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By: Michael Magee
Narrated by: Conor MacNeill
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

WINNER OF THE ROONEY PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023
WATERSTONES IRISH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARDS 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2023

Sean is back. Back in Belfast and back into old habits. Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back in these scarred streets, where the promised prosperity of peacetime has never arrived. Back among his brothers, his ma, and all the things they never talk about. Until one night Sean finds himself at a party – dog-tired, surrounded by jeering strangers, his back against the wall – and he makes a big mistake.

'Staggeringly humane, unfaltering, taut and tender... [It] feels like that rarest of things: a genuinely necessary book' Guardian

'Every detail rings true, every character is fleshy and real and heartbreaking... Michael Magee has a remarkable talent' Sunday Times

©2023 Michael Magee (P)2023 Penguin Audio Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant
Didn’t want this to end! A very real immersive depiction of working class life in Belfast

Beautiful and authentic

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I thought this book was great - I really enjoyed it. You root for Sean to find his way.

Highly recommended

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I loved this book. Growing up in this era in Belfast the story sparked lots of memories.
I recognised all of the characters, as each layer was revealed about them - the mummy rang especially true.
I liked how it weaved in The Troubles, the impact they had on different generations and how this intertwined with socioeconomic status. Something that’s often overlooked in my opinion,
To me this book was a voice for many people that never got to be heard, who deserved to be.
The story was so well read - I was buzzing to hear it read by someone actually from the area. It made the it land all the better.

Brilliant listen! A voice that deserved to be heard

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I'm not listening to this book for the 2nd time in as many weeks. I just love the story and can't help but like Sean and all around him. The narration is the best I've listened to. He tells the story brilliantly and the voices he does puts a face to the character. I hope to find more books about Belfast with him narrating.
Think it will be a book I will listen to quite a few times.
5*

Brilliant 👏

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Authentic life of a young man dealing with the fall out of the NI troubles. Brilliantly written in the Belfast vernacular and read by Colin McNeil. Loved it.

The authenticity

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