’ Emma Stonex
Away from the hotels and holiday lets, there is an unseen side of Cornwall, where the shifting uncertainties of the future breed resent…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781529334173 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1529334179 |
| Author: | Charlie Carroll |
| Publisher: | John Murray Press |
| Imprint: | John Murray Publishers Ltd |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 384 |
| Release Date: | 26 July 2021 |
| Weight: | 480g |
| Dimensions: | 220mm x 140mm x 38mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
This unsparing debut novel portrays the unromantic side of Cornwall few visitors see and which so many novelists choose to overlook. Charlie Carroll inhabits his damaged heroine so completely, and with so little trace of first-novel-ego that I can’t wait to see what he writes next; I suspect his publishers have backed a winner. * Patrick Gale *Atmospheric, haunting writing, a heroine you instantly love. * Ilona Bannister, author of When I Ran Away *Viscerally described… I’m still thinking about it. * The Daily Mail *[Melody Janie’s] life weaves intimately close to this place, vesting a lyrical magic over these weather-beaten landscapes. * The Telegraph *A novel as much about isolation as it is grief, mental health and enforced change, it builds to a moving conclusion with a mighty twist. With The Lip now added to his repertoire, Carroll is proving to be very much like a modern-day Orwell, with social awareness and humanity at the core of what he writes. * Buzz Magazine *A moving and affecting novel about life on the edge, with a very special flavour of wild and rugged Cornwall. * Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters *
Beautiful… the last time I read a book that affected me as much as this one it was The Loney.
* The Bookbag *Beautifully complex, heartbreaking and atmospheric. I was completely immersed in Melody Janie’s world and really ‘got’ the possessive charge of her land and the past that she was trying so desperately to save. Fabulous read.
* LV Matthews, author of The Prank *Redeeming and beautiful and full of brave characters and heart… I bloody loved it. The story grew roots that went far deeper than I expected. I found myself racing to the climax and it was executed perfectly. A triumph.’
* Ericka Waller, author of Dog Days *Really enjoyed the story of Melody Janie, a young Cornish woman struggling to come to terms with a recent bereavement in an environment which, although wild and beautiful, only echoes her grief and isolation… I loved The Lip and particularly the mental health story line which is such an important one. Brilliantly written, too.’ * Mary Karras, author of The Making of Mrs Petrakis * A moving meditation on making judgements, on place, home and independence. * Zoe Somerville, author of The Night of the Flood *I loved this story of Melody Janie, and her life lived on the very edge. The sense of connection after disconnection is so movingly and subtly evoked, as we see distrust and fear turning, eventually, to understanding and tenderness. The Lip is a stirring reminder that each of us has the capacity to make a big difference in small ways. Throughout, the Cornish coast is powerfully conjured, as beautiful as it is brutal, and perfectly in keeping with a story that manages to be both uplifting and uncompromising. * Emylia Hall, author of The Book of Summers *A powerful story, poignant, and beautifully told. Melody Janie’s past and present come alive in a voice that moved me and will stay with me for a long time. * Matson Taylor, author of The Miseducation of Evie Epworth *About The Author
Charlie Carroll
Charlie Carroll grew up in a small Cornish village. He left to study English and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham and, despite going on to live and travel in various countries around the world, always found himself returning to Cornwall. His debut novel, The Lip (2021), focuses on his homeland and was shortlisted for the Writers’ Guild Best First Novel Award. His previous books include his non-fiction Travel Trilogy: The Friendship Highway (2014), No Fixed Abode (2013) and On the Edge (2010).
He has twice won the K Blundell Trust Award for ‘writers under 40 who aim to raise social awareness with their writing’, has written for the likes of the Guardian and the Big Issue, has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and been featured in the Telegraph and National Geographic.
He lives and works in Cornwall.
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