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115th out of 156 books
—
122 voters
Juno & Juliet
by
Julian Gough (Goodreads Author)
With this irresistibly fresh debut about a set of twins in their first year of college in Ireland, Julian Gough ("Roddy Doyle in an extremely good mood." —The Washington Post Book World) has established himself as Ireland's most delightful new voice in fiction.
Juno and Juliet Taylor are both beautiful blondes, but Juliet is convinced that Juno is the more beautiful, as wel...more
Juno and Juliet Taylor are both beautiful blondes, but Juliet is convinced that Juno is the more beautiful, as wel...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
August 13th 2002
by Anchor
(first published January 1st 2001)
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The description on the jacket of Juno and Juliet was what prompted me to read it: "Juno and Juliet Taylor are beautiful Irish twins headed off to Galway for college." For years I've been asked questions about being an identical twin. Normal people seem to be insatiably curious about twins, and those that write about twins pretty much always mess it up. One of pleasant surprises of Juno and Juliet is how much the author does get correct.
Juno and Juliet is propelled forward by Juliet's narrative....more
Juno and Juliet is propelled forward by Juliet's narrative....more
I found this book a little hard to get into and will admit I even put it down and read another book mid-way. Once I got back into it though I found it easier to read and felt more pulled into the story. I am not sure if it was me or if the book only really starts going in the middle half but once I was enjoying it I did find it hard to put down.
The Plot
This story is about two twins, Juno and Juliet and is narrated from the part of Juliet an 18-year-old college student at university, living away...more
The Plot
This story is about two twins, Juno and Juliet and is narrated from the part of Juliet an 18-year-old college student at university, living away...more
This week’s headline? lovely Galway girls
Why this book? so many reasons
Which book format? UK lips cover
Primary reading environment? library volunteer shift
Any preconceived notions? third time through
Identify most with? relationship with Jimmy
Three little words? “chivalrous, worshipful, chaste”
Goes well with? fried sea monster
Recommend this to? my little sister
Hiya, Goodreads!
This is the first book review I have written specifically for Goodreads. The first 70 books I placed on my shelves feature...more
Why this book? so many reasons
Which book format? UK lips cover
Primary reading environment? library volunteer shift
Any preconceived notions? third time through
Identify most with? relationship with Jimmy
Three little words? “chivalrous, worshipful, chaste”
Goes well with? fried sea monster
Recommend this to? my little sister
Hiya, Goodreads!
This is the first book review I have written specifically for Goodreads. The first 70 books I placed on my shelves feature...more
I searched this book out after reading Julian Gough's comments on the current state of Irish fiction in The Guardian back in February (here)—a man of strong opinions. And so the plot device of having the protagonists in a university literature course was an extremely clever way of being able to present his likes and dislikes, his inspirations and abominations. Juno and Juilet could be called a post-modern bildungsroman, allowing him to be self-referential—writing about writing—within the framewo...more
It was not predictable for my standards which I liked. However, i think I was looking too much into something happening between David and Juliet and was kept hanging until the very end. But I think that tension between them was nicely done throughout the book. Characters weren't intense and was done lightly but I didn't like some of the dialog found it too theatrical. I loved David's character though... hahaha. Ending was a bit cliche with the lines but I guess you can expect that a bit.
Uhmmm.....more
Uhmmm.....more
(Review originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)
I picked this book up because it was about twins (and I do love twins!). And also because it's set in Ireland, which is a country that I want to visit someday.
And, in its own way, I guess it was sort of interesting. But it wasn't, unfortunately, enough to hold my attention, as I kept stopping in the middle of reading it to read a different book.
I love Juliet, who is our main character. The book allows us to get into Juliet's head a bit more than Jun...more
I picked this book up because it was about twins (and I do love twins!). And also because it's set in Ireland, which is a country that I want to visit someday.
And, in its own way, I guess it was sort of interesting. But it wasn't, unfortunately, enough to hold my attention, as I kept stopping in the middle of reading it to read a different book.
I love Juliet, who is our main character. The book allows us to get into Juliet's head a bit more than Jun...more
I wanted to like it, I really tried to get into it, but in the end, just no. Didn't like it. I got bored extremely quickly and there was nothing about the characters that made me really care. The writing is good though so I don't want to knock the author on that and he does delve into the lives of the girls and there are some interesting scenarios but the random creepy letters side plot thing? What was that? It didn't fit in at all with the rest of the book. Seemed stupid. I think it's just me t...more
May 22, 2010
Jaimie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jaimie by:
Emily S.
Discussing the efficacy and authenticity of a modern novel having a happy ending may be disingenous, but I loved it ...probably because it accurately reflects my own frustrations with modern "literature". It seems that to be considered "literature" or "art" a book must contain a tragic ending. Juno and Julliet may not be literature, but it was a "good read", and I was amused by the language.
One of my favorite books of all times, and a recent reread proves that hasn't changed. Two girls - identical twins - move to Galway for their first year of university. The book is a good balance of the mundane life of a student and the darker elements of the secondary story.
A must anyone that loves Galway, or for anyone that wants to fall in love with Galway.
A must anyone that loves Galway, or for anyone that wants to fall in love with Galway.
This book brought back many memories of Galway and the naivety of youth. The main character is full of teenage angst though and sadly it is obvious that the author had some fantasy of beautiful blond female twins but this didn't really work for me. Not much character development. A nice gentle read though.
It took me very long to read this book...it wasn't really grabbing me. It's about twins that start studying and tries to give an insight of their inter-personal experiences with different people. But those relationships don't really develop and stay on the surface. There are better books around.
Mar 19, 2007
Claire
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Literature nerds, Irish college students, girls with sisters
Shelves:
my-happy-books,
five-stars
I'm not sure what I love more about this book--the sweet, witty, compelling plot about the love lives of two totally dissimilar twin sisters; the fact that it's set on the campus of the National University of Ireland in Galway, where I studied for a semester, and it makes me so nostalgic for all the places Julian Gough describes; or the way the story follows Juliet's passionate love of literature and how her understanding deepens as she falls for her lit professor. I don't blame her. I'M in love...more
I absolutely loved this book. The narrator, Juliet, is very real and honest, and incredibly hilarious. There were only very minor things that I didn't like about some of her comments, but they did not detract from the overall novel. I would reread this again anytime.
I read it while I was in Ireland, so it means more to me than it would if I would have never gone. Regardless, this is a fun read - mostly for us young ladies. : )
It was okay. There seemed to be a long section in the middle that could have been deleted. I wanted to finish it find out the big thing that finally happened but it wasn't that exciting or unexpected.
I am currently re-reading this, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, coming-of-age novel. Fantastically written.
I have finally read this book, it's been on my shelf negelcted for a good few years and I thought it's about time I read it.
At the start it seemed to be a bit slow going, got half way through and it picked up pace. My advice to anyone reading it, don't give up as I nearly did, make sure you read to the end, it's cleverly written and with it's twists and turns, it really is as the cover says " a book about student sisters and star cross'd lovers".
At the start it seemed to be a bit slow going, got half way through and it picked up pace. My advice to anyone reading it, don't give up as I nearly did, make sure you read to the end, it's cleverly written and with it's twists and turns, it really is as the cover says " a book about student sisters and star cross'd lovers".
a pretty hilarious, sarcastic tale of two identical twins going off to college and the people who surround them.
I enjoyed the "voice" in this odd little novel. A girl's voice coming from a man. Hmm...
I have to read this... one of the two main characters is named Juliet Taylor...!
Not my kind of book, I guess. Parts of it held my interest, and when I think back to it, the overall story was okay. I wouldn't recommend it, and if I saw someone reading it, I would be interested in what they thought.
Feb 19, 2011
Rebecka
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Rebecka by:
the library
I liked the storyline, and the happy ending. It was a true "feel-good" book.
LOVE THIS BOOK! Maybe that's cuz it's about identical twins, but still...
Dec 27, 2008
Pipgargery
added it
Juno & Juliet: A Novel by Julian Gough (2002)
Aug 01, 2011
Megan
added it
Didn't even get to page 50. I just couldn't get into it.
I didn't like it, nor finish it.
The last 20 pages are what really make this a worthwhile read.
Interesting first book. Recommended by a fellow librarian, this book is set in Galway during the main characters’ first year at college. I love smart characters. Characters who aren’t afraid to think aloud and work out problems in an intellectual as well as emotional way. I love the discussions of books, reading, authors and such. I was however a little disturbed by the climax of the book and the characters’ reaction, which seemed a little empty and callous. I would be interested in other books...more
I just couldn't get into this one. Guess I'm too far removed from my college days to relate.
beautifully written, Julian Gough is a brilliant storyteller.
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“You said you didn't want to get involved with me,that one of us would get hurt and how you couldn't bear it. Well that just isn't good enough..Look what happens to people just living their lives. They get hurt, it's not fair they get hurt but they do, all the time, no matter how careful they are. Somebody can just just come along and hurt them, for no stupid reason..”
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155 people liked it
“Hurt is a part of life. To be honest, I think hurt is a part of happiness, that our definition of happiness has gotten very narrow lately, very nervous, a little afraid of this brawling, fabulous, unpredictable world.”
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121 people liked it
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Jan 20, 2013 02:33pm