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Odd Hours
Odd Hours is a whip-smart social comedy for those of us who feel that life is a game where someone else has stolen the rules...
Meet Gosia Golab: about to turn 30, she works shifts as a cashier in a well-lit budget supermarket and lives in a badly lit Zone 3 flat share. She spends her precious spare time trying to be an online poet if only to avoid her prying flatmate Lyndsay and the endless crossfire between her Irish mother and Polish father. The only promising man in her life is a guy who appears to prefer her check-out to the others, but does this thing have legs, or is it all in her head?
Meet Gosia Golab: about to turn 30, she works shifts as a cashier in a well-lit budget supermarket and lives in a badly lit Zone 3 flat share. She spends her precious spare time trying to be an online poet if only to avoid her prying flatmate Lyndsay and the endless crossfire between her Irish mother and Polish father. The only promising man in her life is a guy who appears to prefer her check-out to the others, but does this thing have legs, or is it all in her head?
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2022
52 people are currently reading
1305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
February 3, 2023
I have quite mixed feelings about this one. The novel presents in short snippets a life of Gosia Gołab, a cashier at one of the supermarkets in the UK. Slowly we discover that Gosia is not really happy with her life, barely has friends, and her family is far from supportive of her choices. In a nutshell, this is a novel about self-discovery and searching for meaning in the world of both internal and external chaos.
I have to admit that this novel has grown on me as I got further into Gosia's story. Different parts of the story clicked together better and I got a bit more engaged with the plot. Nonetheless, throughout the book, I felt pretty distanced from Gosia's problems and she seemed at time even quite delusional. I think the book would benefit greatly from a more compact delivery as well - at 400+ pages I had sometimes a feeling that things are unnecessarily dragging without a clear purpose.
I have to admit that this novel has grown on me as I got further into Gosia's story. Different parts of the story clicked together better and I got a bit more engaged with the plot. Nonetheless, throughout the book, I felt pretty distanced from Gosia's problems and she seemed at time even quite delusional. I think the book would benefit greatly from a more compact delivery as well - at 400+ pages I had sometimes a feeling that things are unnecessarily dragging without a clear purpose.
June 17, 2022
Odd Hours is the first novel by British author, Ania Bas. The one redeeming feature of Gosia Golab’s dead-end job in a 24/7 supermarket is that the Man Of Her Dreams always chooses her checkout. She hates sharing her flat with Lindsey Oates because that includes encounters with her boyfriend, wannabe cop Kevin Harris, who seems to think she murdered their neighbour.
Her father has apparently told a lie so bad that her mother has thrown him out, something to do with a parcel from Poland, but no one is revealing quite what it was. Her mother’s plans to sell their house have her younger sister fearful she will be on the street with her twins soon. Her mother, though, is set on paying for the upcoming wedding of her favourite child, their brother, Bernie.
Meanwhile, her father is living in the allotment shed and relying on cash handouts that Gosia can ill afford. One outlet for her emotions is the online poetry platform, where contributors’ comments range from encouraging to insulting to self-promotional.
When she discovers that her cheating ex-boyfriend Andy has, with his new wife, Margaret, written and published a self-help book titled “The Bulletproof Guide to Sorting Out Your Life: Work, Money, Free Time, Family, Friendship and Love.” she’s curious, and torn between not wanting to spend a cent that will go to this pair, and wanting to see what they’ve come up with. Improvement on all fronts of her life would be welcome, but how to achieve it? Despite the fact that the book contains many derogatory references to Andy's toxic ex (ie Gosia), she begins to follow the advice contained therein.
The format of this novel is a combination of straight narratives interspersed with posts and comments from the online poetry platform, entries from flatmate Lindsey's personal diary, social media posts, magazine quizzes, and extracts from Andy and Margaret’s self-help book.
Gosia isn’t all that likeable to begin with: her revenge tactic against Andy is really nasty, she has no qualms about reading a private diary or accessing private information on a secure database. She does have a soft side, stemming from the people-pleaser attitude instilled by her Irish mother. Does she eventually redeem herself with those in her life who really matter?
Gosia’s efforts with the Man Of Her Dreams, while a source of some humour, progress from comic to tragic. The astute reader may predict that the loud, fat, obnoxious guy who keeps getting in her space will play an important role, but there are a few little twists on the why and the how to keep it interesting. The story is real and gritty at times but also often darkly funny. An entertaining, thought-provoking and uplifting debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing
Her father has apparently told a lie so bad that her mother has thrown him out, something to do with a parcel from Poland, but no one is revealing quite what it was. Her mother’s plans to sell their house have her younger sister fearful she will be on the street with her twins soon. Her mother, though, is set on paying for the upcoming wedding of her favourite child, their brother, Bernie.
Meanwhile, her father is living in the allotment shed and relying on cash handouts that Gosia can ill afford. One outlet for her emotions is the online poetry platform, where contributors’ comments range from encouraging to insulting to self-promotional.
When she discovers that her cheating ex-boyfriend Andy has, with his new wife, Margaret, written and published a self-help book titled “The Bulletproof Guide to Sorting Out Your Life: Work, Money, Free Time, Family, Friendship and Love.” she’s curious, and torn between not wanting to spend a cent that will go to this pair, and wanting to see what they’ve come up with. Improvement on all fronts of her life would be welcome, but how to achieve it? Despite the fact that the book contains many derogatory references to Andy's toxic ex (ie Gosia), she begins to follow the advice contained therein.
The format of this novel is a combination of straight narratives interspersed with posts and comments from the online poetry platform, entries from flatmate Lindsey's personal diary, social media posts, magazine quizzes, and extracts from Andy and Margaret’s self-help book.
Gosia isn’t all that likeable to begin with: her revenge tactic against Andy is really nasty, she has no qualms about reading a private diary or accessing private information on a secure database. She does have a soft side, stemming from the people-pleaser attitude instilled by her Irish mother. Does she eventually redeem herself with those in her life who really matter?
Gosia’s efforts with the Man Of Her Dreams, while a source of some humour, progress from comic to tragic. The astute reader may predict that the loud, fat, obnoxious guy who keeps getting in her space will play an important role, but there are a few little twists on the why and the how to keep it interesting. The story is real and gritty at times but also often darkly funny. An entertaining, thought-provoking and uplifting debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing
June 29, 2023
*Thank you to Welbeck publishing for sending me a copy of this book!*
I personally love a book about a girlie doing not much at all, but this one was a little bit of a miss for me. The mundane here at times struck a little too mundane. I went in expecting something similar to Convenience Store Woman, but I think the synopsis was a little bit misleading as there wasn’t as much juicy happenings or chaos as I was anticipating to be honest. I liked the book well enough, but I thought it was going to be a new fave.
I was really interested in what was happening in here to begin with, and the initial premise and introduction of different elements of Gosia’s life were really intriguing to me. The book had a dark sort of dry and rab humour to it that I liked, but the more I read it got a little tiresome. I just don’t think the book fully achieved what it was trying to, and in terms of plot we ended up going in sort of a mindless direction with no clear end in sight that made sense. Maybe that was the point, but on finishing this one I didn’t feel any sort of satisfaction or like I reached any level of closure with the story. It was all very random, didn’t feel cohesive at all, and left you a bit high and dry as a reader. We go on a lot of tangents that are left a bit too up in the air for me.
Gosia’s character was a bit bizarre, she’s not by any means unlikable but she’s a difficult one to try and understand. I almost felt like she wasn’t a real character in her own story, as everything just felt a little bit detached and we were watching events happen very far outside of her perspective? I don’t know how to word it. I don’t think as a reader we actually get to know her as a person or get a real feel for her personality, that or she didn’t have much of a personality. Her characterisation perhaps could’ve had a bit of work. The rest of the characters were okay if also a little bit hit or miss.
The best thing about this book was the formatting and structure for sure, though it comes in at over 400 pages, I was reading this at a ridiculous speed. The chapters in here are very short and snappy so it’s very easy to dive in and out of, and the main story is made more digestible by fun little chapters of multimedia format, for lack of a better description. I think these added a little bit more fun to the book and I enjoyed engaging with those sections a lot. The rest of the plot was a little all over the place for me. And the pacing was the absolute worst, for some reason it was very slow moving and at some points dry. Very random.
I’m very conflicted on this one! I didn’t dislike it by any means and it was still a worthwhile read that entertained me, but I’d never reach for it again per se. I think it had amazing potential and with some more structure and purpose it could’ve been excellent but it’s still a bit airy for me currently.
I personally love a book about a girlie doing not much at all, but this one was a little bit of a miss for me. The mundane here at times struck a little too mundane. I went in expecting something similar to Convenience Store Woman, but I think the synopsis was a little bit misleading as there wasn’t as much juicy happenings or chaos as I was anticipating to be honest. I liked the book well enough, but I thought it was going to be a new fave.
I was really interested in what was happening in here to begin with, and the initial premise and introduction of different elements of Gosia’s life were really intriguing to me. The book had a dark sort of dry and rab humour to it that I liked, but the more I read it got a little tiresome. I just don’t think the book fully achieved what it was trying to, and in terms of plot we ended up going in sort of a mindless direction with no clear end in sight that made sense. Maybe that was the point, but on finishing this one I didn’t feel any sort of satisfaction or like I reached any level of closure with the story. It was all very random, didn’t feel cohesive at all, and left you a bit high and dry as a reader. We go on a lot of tangents that are left a bit too up in the air for me.
Gosia’s character was a bit bizarre, she’s not by any means unlikable but she’s a difficult one to try and understand. I almost felt like she wasn’t a real character in her own story, as everything just felt a little bit detached and we were watching events happen very far outside of her perspective? I don’t know how to word it. I don’t think as a reader we actually get to know her as a person or get a real feel for her personality, that or she didn’t have much of a personality. Her characterisation perhaps could’ve had a bit of work. The rest of the characters were okay if also a little bit hit or miss.
The best thing about this book was the formatting and structure for sure, though it comes in at over 400 pages, I was reading this at a ridiculous speed. The chapters in here are very short and snappy so it’s very easy to dive in and out of, and the main story is made more digestible by fun little chapters of multimedia format, for lack of a better description. I think these added a little bit more fun to the book and I enjoyed engaging with those sections a lot. The rest of the plot was a little all over the place for me. And the pacing was the absolute worst, for some reason it was very slow moving and at some points dry. Very random.
I’m very conflicted on this one! I didn’t dislike it by any means and it was still a worthwhile read that entertained me, but I’d never reach for it again per se. I think it had amazing potential and with some more structure and purpose it could’ve been excellent but it’s still a bit airy for me currently.
September 24, 2022
What I could find about Ania Bas is that she's an artist, writer and organiser. Odd Hours is her debut novel.
And I just love it!
Meet Gosia, who's father is very Polish and who's mother is very Irish. Hence her name but also her temper...
Gosia is not happy working in the supermarket, and dreams about the handsome man that prefers her checkout. Home is a room in a small flat she shares with a girl who's only goal in life is to get married (so not so different from Gosia, but they don't want to see that). When one day Gosia's father is thrown out of the house and probably his marriage, the neigbour at the other side of the street gets murdered, and the landlord informs Gosia he's going to sell the flat... Gosia's life is suddenly upside down. This is not for the first time, because we already know she's still recovering from a bad relationship, but still, this time it's even worse.
There are many things going on in this book, and the story is being told in different ways. First, we see the story through Gosia's eyes, in short and sometimes staccato sentences. I immediately warmed to this unique writing style. It's compact and very clear and I just loved the way the author describes the same places in multiple ways. Second, the self-help book that Gosia is more or less reading. I won't spoil it for you here, but although it seems dreary, don't skip those chapters! And third, the comments Gosia gets from people on the poetry forum she writes poems for. Or poems...
Obviously Gosia's life is taking a turn for the worst but she discovers she's more resilient than she thought ánd she learns to see herself in a whole new way. Even to the point she starts experimenting with quite a wild nightlife (some very short scenes here not suitable for people who don't want to read anything remotely erotic). The biggest part of the story however is that Gosia finally understands what happened in her family and why people are as they are. She needs this before she can accept that she too, can begin to like herself.
A strong debut and I hope this book will get more attention here on GR and elsewhere!
And I just love it!
Meet Gosia, who's father is very Polish and who's mother is very Irish. Hence her name but also her temper...
Gosia is not happy working in the supermarket, and dreams about the handsome man that prefers her checkout. Home is a room in a small flat she shares with a girl who's only goal in life is to get married (so not so different from Gosia, but they don't want to see that). When one day Gosia's father is thrown out of the house and probably his marriage, the neigbour at the other side of the street gets murdered, and the landlord informs Gosia he's going to sell the flat... Gosia's life is suddenly upside down. This is not for the first time, because we already know she's still recovering from a bad relationship, but still, this time it's even worse.
There are many things going on in this book, and the story is being told in different ways. First, we see the story through Gosia's eyes, in short and sometimes staccato sentences. I immediately warmed to this unique writing style. It's compact and very clear and I just loved the way the author describes the same places in multiple ways. Second, the self-help book that Gosia is more or less reading. I won't spoil it for you here, but although it seems dreary, don't skip those chapters! And third, the comments Gosia gets from people on the poetry forum she writes poems for. Or poems...
Obviously Gosia's life is taking a turn for the worst but she discovers she's more resilient than she thought ánd she learns to see herself in a whole new way. Even to the point she starts experimenting with quite a wild nightlife (some very short scenes here not suitable for people who don't want to read anything remotely erotic). The biggest part of the story however is that Gosia finally understands what happened in her family and why people are as they are. She needs this before she can accept that she too, can begin to like herself.
A strong debut and I hope this book will get more attention here on GR and elsewhere!
September 27, 2023
so first of all this thing has 124 chapters and every single one starts with a paragraph of setting description that is written like a shopping list.
I do think gosia is one of the most unbearable main characters I've ever read, and I've read throne of glass. she is a delusional, naive doormat of a woman, bullied to the point of a murder allegation by side characters with the same vibe and depth as horace and jasper from 101 dalmatians. she throws up when she realises she thinks of her friend as fat, after describing him like some sort of toad all book. she could not spot a gay person if she was judging rupaul's drag race. I got second hand embarrassment from everything she did, and I honestly started to think she deserved the miserable life she had.
no one in this book felt like a remotely real person. nothing this book had to say was worth the time it took me to read it. why the fuck was it 400+ pages when absolutely shit all happened.
2* and that's being generous
I do think gosia is one of the most unbearable main characters I've ever read, and I've read throne of glass. she is a delusional, naive doormat of a woman, bullied to the point of a murder allegation by side characters with the same vibe and depth as horace and jasper from 101 dalmatians. she throws up when she realises she thinks of her friend as fat, after describing him like some sort of toad all book. she could not spot a gay person if she was judging rupaul's drag race. I got second hand embarrassment from everything she did, and I honestly started to think she deserved the miserable life she had.
no one in this book felt like a remotely real person. nothing this book had to say was worth the time it took me to read it. why the fuck was it 400+ pages when absolutely shit all happened.
2* and that's being generous
September 3, 2023
a sweet and witty read but far far too long
Odd Hours tells the story of Gosia, an Irish-Polish 30 year old in London… short chapters are used in a regular rotation to portray the different facets of her life…her job in a supermarket where she lusts after a regular, her ex, her family, her flat-sharing and flatmate diary reading, and her online poetry which is accompanied by the types of comments from strangers that won’t surprise anyone whose been privy to such armchair critics. The writing is casual and accessible, conversational, often wry and knowing without being self consciously so. It paints a detailed scene but doesn’t spoon feed the reader, allowing us to form our own conclusions. I love me a short chapter, but I often felt the brevity of some of these were at the expense of the story as it was difficult to get invested in any of the various subplots. And actually the book seemed to be all subplot. I wanted to love this, I really did. And I did find it fairly endearing, but I was bored and restless by the midway point. I reckon one could skip a solid chunk of the middle without losing anything of consequence. How and ever, the last quarter rescued the novel for me, and I loved the closing chapters. It was an easy sweet read, with heart and soul, but twice as long as it needed to be.
Odd Hours tells the story of Gosia, an Irish-Polish 30 year old in London… short chapters are used in a regular rotation to portray the different facets of her life…her job in a supermarket where she lusts after a regular, her ex, her family, her flat-sharing and flatmate diary reading, and her online poetry which is accompanied by the types of comments from strangers that won’t surprise anyone whose been privy to such armchair critics. The writing is casual and accessible, conversational, often wry and knowing without being self consciously so. It paints a detailed scene but doesn’t spoon feed the reader, allowing us to form our own conclusions. I love me a short chapter, but I often felt the brevity of some of these were at the expense of the story as it was difficult to get invested in any of the various subplots. And actually the book seemed to be all subplot. I wanted to love this, I really did. And I did find it fairly endearing, but I was bored and restless by the midway point. I reckon one could skip a solid chunk of the middle without losing anything of consequence. How and ever, the last quarter rescued the novel for me, and I loved the closing chapters. It was an easy sweet read, with heart and soul, but twice as long as it needed to be.
June 23, 2022
Gosia is witty and sensitive and also a bit mean, lonely and tortured by her own mind. She works shifts in jobs that are unfulfilling and underpaid. The only thing giving her hope is a handsome customer, a man of mystery and he is also the man of her dreams.
Spurred on to better herself and examine the perfect life, can Gosia find real happiness and human connection?
Insightful, funny and sad with a unique, raw social commentary throughout. I’m going to miss spending time with Gosia!
Huge thanks to Rob @welbeckpublish for gifting me a copy of the book.
Spurred on to better herself and examine the perfect life, can Gosia find real happiness and human connection?
Insightful, funny and sad with a unique, raw social commentary throughout. I’m going to miss spending time with Gosia!
Huge thanks to Rob @welbeckpublish for gifting me a copy of the book.
August 21, 2022
The dark, wry humour keeps Odd Hours entertaining, rather than wearisome, but it’s far from a light-hearted rom-com. It lives up to the blurb’s promise of “a razor-sharp social comedy about human connection”. The plot builds to an unconventionally happy ending that will delight odd ducks everywhere.
My full review of Odd Hours is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Odd Hours is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
January 29, 2025
Gosia must be one of the most deranged protagonists I have ever encountered, and I love that. I am so tired of reading about perfect people who are only semi-struggling, then find love, and get their lives together through mere faith. Gosia is a stalker—a delusional one—but she is also so humane that makes me root for her. I enjoy reading about imperfect characters. I like seeing them lose their composure over a breakup, act bizarrely, and lack the courage to set boundaries. It illustrates that people are just that: people. They are multidimensional, with many layers and reasons for being the way they are.
The ending felt rushed and they were so many things left hanging in my opinion but I guess that served the purpose of Gosia’s life. Unpredictable and chaotic.
The ending felt rushed and they were so many things left hanging in my opinion but I guess that served the purpose of Gosia’s life. Unpredictable and chaotic.
January 17, 2023
I love me some friendship celebration
May 27, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley Welbeck Publishing UK for this ARC.
Throughout the novel, we follow Gosia, she's sad, and pathetic even but she does feel real. Gosia's a 30-year-old cashier in an unethical supermarket. Occasionally, she checks out items for the love of her life (a random man she stares at and is convinced will fall in love with her too). We even witness her beautiful seduction of him wherein she gives him 69 points on his loyalty card every time he shops because obviously romance isn't dead.
Reading this book felt very similar to watching the show fleabag to me. Just as enjoyable and with a character that makes decisions you couldn't justify or understand. There were parts where I couldn't stand Gosia but by the end, I felt like I grew with her. Reading this book was like I was reading her diary where I had to see her mess up and hate her for it but also I see her suffer and love her for still trying. It's a contemporary novel about following a life through friendships, mistakes, lessons learnt and lessons ignored. In the end, you either hate it or you love it.
Edit: the second-hand embarrassment you get from this book is unmatched. There was one chapter I couldn't even read without screaming because Gosia??? Wtf are you doing?? You'll know it when you get to it.
if this is full of errors idk what to say I'm sleepy
Throughout the novel, we follow Gosia, she's sad, and pathetic even but she does feel real. Gosia's a 30-year-old cashier in an unethical supermarket. Occasionally, she checks out items for the love of her life (a random man she stares at and is convinced will fall in love with her too). We even witness her beautiful seduction of him wherein she gives him 69 points on his loyalty card every time he shops because obviously romance isn't dead.
Reading this book felt very similar to watching the show fleabag to me. Just as enjoyable and with a character that makes decisions you couldn't justify or understand. There were parts where I couldn't stand Gosia but by the end, I felt like I grew with her. Reading this book was like I was reading her diary where I had to see her mess up and hate her for it but also I see her suffer and love her for still trying. It's a contemporary novel about following a life through friendships, mistakes, lessons learnt and lessons ignored. In the end, you either hate it or you love it.
Edit: the second-hand embarrassment you get from this book is unmatched. There was one chapter I couldn't even read without screaming because Gosia??? Wtf are you doing?? You'll know it when you get to it.
if this is full of errors idk what to say I'm sleepy
June 28, 2022
Gosia, our heroine, is also a sort of anti-heroine- she lies, stalks and is not particularly easy to root for for much of the book.
But yet, we do. She is, at the heart of it, trying, albeit with a lot of failing.
She is stuck in a job she hates, giving the little money she saves to her father to help him pay off his debts, and she does not seem to have any particularly long-lasting friendships. She is in love with a man who will likely never like her, partly because she is stalking him.
And yet in the bleakness, this book has a lot to laugh about. The reader is invited to laugh at the absurdity of it all, as Gosia looks to a self-help guide written with all the sincerity and insight of someone who watched one TED talk and decided they were a guru.
Although I think the book could have pushed some of these to even more absurdity, it was a pleasantly funny and heartwarming book, and you do find yourself rooting for Gosia, who slowly finds that she is rooting for herself too.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But yet, we do. She is, at the heart of it, trying, albeit with a lot of failing.
She is stuck in a job she hates, giving the little money she saves to her father to help him pay off his debts, and she does not seem to have any particularly long-lasting friendships. She is in love with a man who will likely never like her, partly because she is stalking him.
And yet in the bleakness, this book has a lot to laugh about. The reader is invited to laugh at the absurdity of it all, as Gosia looks to a self-help guide written with all the sincerity and insight of someone who watched one TED talk and decided they were a guru.
Although I think the book could have pushed some of these to even more absurdity, it was a pleasantly funny and heartwarming book, and you do find yourself rooting for Gosia, who slowly finds that she is rooting for herself too.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2022
I liked this book, it was well written with well developed characterisation and a good storyline that i found compelling and engaging. I found the protagonist weirdly likeable and detestable in equal measure which just added more to the storyline. definitely worth a read.
Read
September 29, 2022Unfinished unrated. This would've been a good debut for me but I put it down because it felt like the equivalent of being in the company of someone who is so bad to be around despite the ease of it.
Must remove myself from this company before I grow reckless horns type situation.
Must remove myself from this company before I grow reckless horns type situation.
September 26, 2022
Overall I enjoyed reading Odd Hours and following around Gisa as she goes about her life. As a character I feel Gisa was equally likeable and dislikable, there are some aspects to her outlook and actions that I really didn't resonate with. Her life is quite mundane, and reading this book made me feel like I was experiencing this mundane life alongside her.
I think the book started really strong, and as it progressed I started to lose interest. The chapters are really short, so it's quite punchy in that sens
I think the book started really strong, and as it progressed I started to lose interest. The chapters are really short, so it's quite punchy in that sens
July 22, 2024
"Nocna zmiana" jest jedną z tych książek, które są jednocześnie o wszystkim i o niczym. Chaotyczna, skrajna, nieco surowa, ale dopracowana i napisana bardzo poprawnie. Powieść, której przesłanie jest głęboko ukryte między wierszami - a to nie przypadek, bo i poezja się pojawia. I czytanie pamiętnika współlokatorki... Ania Bas w szorstki sposób opisuje życie Gosi Golab, młodej kobiety, mieszkanki Londynu, której życie jest niekończącym się pasmem katastrof.
W opisie książki zawarta jest fraza, że "Nocna zmiana" jest zarówno satyrą społeczną, komedią romantyczną oraz swoistym listem miłosnym do ludzi żyjących na emigracji i ja się z tym w stu procentach zgadzam. Choć pozornie książka nie zawiera w sobie nic zabawnego, to jednak zawoalowany humor i krępujące fragmenty życia głównie bohaterki, a także prosta, a błyskotliwa narracja sprawiały, że wielokrotnie uśmiechnęłam się pod nosem podczas lektury.
Ania Bas w rewelacyjny sposób obnaża monotonię ludzkiej egzystencji, powtarzalność, tkwienie w miejscu i presję, jaką narzuca społeczeństwo. Piętrzące się stosy oczekiwań innych silnie oddziałują na Gosię, co doprowadza ją do szału. Jest w tym jednak tak dużo prawdy, każdy z nas w jakimś momencie swojego życia doświadcza czegoś podobnego i trudnego. Presja społeczna i poszukiwanie miłości zdają się być głównymi celami bohaterki, ale czy nadejdzie czas, gdy postawi w końcu na siebie? Przestanie roztrząsać swój poprzedni związek i wyleczy się z chorej fascynacji obcym mężczyzną?
W "Nocnej zmianie" Bas zręcznie balansuje między groteską a rzeczywistością, tworząc postaci, które mimo swoich przerysowanych cech, są niezwykle wiarygodne i bliskie sercu czytelnika. Gosia Golab, z jej wadami i zaletami, wydaje się być symbolem wielu młodych osób, które zmagają się z rozdarciem między tym, co sami chcą, a czego oczekuje od nich społeczeństwo, a także między dwoma krajami, nie wiedząc, gdzie tak naprawdę przynależy. Przez pryzmat jej przygód, autorka ukazuje trudności i absurdy codziennego życia na emigracji, ale również siłę i determinację, jakie są potrzebne, by przetrwać.
"Nocna zmiana" to książka, która mimo swojej pozornej lekkości, niesie ze sobą głębokie przesłanie. Wnikliwa, a jednocześnie prosta. Surowa, a jednocześnie z głębokim przesłaniem. Ania Bas z dużym wyczuciem i humorem kreśli obraz współczesnej emigracji, ukazując jednocześnie uniwersalne prawdy o ludzkiej naturze. To powieść, która bawi, ale także zmusza do refleksji, przypominając, że nawet w najbardziej chaotycznych momentach życia można znaleźć sens i cel. Dla fanów nietuzinkowych historii to powieść idealna. Zachęcam do przeczytania.
W opisie książki zawarta jest fraza, że "Nocna zmiana" jest zarówno satyrą społeczną, komedią romantyczną oraz swoistym listem miłosnym do ludzi żyjących na emigracji i ja się z tym w stu procentach zgadzam. Choć pozornie książka nie zawiera w sobie nic zabawnego, to jednak zawoalowany humor i krępujące fragmenty życia głównie bohaterki, a także prosta, a błyskotliwa narracja sprawiały, że wielokrotnie uśmiechnęłam się pod nosem podczas lektury.
Ania Bas w rewelacyjny sposób obnaża monotonię ludzkiej egzystencji, powtarzalność, tkwienie w miejscu i presję, jaką narzuca społeczeństwo. Piętrzące się stosy oczekiwań innych silnie oddziałują na Gosię, co doprowadza ją do szału. Jest w tym jednak tak dużo prawdy, każdy z nas w jakimś momencie swojego życia doświadcza czegoś podobnego i trudnego. Presja społeczna i poszukiwanie miłości zdają się być głównymi celami bohaterki, ale czy nadejdzie czas, gdy postawi w końcu na siebie? Przestanie roztrząsać swój poprzedni związek i wyleczy się z chorej fascynacji obcym mężczyzną?
W "Nocnej zmianie" Bas zręcznie balansuje między groteską a rzeczywistością, tworząc postaci, które mimo swoich przerysowanych cech, są niezwykle wiarygodne i bliskie sercu czytelnika. Gosia Golab, z jej wadami i zaletami, wydaje się być symbolem wielu młodych osób, które zmagają się z rozdarciem między tym, co sami chcą, a czego oczekuje od nich społeczeństwo, a także między dwoma krajami, nie wiedząc, gdzie tak naprawdę przynależy. Przez pryzmat jej przygód, autorka ukazuje trudności i absurdy codziennego życia na emigracji, ale również siłę i determinację, jakie są potrzebne, by przetrwać.
"Nocna zmiana" to książka, która mimo swojej pozornej lekkości, niesie ze sobą głębokie przesłanie. Wnikliwa, a jednocześnie prosta. Surowa, a jednocześnie z głębokim przesłaniem. Ania Bas z dużym wyczuciem i humorem kreśli obraz współczesnej emigracji, ukazując jednocześnie uniwersalne prawdy o ludzkiej naturze. To powieść, która bawi, ale także zmusza do refleksji, przypominając, że nawet w najbardziej chaotycznych momentach życia można znaleźć sens i cel. Dla fanów nietuzinkowych historii to powieść idealna. Zachęcam do przeczytania.
November 13, 2022
Odd Hours is a little bit odd. It’s the story of Gosia, both her good and bad sides, as she makes her way through life. I was increasingly absorbed as the story went on as Gosia’s life got simpler in some ways and more complex in others.
Gosia isn’t really a likeable character at first, but she grows on the reader as the story progresses. She works on the checkouts in a supermarket, an unfulfilling job with the exception of the man of her dreams who comes in sometimes. Her family is complex with her Polish father moving out to live at his allotment while her Irish mother plans the wedding of her only son. Gosia lives in a mouldy flat with Lyndsey, a sort-of friend, but not really after Gosia’s split with Andy. (Andy of course is so deliriously happy with his new love Margaret that they’ve written a self-help book together). It’s a lot to process but Gosia muddles her way through, landing a new job, making a new friend and then mucking it up in a spectacular fashion.
Each chapter starts with a description of the location to set the scene. At first I found this endearing, then annoying and then I didn’t really notice it anymore. The sentences are short and sharp for maximal impact, and reflect how Gosia is with most people. She’s been hurt multiple times, but she’s just trying to find her way despite the criticism from her mother and the fellow poets at the online poetry circle she frequents and the demand for money from her father. Late in the novel, Gosia finds out some things that are devastating to her and things become even more chaotic. She’s forced to face some hard truths, but the ambush by her ex-friends was quite jarring, almost ridiculous to me. It didn’t fit in with the rest of the novel and seemed like extra punishment for Gosia.
Odd Hours combines the mundane (e.g., boring, repetitive work) with the big questions of family, friendship and moving on. It’s a novel that takes time to grow on the reader, but the dry wit of Gosia and her not always kind thoughts about others won me over. Gosia says and thinks the things other characters don’t dare to, which is refreshing. It’s an original novel with a unique main character that packs more of an emotional punch than expected.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for the copy of this novel. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Gosia isn’t really a likeable character at first, but she grows on the reader as the story progresses. She works on the checkouts in a supermarket, an unfulfilling job with the exception of the man of her dreams who comes in sometimes. Her family is complex with her Polish father moving out to live at his allotment while her Irish mother plans the wedding of her only son. Gosia lives in a mouldy flat with Lyndsey, a sort-of friend, but not really after Gosia’s split with Andy. (Andy of course is so deliriously happy with his new love Margaret that they’ve written a self-help book together). It’s a lot to process but Gosia muddles her way through, landing a new job, making a new friend and then mucking it up in a spectacular fashion.
Each chapter starts with a description of the location to set the scene. At first I found this endearing, then annoying and then I didn’t really notice it anymore. The sentences are short and sharp for maximal impact, and reflect how Gosia is with most people. She’s been hurt multiple times, but she’s just trying to find her way despite the criticism from her mother and the fellow poets at the online poetry circle she frequents and the demand for money from her father. Late in the novel, Gosia finds out some things that are devastating to her and things become even more chaotic. She’s forced to face some hard truths, but the ambush by her ex-friends was quite jarring, almost ridiculous to me. It didn’t fit in with the rest of the novel and seemed like extra punishment for Gosia.
Odd Hours combines the mundane (e.g., boring, repetitive work) with the big questions of family, friendship and moving on. It’s a novel that takes time to grow on the reader, but the dry wit of Gosia and her not always kind thoughts about others won me over. Gosia says and thinks the things other characters don’t dare to, which is refreshing. It’s an original novel with a unique main character that packs more of an emotional punch than expected.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for the copy of this novel. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
June 24, 2022
Gosia Golab is stuck. Her parents have dramatically split up and might be leaving her sister homeless, her cheating ex is getting married and writing a self-help book that definitely seems to be referencing her a bit too much, her flatmates are unbearable, and she can barely afford to help her broke dad with the meagre wages from the 24-hour supermarket she works at.
But at least at work she gets to see her true love, even though he doesn't quite seem to want to take it further than occasionally using her checkout. Gosia needs help to get out of the hole she's in … even if it's from a stupid book written by her stupid ex.
First things first - this book is not happy. Gosia is not a likeable character, she's a mean, vindictive, unlikeable and sometimes cringe-worthy person. This book is grey and dreary and bitter - and that's exactly why it was great.
This unique social commentary is compellingly angry, reminding us that sometimes life just sucks, and people are not perfect by any means. Darkly funny, dry and painfully witty - it borders on satire while managing to stay somewhat grounded in reality.
The storytelling was undeniably compelling - told through book excerpts, social media posts, diaries, magazines all weaved in with the brilliantly fast-moving, quirky narrative to create a distinctly interesting reading experience.
If you've ever felt angry at the world, you should definitely read this book.
But at least at work she gets to see her true love, even though he doesn't quite seem to want to take it further than occasionally using her checkout. Gosia needs help to get out of the hole she's in … even if it's from a stupid book written by her stupid ex.
First things first - this book is not happy. Gosia is not a likeable character, she's a mean, vindictive, unlikeable and sometimes cringe-worthy person. This book is grey and dreary and bitter - and that's exactly why it was great.
This unique social commentary is compellingly angry, reminding us that sometimes life just sucks, and people are not perfect by any means. Darkly funny, dry and painfully witty - it borders on satire while managing to stay somewhat grounded in reality.
The storytelling was undeniably compelling - told through book excerpts, social media posts, diaries, magazines all weaved in with the brilliantly fast-moving, quirky narrative to create a distinctly interesting reading experience.
If you've ever felt angry at the world, you should definitely read this book.
June 8, 2022
* I was provided with a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this.
Odd Hours is a quirky novel following Gosia, a woman in her 30s who works in a supermarket, as her life starts to fall apart. Her parents split, she is infatuated with a stranger she serves at work and her living situation leaves a lot to be desired. This book is well written, none of the characters are particularly likeable but they are all interesting and complex. The writing style is very unique, almost satirical but quite poignant at times.
Fans of Convenience Store Woman and Fleabag will enjoy this book.
I rated it 4/5 stars and not 5 stars because I personally thought it was a bit too long, but it is a great read.
Odd Hours is a quirky novel following Gosia, a woman in her 30s who works in a supermarket, as her life starts to fall apart. Her parents split, she is infatuated with a stranger she serves at work and her living situation leaves a lot to be desired. This book is well written, none of the characters are particularly likeable but they are all interesting and complex. The writing style is very unique, almost satirical but quite poignant at times.
Fans of Convenience Store Woman and Fleabag will enjoy this book.
I rated it 4/5 stars and not 5 stars because I personally thought it was a bit too long, but it is a great read.
June 8, 2023
had the vibe of a wannabe sad/cool girl book but the writing felt too out of place w too much going on without relevance to the main plot . maybe it tried too hard. sorry
September 11, 2022
Another example of me being drawn to a book based on its cover. Did it live up to the expectations I had set? Like, kinda I guess.
Odd Hours started strong, and then I slowly started to lose interest. This book is really long, with really short chapters. Initially I liked the punchiness of each chapter, but soon I found myself getting invested in a setting or scene, only for the book to really quickly flit to somewhere else completely different.
I liked Gosia a lot, I totally understood her character and related to her at various parts. I loved her view on her family dynamics and I was rooting for her in (nearly) every situation she found herself in. Steve is also a fab character, and Viola was also really great. I loved every interaction these two had with Gosia.
There is a big emphasis on the mundanity of life in this book, and it made parts of the book seem really mundane as well. If that's your thing, you'll like this book. Sadly, it isn't my cup of tea. It really felt like it was dragging on for a good 150ish pages, but I soldiered on hoping for a better final third of the book.
The ending was actually really good! Gosia finally had character development (I was here waiting 300 pages!) and things had finally started to unfold. The last third of the book is really well paced, nothing felt rushed or unrealistic, and I really enjoyed the ending.
I felt a lot of emotions while reading this, quite often it was boredom, but when I wasn't bored, I felt like I was on the rollercoaster that is Gosia's life.
Honestly, since I started reading this book I feel I have had huge character growth. Is it because Odd Hours took me ages to get through, or because I too, am growing up, just like Gosia?
Odd Hours started strong, and then I slowly started to lose interest. This book is really long, with really short chapters. Initially I liked the punchiness of each chapter, but soon I found myself getting invested in a setting or scene, only for the book to really quickly flit to somewhere else completely different.
I liked Gosia a lot, I totally understood her character and related to her at various parts. I loved her view on her family dynamics and I was rooting for her in (nearly) every situation she found herself in. Steve is also a fab character, and Viola was also really great. I loved every interaction these two had with Gosia.
There is a big emphasis on the mundanity of life in this book, and it made parts of the book seem really mundane as well. If that's your thing, you'll like this book. Sadly, it isn't my cup of tea. It really felt like it was dragging on for a good 150ish pages, but I soldiered on hoping for a better final third of the book.
The ending was actually really good! Gosia finally had character development (I was here waiting 300 pages!) and things had finally started to unfold. The last third of the book is really well paced, nothing felt rushed or unrealistic, and I really enjoyed the ending.
I felt a lot of emotions while reading this, quite often it was boredom, but when I wasn't bored, I felt like I was on the rollercoaster that is Gosia's life.
Honestly, since I started reading this book I feel I have had huge character growth. Is it because Odd Hours took me ages to get through, or because I too, am growing up, just like Gosia?
November 3, 2023
So, the cover deliberately evokes Convenience Store Woman. I know I've read that book, but, shamefully, I can remember sod all about it - except that it's nothing like Odd Hours, whose protagonist, Gosia, quits her supermarket job early on in the novel.
To begin with, Eleanor Oliphant seemed a more apt comparison - each chapter starts with a descriptive paragraph of Gosia's location, which certainly feels like something an autistic person's brain might do (are we supposed to say neurodivergent? I'm never sure). But the more we learn about Gosia, the less like Eleanor she becomes. She's certainly damaged and appears to have been wronged, except she's quite smart, (mostly) clear-headed and flagrantly reads her flatmate's diary without permission - and we're given hints that she's done worse stuff besides.
So the reader must proceed with a lingering sense of not quite knowing who to root for. Intentional, certainly. Distancing to the reader? Probably. At the same time, Odd Hours is structurally odd - chapters are brief, and alternate between a regular narrative, the aforementioned flatmate's scribblings, Gosia's experimental poetry and excerpts from the self-help manual written by Gosia's ex and his new paramour Margaret. The latter are funny and well-judged, and I felt I knew Margaret well even though we never meet her in person, but they contribute to the novel's repetitive bittiness.
At over 400 pages, Odd Hours is simply too long, and I'm very surprised it hasn't been whittled down in the editing process. In the final third-ish, when Gosia's hits rock bottom and the world seems to conspire against her, the cumulative effect of the brief chapters works brilliantly and the whole thing soars. Chop out a hundred pages or so of the saggy middle and this would be a cracking read as opposed to a fun but flawed one.
To begin with, Eleanor Oliphant seemed a more apt comparison - each chapter starts with a descriptive paragraph of Gosia's location, which certainly feels like something an autistic person's brain might do (are we supposed to say neurodivergent? I'm never sure). But the more we learn about Gosia, the less like Eleanor she becomes. She's certainly damaged and appears to have been wronged, except she's quite smart, (mostly) clear-headed and flagrantly reads her flatmate's diary without permission - and we're given hints that she's done worse stuff besides.
So the reader must proceed with a lingering sense of not quite knowing who to root for. Intentional, certainly. Distancing to the reader? Probably. At the same time, Odd Hours is structurally odd - chapters are brief, and alternate between a regular narrative, the aforementioned flatmate's scribblings, Gosia's experimental poetry and excerpts from the self-help manual written by Gosia's ex and his new paramour Margaret. The latter are funny and well-judged, and I felt I knew Margaret well even though we never meet her in person, but they contribute to the novel's repetitive bittiness.
At over 400 pages, Odd Hours is simply too long, and I'm very surprised it hasn't been whittled down in the editing process. In the final third-ish, when Gosia's hits rock bottom and the world seems to conspire against her, the cumulative effect of the brief chapters works brilliantly and the whole thing soars. Chop out a hundred pages or so of the saggy middle and this would be a cracking read as opposed to a fun but flawed one.
July 18, 2023
A novel about an Irish-Polish woman named Gosia Golak was a mix of everything: family drama and self-discovery of someone with a distinctly foreign name and yet very little attachment to her heritage, a murder mystery, some pretty strong romantic delusions and financial struggles. Her life is mundane, something I initially thought would resemble Convenience Store Woman and yet it was nothing like that. Her life is going downhill and only hitting rock bottom forces her to get back up and rethink her life. Gosia is a quite bizarre woman, a bit lost, a bit cold, a bit odd but somehow not unlikeable, especially once you start seeing her stepping towards self-development.
The books is over 400 pages long but the short and structurally repetitive chapters made it a fun read, albeit sometimes a bit dry. Gosia’s story is told by omni-present 3rd-person perspective, then as a diary entrance of her flatmate, through a manual on how to have a successful life written by her cheating ex and his new wife, as well as through Gosia’s poems she posts online. The structure of the book was definitely my favourite part of it.
I really enjoyed the book and I contemplated giving it four stars but realistically, I think it sits at 3.5 max mostly due to the fact that I just felt like something was missing.
The books is over 400 pages long but the short and structurally repetitive chapters made it a fun read, albeit sometimes a bit dry. Gosia’s story is told by omni-present 3rd-person perspective, then as a diary entrance of her flatmate, through a manual on how to have a successful life written by her cheating ex and his new wife, as well as through Gosia’s poems she posts online. The structure of the book was definitely my favourite part of it.
I really enjoyed the book and I contemplated giving it four stars but realistically, I think it sits at 3.5 max mostly due to the fact that I just felt like something was missing.
August 4, 2024
Londyńskie życie Gosi Golab to ciągłe porażki. Były chłopak złamał jej serce. Jej praca wyniszcza jej duszę. Rozwód rodziców uszczupla jej budżet, gdyż jej ojciec wyprowadził się na działkę i regularnie potrzebuje wsparcia donansowego. A współlokatorka podejrzewa ją o morderstwo. Gosia jednak się nie poddaje, próbuje zmienić swoje życie i otoczenie.
Książki, w których miejscem akcji jest Wielka Brytania, są dla mnie ogromnie atrakcyjne. Pozycja opowiadającą o emigrantach z polski, biorę w ciemno. Sama mieszkałam na wyspach kilka lat, dlatego mogłam bardzo dobrze wczuć się w klimat. Książka idealnie opisuje mindset Brytyjczyków, ich nastawienie do życia i zwyczaje. Ta pozycja jest zaskakująco inna. Forma napisania bardzo do mnie trafiła, oprócz historii Gosi, otrzymujemy również: wpisy z portalu poetyckiego, fragmenty pamiętnika jej współlokatorki i książki jej byłego.
Książka jest dosyć spora, jednak przeczytałam ją ekspresowo. Wywołała we mnie ogrom emocji. Śmiałam się, denerwowałam i prawie krzyczałam. Książka posiada osobliwy humor, porównałabym go do Dziennik Bridget Jones. Wątek morderstwa był bardzo chaotyczny, nie rozumiałam byłych znajomych Gosi. Miałam wrażenie, że główna bohaterka, była ogromnie naiwna. Nie rozumiałam jej postępowania w różnych sytuacjach.
Luźny styl autorki jest ogromnie przyjemny, lektura była przyjemnością. Słodko-Gorzka historia emigrantów na wyspach. Jeśli interesuje was ta tematyka lub uwielbiacie Dziennik Bridget Jones, to książka dla was!
Książki, w których miejscem akcji jest Wielka Brytania, są dla mnie ogromnie atrakcyjne. Pozycja opowiadającą o emigrantach z polski, biorę w ciemno. Sama mieszkałam na wyspach kilka lat, dlatego mogłam bardzo dobrze wczuć się w klimat. Książka idealnie opisuje mindset Brytyjczyków, ich nastawienie do życia i zwyczaje. Ta pozycja jest zaskakująco inna. Forma napisania bardzo do mnie trafiła, oprócz historii Gosi, otrzymujemy również: wpisy z portalu poetyckiego, fragmenty pamiętnika jej współlokatorki i książki jej byłego.
Książka jest dosyć spora, jednak przeczytałam ją ekspresowo. Wywołała we mnie ogrom emocji. Śmiałam się, denerwowałam i prawie krzyczałam. Książka posiada osobliwy humor, porównałabym go do Dziennik Bridget Jones. Wątek morderstwa był bardzo chaotyczny, nie rozumiałam byłych znajomych Gosi. Miałam wrażenie, że główna bohaterka, była ogromnie naiwna. Nie rozumiałam jej postępowania w różnych sytuacjach.
Luźny styl autorki jest ogromnie przyjemny, lektura była przyjemnością. Słodko-Gorzka historia emigrantów na wyspach. Jeśli interesuje was ta tematyka lub uwielbiacie Dziennik Bridget Jones, to książka dla was!
December 22, 2023
Weird books FTW! This was so funny and so sad.
Odd Hours opens each chapter with this hyper-distant scene settings, as if it were describing the scene to someone who's never been to earth before, and though it gets a little tiring after 100 chapters, it set the tone for the story of Gosia, a character who's so strange she may well be an alien.
I adored watching Gosia go through her life in short, addictive chapters, while a strange tension underpinned the narration. Imagine being endeared by a character who quite literally stalks someone else? Who you think may or may not have killed someone?
The rhythm of narrative chapters, extracts of the self-help book, and someone else's diary worked so well for me.
The dialogues can be a bit clunky, but I loved how it ultimately centered an unusual friendship, and how unapologetically psychopathic the main character is.
Odd Hours opens each chapter with this hyper-distant scene settings, as if it were describing the scene to someone who's never been to earth before, and though it gets a little tiring after 100 chapters, it set the tone for the story of Gosia, a character who's so strange she may well be an alien.
I adored watching Gosia go through her life in short, addictive chapters, while a strange tension underpinned the narration. Imagine being endeared by a character who quite literally stalks someone else? Who you think may or may not have killed someone?
The rhythm of narrative chapters, extracts of the self-help book, and someone else's diary worked so well for me.
The dialogues can be a bit clunky, but I loved how it ultimately centered an unusual friendship, and how unapologetically psychopathic the main character is.
December 22, 2025
2.5 stars for me – I was kind of glad when it was over, but overall it was an okay read. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in, but it definitely qualifies as an “unhinged, messy female character” book.
We follow Gosia through her frankly boring life, which made me wince along with her the whole time. I felt bad for her and pitied her a lot. The author perfectly captured that constant “the odds are against her” feeling.
What really made this book stand out was the way it was written. There were so many chapters, each only a few pages long, yet not much actually happened besides frequent switches between topics (Gosia’s life, Gosia reading her roommate’s diary about her, and Gosia’s rude ex’s new book). Every chapter started with a short description, almost like the postcard-style introductions that have been used in literature before, where the scene is set before it starts to “move.”
The book/selfhelp chapters were my favourites because they were just so unhinged lol. I probably wouldn’t read this book again or necessarily recommend it though since it’s def not my kinda read
We follow Gosia through her frankly boring life, which made me wince along with her the whole time. I felt bad for her and pitied her a lot. The author perfectly captured that constant “the odds are against her” feeling.
What really made this book stand out was the way it was written. There were so many chapters, each only a few pages long, yet not much actually happened besides frequent switches between topics (Gosia’s life, Gosia reading her roommate’s diary about her, and Gosia’s rude ex’s new book). Every chapter started with a short description, almost like the postcard-style introductions that have been used in literature before, where the scene is set before it starts to “move.”
The book/selfhelp chapters were my favourites because they were just so unhinged lol. I probably wouldn’t read this book again or necessarily recommend it though since it’s def not my kinda read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 30, 2023Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.
This really wasn't what I expected, though not necessarily in a bad way. I thought it was going to be a funny, awkward and satirical story about the protagonist's experiences of working in a supermarket, and instead, she leaves her supermarket job after a few chapters and proceeds to stalk a man she thinks she's in love with for the rest of the book. It's bizarre and dark at times, but also an interesting commentary on parasocial relationships. At its core, it's very much a story about loneliness, obsession, and the fact that putting people on a pedestal in our minds can ultimately lead to our downfall.
This really wasn't what I expected, though not necessarily in a bad way. I thought it was going to be a funny, awkward and satirical story about the protagonist's experiences of working in a supermarket, and instead, she leaves her supermarket job after a few chapters and proceeds to stalk a man she thinks she's in love with for the rest of the book. It's bizarre and dark at times, but also an interesting commentary on parasocial relationships. At its core, it's very much a story about loneliness, obsession, and the fact that putting people on a pedestal in our minds can ultimately lead to our downfall.
August 2, 2024
Zadziwiający debiut powieściowy! Prowadzony nieśpiesznie, brawurowy i mocno specyficzny, z pewnością nieprzeciętny! Nocna zmiana to satyra społeczna przełamana nutą błyskotliwej komedii romantycznej oraz szczyptą kryminalnego uniesienia, to powieść pozwalająca na refleksyjne spoglądanie w otchłań ludzkiego zagubienia, to życiowe porażki i absurdalne próby doścignięcia sercowych marzeń, to pułapki emigracyjnej codzienności i przenikająca duszę potrzeba zrozumienia siebie. Ania Bas intencjonalnie wkrada się w szczeliny kobiecej naiwności, pozwalając bohaterce wypełnić przestrzeń obsesyjnych scen, ewidentnie chce, aby ta w niekontrolowany sposób dotarła do znaczenia własnej tożsamości.
September 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this strange little story. Gosia was a very unique protagonist. I liked how her story unfolded and how that ridiculous attack disguised as a self help book actually did seem to impact her life in a positive way.
The messages in this book about being yourself and choosing a path that is right for you and not the script everyone else blindly follows were wonderful.
I did kind of want to smack her father, though.
The messages in this book about being yourself and choosing a path that is right for you and not the script everyone else blindly follows were wonderful.
I did kind of want to smack her father, though.
January 19, 2024
I picked up this book at random from the library. Although it took a little while for me to get into it, once I did, it was a very enjoyable read. The use of the cringeworthy self-help book chapters balanced out the heavier topics in the book and were at times laugh out loud funny. I found the book endearingly quirky and was moved by the emotional depth of the main character Gosia. I think the book will stay with me for a while.
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