Another fascinating listening experience by Dunphy

In this third book of the Stories from the Margins series, which is part memoir and true crime, the author turns his attention on a story about St Patrick’s residential home. A place that purports to protect the vulnerable special needs adults it is supposed to be caring for. Instead it has become the hunting ground for an habitual abuser, a person who enjoys the power, pain and humiliation of his charges.

After being approached by a vulnerable young man who has come looking for assistance from the man who helps those who are unable to help themselves. Shane believes Charlie’s tale is enough to warrant a closer look into the accusations of abuse, what follows is the kind of truth that needs to be made public and the voiceless deserve to be heard loud and clear.

What I really enjoy about the way Dunphy approaches this series is the way he breaks up the listen with music and folklore, both of which give context and flavour to the story. The history on the way imperfect children were treated historically, which explains misconceptions and attitudes towards them. The chapter on the Changelings was especially interesting, albeit it very tragic.

Now this may seem to be an odd angle to work when it comes to true crime, however it turns the listen into a learning experience and an enjoyable one too. It also serves the purpose of being able to listen to the hard stuff by inserting breathers – music, folktales, historic crimes – intermittently throughout the audiobook.

The result is an invigorating encounter for the senses, a talent and style specific to this author, as he guides the listener with his dulcet tones and Irish lilt. Always an exceptionally enjoyable experience.

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Amazing

This is a superb book. I would highly recommend. The authenticity with the author narrating the notes from the margins specifically increased added to the story giving an fascinating insight into old ireland and other similar countries. Just a brilliant book

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spectacular best book yet!

Shane's writing will always guarantee a good read/listen but this book has in my opinion surpassed the rest of his books. The plot and subplot heald my interest until the end. The only thing left to do is wait for the next !

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Another astounding work

In this the third book from The Margin Series, the author gives an insightful look into a rather bleak history of how special needs was viewed. The story unearths the dark history surrounding St. Patrick's residential home and the journey of one resident Charlie who shares the abuse and mistreatment he and his beloved Maisie suffered. Another astounding work by Shane which draws the reader in but shows you the way out, to reveal a careful woven story; which ultimately reveals and unveils some of the world's evil. No stone is left unturned and some parts are difficult subject matter but all relevant in delivering the full story. I was especially struck by what Bridget Cleary suffered, at its most basic because of a lack of understanding of someone that's different. Probably my favorite book in the series.

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Highly recommended

Completely different from what I expected .
It was a whole lot more !
Heartbreaking , informative and insightful .
I learned so much from this book , none more than the power of the importance of inclusion for all .
There is sadness , but do much we can learn from .
Can’t recommend enough .

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A must listen

I loved this listen. Thank you Shane for sharing your experiences and telling your friends story for them. It is a subject close to my heart. I especially like the background information and historical events. Well done.

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wow

it's the 3rd in series and i loved every minute of it Shane's reading and performance keeps you glued to the story i hated it finishing and hope there will be lots more to listen to his knowledge and understanding in his field is second to none

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Really?

I have a three strike system with c*ntf*ckery on Audible nowadays. I have to. It allows me to make a decision and ruminate on whether I'm being unreasonable - or whether the author is being unnecessarily political and point scoring with progressives. I can tolerate it to a degree and despite Shane Dunphy seeming to claim the negative connotation of SJW as a slur coined by the far right - what really ground my gears was his inability to know the difference between far right and alt right. Conservatives are right wing yes but he is linking conservative values to extreme white supremacy.

The chapter where he was talking to his activist friend was the icing on the cake. To take concerns that people do have and to dismiss them as bigoted and racist is in itself bigotry. Whether or not you agree with a point is one thing - but I can't tolerate the laziness of concerns some people have over things like mass immigration to be dismissed as xenophobia and bigotry. People have genuine concerns and politicians have done nothing to listen to them.

Many of the points one from very parts of society Mr Dunphy claims to want to help.

I've got several of SD books but I was really concerned by this chapter particularly. He then goes on to liken concerns about internet privacy to conspiracy theories about 5g. What the hell? Mr D are you so misinformed?

Several hours into this book - tolerating this political bunkum I stopped and deleted it. I wish to escape from rubbish like this to a place of fiction - not one exemplifying critical theory. But then he has come from a social care background - his grounding in CT should not have surprised me.

I love/d the "from the margins" sections and the Irish supporting Nazism during WW2 was fascinating. But I suspect from Mr D's position he only thinks right wingers can be fascist. I have news for him.

This represents the cancellation of my subscription. For such sweeping generalisations to be made of people is not forgivable - especially in these times.

Books like this, very much like CT, seek to divide us all into boxes. We are people all of us - with hopes and fears. We do things right and wrong but we must learn from our history - which I do agree with Mr D on - but must respect that others have differing opinions to our own and different paths - whether we like it or not. You risk radicalising abhorrent thought by not shining light on it and weirdly the monster you think is there (which isn't) ends up being created. Life is strange that way.

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