Lazy City: A Novel [Paperback]

A truly extraordinary (Bassey Ikpi) debut novel of modern Belfast that sings a tender hymn to messy love, quiet grief, and the hangovers in between. [ A skillful debut novel paints a nuanced picture of Belfast and a grieving young womans search for something to believe in... Connollys incisive debut novel conveys the quiet desperation of a generation facing economic instability and career uncertainty, compounded by the climate crisis.... Belfast-born, Connolly offers a nuanced portrait of her home city: 'a place which shows all its history, all its personality, all the time& its not just the recent history, the flags and religion and borders. Its the mountains everywhere, too.' [Written] with a piercing penetration and observational clarity . . . profound. Erins experiences and relationships are well realised, narrated in her wry, funny and often hungover voice. This is a timely coming-of-age novel with all the pain and pleasure that involves. This soul-searching  and at times delightfully spiky  debut is a clear-eyed, non-judgemental guide through the sad stasis of grief and whats both lost and gained in taking those vital steps closer to moving on. A mesmerising portrait of modern Belfast . . . genius. A poignant story set in Northern Ireland, Rachel Connollys Lazy City is a mesmerising debut. A startling and assured novel from an exciting new writer. Connolly writes especially well about parties, sex and hangovers  its brilliantly visceral  but its when she tackles self-esteem and unfulfilled potential that her prose really sings. A compelling exploration of grief, uncertainty and disappointment, and a convincing portrait of Belfasts normalisation, such as it is. Indeed, where a Troubles novel might have foregrounded trauma, Connolly focuses instead on the impact of more ordinary, but still devastating, loss. [A] perceptive debut& Connolly draws the reader along by making each well-honed scene reverberate with emotion. This thoughtful chalSˆ