Cover Image: Factory Girls

Factory Girls

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Michelle Gallen's first novel 'Big Girl, Small Town' was one of my stand out reads of 2020 so I was delighted to read 'Factory Girls'. It's the 1990's and we meet Maeve Murray as she embarks on her plans for the long summer following her A levels, with a constant countdown to results day when she can put her escape plan into action. Escape from the small border town in Northen Ireland, the Troubles, sectarianism, her community and her family - Maeve can't wait to get to England to study Journalism at University. But before she an escape she needs to earn money, and gets a job at a local textiles factory. In an area with the highest unemployment rates in Europe at the time to get a job is an achievement in itself itself, but her best friends are also lucky enough to be hired and the summer begins. Growing up in a Catholic neighbourhood and attending Catholic school, this is the girls first time mixing with people from the 'other side' and their experiences reveal the unwritten rules, risks and trauma of everyday life growing up in the Troubles.

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As she demonstrated in her impressive debut novel Big Girl, Small Town, Michelle Gallen can depict the problems and indignities of being a woman from a deprived background living in small provincial community with authenticity and humour. Even if you're not from this part of the world, a country that has stark divisions across religious and political lines, the experiences of feeling like an outsider and feeling held back from being yourself will still be recognisable to anyone.

The social and political context might also be recognisable however if you've seen Derry Girls. I might as well get the obvious comparison out of the way now (the title invites such comparisons), because despite the superficial similarities and the period of the Troubles covered, Michelle Gallen does move on and have other issues to deal with. If it helps however, you could see the teenage protagonist of Factory Girls as practically a sequel to the Derry Girls TV series. Maeve and her friends have just left school and are waiting on their A-level exam results so they can get out of the small Co. Tyrone town they've grown up in and move on to the next stage of their lives.

Before Maeve can leave the Troubles and the family troubles behind her - in a town which could well be the same Aghybogey where Majella of Big Girl, Small Town lives - and take up a course in journalism in London, she needs to find a bit of summer work for money. If that means flirting a little with the arrogant and sleazy boss of the clothing factory, the only place likely to take unqualified and inexperienced young girls into temporary employment in this town - and I'm sure you can guess why - Maeve is prepared to do what is necessary.

Taking a first step to independence, Maeve rents her own place with friend, keen to move out of the family home that has become uncomfortable since death of her sister Deirdre. Even at the age of 18, having lived in a place that has know sectarian violence for decades, Maeve knows the score when it comes to the differences between Catholics and Protestants, but working as a factory girl in a mixed environment is one of the few times when she has actually had to co-exist with someone from the other side of the community. In 1994, it's still a very divided community living in fear of killings and retaliation from paramilitaries. Work experience is going to involve more than just dealing with a sleazy if undeniably attractive boss.

To her credit and despite the humour, Gallen doesn't dress this up at all, but captures the uncomfortable reality that many of us lived with throughout the troubles. There's no disguising the bitterness and hatred that exists, the open prejudice (often against the English), even though all does in retrospect seem almost surreal (like boycotting butter from "Protestant cows"). The author doesn't shy away however from the grimness of living in near poverty in a household that has no time for social niceties. There's not much kept mysterious either about the relationship between men and women either, particularly from the viewpoint of an 18 year old Catholic girl.

The factory evidently is Maeve's coming of age, her education and awareness of what it will mean to go out and face a new reality about the way the world works. It's also evidently, much like Olivia Fitzsimons, covering the same period recently in The Quiet Whispers Never Stop, an awakening for Northern Ireland facing up to the future of Peace Process. The Greysteel and Loughlinisland atrocities are mentioned, and we are aware from the nature of the continuing violence that the IRA are preparing to announce ceasefire that will pave the way for the 1998 peace agreement, but it's still a very dangerous time for anyone who could be considered a "legitimate target". We are in a place where we need to move forward but are not yet ready to leave the past behind.

For anyone who has lived through these years and heard it all before, Factory Girls might be less compelling, but it does capture the reality and the attitudes - and the humour in the face of it - very well. I'll leave it to others to verify the accuracy of the graphic and frank accounts of what goes on in the head of an 18 year old girl at this time (and lower down). As you might expect however there is a deeper undercurrent that connects the personal and political troubles.

Loss looms over Factory Girls. There's the loss of her sister Deirdre, which certainly affects Maeve and her family, and evidently there is the loss of friends and townspeople to the mindless sectarian violence. Everyone has experienced loss and the death of loved ones, but Gallen also indicates that there is an even greater sense of loss experienced by many; the loss of a normal childhood, the loss of innocence and the loss of opportunities for those unable to make their escape. As such Maeve is part of a new generation, one that does indeed aim to move forward, leave behind and - significantly - become a journalist and a voice that tells it like it is. Michelle Gallen tells it like it is.

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Reading the description, I was intrigued by "Factory Girls" by Michelle Gallen. Reading the book itself, I found myself losing interest with every chapter.

The story, set in the 90's Northern Ireland, following 3 young women who spend their summer before going to university working in a shirt factory in their small town. And yes, compelling stories can be found in the most ordinary circumstances, but sadly, "Factory Girls" is not the case.

Michelle Gallen created the protagonist, Maeve, to be this mouthy anti-heroine. And yes, as an author, she skilfully writes multidimensional characters who are neither 100% good, nor 100% bad. There are little breadcrumbs of Maeve's history that give readers a hint on how certain traumatic experiences informed her, but even they weren't enough for me to truly engage with the character and what she's going through.

Perhaps it's my shortcoming as a reader, who is unaware of the historical background of the time and place, and therefore I'm not able to appreciate it fully.

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The author’s style places the reader in the book in each scene for an entertaining journey. Awe-inspiring . . . The characters are so well drawn and the plot so well paced, I couldn’t put it down. Lots of laughs along the way!

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This my first read by Michelle Gallan and I had never heard of her as an author previously. Two things drew me to this book, one was the fact it was set in Ireland and I knew I would love the "craic" and secondly it came recommended by Roddy Doyle which is good enough for me.

And I was certainly not disappointed, some of the one liners in the book were laugh out loud funny but more than this the characters in the book were just so believable and real. By the end of the book you will be rooting for them all and praying they get where they want to go.

Thanks to Netgalley and John Murray Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review .

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First off I just would like to thank NetGalley and John Murray Publishing for the ARC of Factory Girls exchange for a fair and honest review

This is the second offering from Michelle Gallen, I enjoyed Big Girl Small Town so was looking forward to see what her second offering had to offer.

I read a few reviews for Big Girl Small Town it was mentioned a few times that it was like Derry Girls in book form, and I while I found it funny in places and had some Derry Girls vibes I didn’t fully agree with that description but am going to use it to describe Factory Girls. It is Derry Girls meets Marian Keys crossed with Roddy Doyle.

The “craic” though the novel is on top form I found myself reading in a bad Irish accent and giggling away at the raw harsh but hilariously funny and real language.

Set during the Northern Irish troubles in the early 90’s in a mixed border town we are introduced to three girls the lead being the wickedly smart and funny Mauve starting a summer job in the local shirt factory while waiting on their exam results in the hope they get the grades the need to get to university out of the town and essentially change their lives. This may sound a simple story and while that is true this wee novel tells a much bigger story. As is in the case with Big Girl Small Town Irish wit and humour is used to explore the much dark picture of the troubles, class, religion, sexism and mental health.

Behind the cute book cover, the witty dialogue and the laugh out moments the wonderful, well developed real character of Mauve tells us what it was like to live in that dark world, the confusion, the shame and the effect it has on not just the here and now but future hopes and dreams too. Mauve is a fantastic character, she is funny, honest and is very relatable , we have all been 18 once just trying to fit in and find our place in the world. I found all the characters very well developed even the minor characters felt real. I greatly enjoyed the chapters which featured Mauve’s family the parts for me were pure Derry girls, I loved her mammy. I found the story of her sister truly touching.

I have read all of Sally Rooneys books and let me tell you this not one of her self indulgent woke poor me characters capture and engaged me like the characters in factory girls did, like Rooney books this story is very much character lead set among a simple back story but unlike Rooneys efforts the characters tell a deeper story and make a clear point in a way that’s not boring and actually goes somewhere. There is no big drama, build up of tension or even a big event in the story but they way this simple story is developed though the characters, the humour and the true insight to NI in the 90’s makes it a novel full of heart, laughter and brilliant observations into the world then and now.

Stand out parts for me are the “tampon” advert from the da’s comments to the stopping of the “flow”, the chemistry teacher’s quizzes and any part with Fidelma in it “ some wumin”

This book was the best book I’ve read this year and suspect it will be there in top spot come the end of year. I loved it from start to finish it’s laugh a minute, it’s cry a minute ,it’s just gorgeous!!!!! Five stars here no question Factory Girls is due for publication 23rd June 2022, preorder your copy now you won’t regret it unlike a morning after a night on vodka and orange….. if you know you know.

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A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I liked this book, the characters were all great, the storyline was engageing and it is easy to read. I also really like that quirky cover.

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A tale about 3 Irish girls working in a factory under a British boss, who weirdly turns the protagonist, Maeve, on at every instance they are in close proximity with each other (willingly or unwillingly for her). The other two girlfriends are treated as pawns in Maeve's journey to "get the fuck outta town" and go to... wait for it, LONDON (a city swarming with Brits, whom Maeve dislikes so much).

Maeve as a protagonist was really not very compelling to begin with, it was clear from the get go that she hated everything around her, and sometimes ABOUT her as well. All in all, I just couldn't root for her because she didn't root for herself (or found her feelings betraying her more often than usual). The only line that I take back with me from the novel, reflective of my own journey with it, was this:

"Maeve realised later that evening she was bored of everything and everyone -- herself included."

Thank you to John Murray Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. While this story did not grip me as much as I wanted it to, I quite liked the way it was written and just for that, I will keep an eye out for this author.

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Loved the authors first book was so excited to read this one and yes another terrific read.Loved the factory setting the characters that kept me laughing as I turned the pages.A delicious read will be recommending-.#netgalley #johnmarshallbooks

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🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen.

Set in the summer of 1994, in a small Northern Irish town, Factory Girls tells the story of Maeve. She and her two friends have found themselves a summer job in a local shirt factory - the plan, make as much money as they can whilst awaiting their A-level results, and then they’re away to England for a new life of adventure.

Their chance to make their escape is put into jeopardy as tensions between the Catholic and Protestant workforce escalated and marching season is underway.

The worker's communities may be divided but at work, they’re forced to collide. Tensions may rise but also great friendships are made.

This book is a real dose of ’90s nostalgia and offers a valuable insight into the Northern Ireland Peace Process, deftly exploring what it was like to live there at that time.

This is a story of class, social mobility, and just plain old trying to fit in. Behind the witty dialogue and moments of utter hilarity, there are deeper, darker undertones.

I have loved everything about this book, from the cover to the well-developed characters and setting. I felt like I was in the factory alongside Maeve, watching as the story panned out. I highly recommend it.

Factory Girls should be on the television, it would give the rather fabulous Derry Girls a run for their money. And now, on that note, I’m off to get my hands on Gallen’s first novel Big Girl, Small Town.

With thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the advanced reader copy.

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From the moment I finished reading "Big Girl, Small Town" I have been craving more from Michelle Gallen. To my utter delight, "Factory Girls" is as blindingly brilliant as I'd hoped it would be. It's a huge dose of 90s nostalgia and a valuable insight into the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Like Majella before her, Maeve is a marvellous character. Full of piss and vinegar, we join her as she awaits her exam results and takes a summer job in the shirt factory, whilst planning her escape to London to go to University.

I loved the banter between the workers, and the women's families. Their community is divided in many ways but at work, they've to put up and shut up. Tensions rise but friendships are made along the way. The book reminds me of Tony Roper's brilliant play "The Steamie". Gallen's aces up her sleeve are her ear for dialogue and her sharp observational humour. The patter is first class!

Aside from the many moments of hilarity, it's a story of social mobility, class barriers and trying to fit in. There's a lot going on beneath the surface and nobody does hilarious with deep, dark undertones better than Michelle Gallen. "Factory Girls" is highly entertaining, incredibly powerful and needs to be on the telly!

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I didn't know what to expect from this book but I loved it. It was well written with a well developed storyline that was humourous and well developed charcaters that I loved. I found the setting to be perfect for the book and I felt I was right there in the factory. I loved it and I love the front cover. A quick, easy and engaging read.

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I absolutely loved Michelle Gallen's first novel, Big Girl, Small Town. I didn't think this could be as good. But it was better! Teenage warrior queen Maeve Murray (the author does love her M-names)! is keen to have a taste of independence before the D-Day of her A-level results, and counting down the days before she leaves her beleaguered Northern Irish town for the grimy but gorgeous streets of London. But is she already looking in trouble?

It's the 90s - the time of Whigfield, Oasis, Marlboro Lights, 'Molly's Lips' and Schindler's List. Maeve and her best friends, sweet Caroline and posh Aoife get summer jobs in the shirt factory under Andy Strawbridge, the charming but shallow boss who gives Maeve tremors in her 'lady garden.' I laughed from start to finish but there was also the undertow of horror that comes with living in a war zone and still, as one of the characters says, still having to worry about the size of your bum. I have never read anything quite like this novel, and would also bet that it includes the word 'flaps' more often than any other literary fiction in 2022. Slainte!

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I did not know what to expect from this book, it caught my eye with the unusual cover but I had great fun reading it and thoroughly recommend it as a holiday read

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