Hyland, i soon began to hear a lot about her from classmates. Lou connor wants to escape her life of poverty, so she travels from sydney to the us as an exchange student. Carry me down shortlisted for the commonwealth writers prize and the booker prize, and winner of the encore prize and the hawthornden prize. How the light gets in by mj hyland a little tea, a. But more than that, it is an intelligent and darkly humorous study of human aspiration, selfsabotage, and the dislocation and alienation felt by an outsider. Maria joan hyland is an exlawyer and the author of three novels. She lives with a family of misfits who mainly live on the dole. Hyland has adeptly caught the tones of adolescent pride, paranoia and vulnerability. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. How the light gets in is an acutely observed tale of adolescence. How the light gets in marks the arrival of a powerful new voice in australian fiction. Jul 01, 2003 how the light gets in marks the arrival of a powerful new voice in australian fiction. She is talking about her first novel, how the light gets in, which canongate books has snapped up following its appearance in australia last year. Also, the resolution hyland provides for her main character is abrupt and it feels rather contrived.
Even so, how the light gets in is a perceptive and mostly compelling portrait of a young girl. Her first novel, how the light gets in 2004, was shortlisted for the 2004 commonwealth writers prize eurasia region, best first book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading how the light gets in. How the light gets in shortlisted for the commonwealth writers prize. The way in which hylands characters are at once repulsed by the world and yet long for contact and recognition moves me. In 1996 i began the rmit professional writing and editing course, and while i didnt share any classes with m. Hyland again demonstrates her ability to place the reader in the lived experience of a character whose body and heart are both acutely vulnerable and dogmatically selfprotecting. J download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. She writes with very simple sentences, but they are full of meaning at a visceral level, much deeper than most authors can attain. It delivers a highly charged study of the emotional intensity of adolescence. Despite this competition, i expected how the light gets in to be the star and i have not been. And surely there are some nods to cather in the rye but one might also compare it to the sterile cuckoo, the bell jar, the moviegoer or any number of books i would even argue that it shares similar themes to anne of green gables about one coming of age, awkwardly and with a. This is the story of lous struggle for survival in the rich home of her strange host family, and every detail is observed with dark humour and a.
The confusion, the loneliness, the fear its all lousy, as salingers prototype teen would say. Hyland penguin books camberwell, vic wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. How the light gets in 2004 tells the story of louise connor, a 16yearold australian on a student exchange programme in the united states. A powerful debut from a young australian novelist that featu.
Hylands most popular book is how the light gets in. M j hyland in this acutely observed and darkly humorous tale of adolescence, a gifted but unhappy 16yearold australian girl trades poverty for suburban suffocation when she takes part in an exchange program. Hyland, who was born with kidney dysplasia, a condition in which the kidneys dont fully develop in the womb, had her first. Hylands first book grew out of a short story called in a prison for wayward exchange students in which, incidentally, the central character was a teenage boy.
Hyland has created a memorable protagonist, one whose story is utterly compelling, from. Hyland has 5 books on goodreads with 19056 ratings. Feb 06, 2014 however its her first novel, how the light gets in 2003, which i reread every few years. Oct 07, 2019 hyland has been very open in the past about her health struggles. Hylands first novel, how the light gets in, and ill admit that it was one of. Mj hyland, how the light gets in an edgy female holden caulfield.
I was very nervous about it, says mj hyland, gazing out of a hotel window at edinburghs skyline, where past and future collide as never before. But her hostfamily, the hardings who live in a prefabricated mansion in a nameless chicago suburb are in suffocating pursuit of a particular form of suburban perfection. Jan, 2018 how the light gets in by mj hyland january, 2018 january, 2018 cathyc australian, modern literature ive knocked off a lot of good books over the last couple of weeks including david cohens disappearing off the face of the earth, per pettersons its fine by me and graeme simsions the rosie project. Hyland s debut novel, how the light gets in, sixteen year old lou connor comes to america as an exchange student hoping to trade in her shameinvoking family and poverty for the american dream. She studied english and law at the university of melbourne, australia and worked as a lawyer for several years. This might help her get back to what she misses and loves to do. How the light gets in by mj hyland 330pp, canongate. Mj hyland was born in london to irish parents in 1968. Carrie ogrady applauds mj hylands subtle account of adolescent egotism, how the light gets in. The very poor family was essentially nomadic and moved to dublin, ireland, when hyland was four. How the light gets in has been published in the uk and commonwealth, france, italy, netherlands, israel, germany, spain, russia, canada, and the us. Jun 07, 2008 i have just completed how the light gets in by m. How the light gets in, her first novel, was shortlisted for the commonwealth writers prize and the age book of the year award, and was the joint winner of.
How the light gets in was also joint winner of the best young australian novelist award. J hyland is an exlawyer and the author of three multiawardwinning novels. How the light gets in by mj hyland books the guardian. Naturally, lou wants out, so when she gets a chance to spend a year in the us as an exchange student, she grabs the opportunity immediately. Hyland wrote her first novel, how the light gets in, in the first person, but notes on the books web site that it is only five percent autobiographical. While browsing online for books a few weeks ago, i came across m. A powerful debut from a young australian novelist that features one of the most likeable but contrary figures you are likely to meet in contemporary fiction life of poverty in sydney.
May 21, 2004 how the light gets in by mj hyland 330pp, canongate. Hyland she studied english and law at the university of melbourne and worked as a lawyer for several years. Hyland ebook 9781847676290 published by canongate 4 june 2009. Jan 30, 2012 how the light gets in tells the story of sixteenyearold lou, a girl with an exceptionally high iq from sydney, australia. Hyland has been very open in the past about her health struggles. How the light gets in is a cleverly observed, complex portrait of a girl on the verge of adulthood whose world like holden caulfields before her is full of mixedmessages. It may just be possible that hyland refers to this song in the title. How the light gets in by mj hyland a little tea, a little chat. Sarah hyland shares painful experience of having butt. Utterly gripping, with a creepy flawed main ive knocked off a lot of good books over the last couple of weeks including david cohens disappearing off the face of the earth, per pettersons its fine by me and graeme simsions the rosie project.
Hyland was born in london, and her irish parents immigrated to australia when she was two. How the light gets in is one of the best evocations of that state i have read, and cries out for the young adult readership that this copublication is designed to attract. My window shutter is open, the sky is vast and blue and the earth is brown and flat. Hyland is a talented writer grappling with serious questions about how we make our way through the world new york times. How the light gets in, carry me down, and this is how. She studied english and law at the university of melbourne, australia, and worked as a lawyer for several years. How the light gets in is an acutely observed story of adolescence, reminiscent of american beauty in its dissection of engrained prejudices and middleclass hypocrisy.
I write a promise that i will do extremely well at school, sleep well and write for the school newspaper. Hyland was born in london to irish parents in 1968 and spent her early childhood in dublin. Jun 02, 2011 even edgier, if less ethereal, is how the light gets in, which charts the progress of lou, a bright teenager from a poor suburb of sydney who wins a place on an exchange programme in the united states. Hyland is an exlawyer and the author of three multiawardwinning novels. Hyland has created a memorable protagonist, one whose story is utterly compelling, from hopeful beginning to unexpected, haunting end. How the light gets in quotes showing of 3 it is always sad when two people have been thinking the same thing at the same moment and neither can find a way to say it out loud. This is the story of lous struggle for survival in the rich home of her strange hostfamily, and every detail is observed with dark humour and a defiance that veils lous longing for acceptance. How the light gets in is about a high school exchange student from australia who gets placed with a host family in the chicago suburbs, and much of the novel focuses on her trying, quite unsuccessfully, to fit in despite coming from a very different family and background. Hylands debut novel, how light gets in, is compared to holden caulfield. How the light gets in 2004, carry me down 2006 and this is how 2009. The way in which hyland s characters are at once repulsed by the world and yet long for contact and recognition moves me again and again in each of her books. In less than two hours this aeroplane will land at chicagos ohare airport. Until august 2005, she lived and worked in australia, but she now lives in. Hylands how the light gets in is the story of lou connors, a supersmart 16yearold from the slums of sydney who wins a scholarship to partake in a yearlong student exchange program to the.
Jul 01, 2003 how the light gets in is a perfect novel. Like i write that i will learn a language and take up the piano. Ive knocked off a lot of good books over the last couple of weeks including david cohens disappearing off the face of the earth, per pettersons its fine by me and graeme simsions the rosie project. Hyland lou connor wants to escape her life of poverty, so she travels from sydney to the us as an exchange student. Hyland is a cool, accomplished first novel, originally published to acclaim in australia. Hyland s debut novel, how light gets in, is compared to holden caulfield. Sarah hyland joined by wells adams at emergency room.
Not only was she an amazing writer, i heard, but a talented editor as well. Aug 01, 2004 in less than two hours this aeroplane will land at chicagos ohare airport. Sneering, bilious, though finally endearing first novel pursues a disastrous year in the life of a 16yearold exchange student in the suburbs of chicago. First novel by man booker prize shortlisted author. In lou connor, hyland has created a largerthanlife protagonist who mesmerises the reader with her vivacity and vulnerability, from hopeful beginning to unexpected, haunting end. Hylands how the light gets in is the story of lou connors, a supersmart 16yearold from the slums of sydney who wins a scholarship to partake in a yearlong.
The modern family actress recently shared footage of herself at the doctors office, lying on her stomach while wearing protective goggles. How the light gets in, her first novel, was shortlisted for the commonwealth writers prize and the age book of the year award, and was the joint winner of the best young australian novelist award. Hylands debut novel, how the light gets in, sixteen year old lou connor comes to america as an exchange student hoping to trade in her shameinvoking family and poverty for the american dream. Carry me down 2006 was shortlisted for the man booker prize and won both the hawthornden prize and the encore prize.
Carry me down was shortlisted for the man booker prize and won both the hawthornden prize and the encore prize. Theres drink, drugs, teenage fumbling and a dark undertow as hyland throws a harsh spotlight on the turmoil of growing up. True travel tales from great fiction writers, and more on thriftbooks. Hyland, including how the light gets in, and lonely planet better than fiction. The book begins with 16yearold exchange student louise connor on a plane from sydney to chicago, where she will spend a year with a host family. How the light gets in tells the story of sixteenyearold lou, a girl with an exceptionally high iq from sydney, australia.