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Strange Flowers

By: Donal Ryan
Narrated by: Donna Anita Nikolaisen
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Summary

In 1973, twenty-year-old Moll Gladney takes a morning bus from her rural home and disappears.

Bewildered and distraught, Paddy and Kit must confront an unbearable prospect: that they will never see their daughter again.

Five years later, Moll returns. What - and who - she brings with her will change the course of her family’s life forever.

Beautiful and devastating, this exploration of loss, alienation and the redemptive power of love reaffirms Donal Ryan as one of the most talented and empathetic writers at work today.


©2020 Donal Ryan (P)2020 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

'Endlessly surprising and incredibly moving' David Nicholls

'Exquisite … you will love the quiet world of Paddy & Kit Gladney and all it is their daughter Moll brings to their door. Beautiful' Anne Griffin, author of When All Is Said

'With each new novel Donal Ryan's ink seems to sink deeper into the page. In Strange Flowers he gathers together the fragments of broken lives and makes us something new and beautiful from them' Rónán Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry Paul

What listeners say about Strange Flowers

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Magnificent

Full of unexpected twists and turns and you’re never sure where it is headed - but it all becomes clear in the end. Magnificently narrated.

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1 person found this helpful

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rural Ireland

great listen, well narrated, lovely story , if you like Irish story telling, this is wort a credit !

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Rich and complex

A lovely story with wonderful gentle characters. There is plenty of sorrow, so be warned, but beautifully written. Although not an awful lot actually happens, you are captured in the flow and don't want it to end.

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Outstandingly Brilliant

I loved every word of this gorgeous book. A beautiful story beautifully told. Treat yourself!

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2 people found this helpful

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Great read

Read it in two sittings, loved it. Especially enjoyed the reader who was quite superb.

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A beautiful book

Full of rich characters and the poetry of ordinary lives. The reader, who can easily ruin a book, had a warm and mellifluous voice that connected the interwoven lives with the thread of the tones of her voice. A beautiful book

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Wonderful

Donal Ryan is such an individual
and consistently brilliant storyteller. I love everything he writes.
I'm forever grateful that I've found him.

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Lyrical

This is a beautiful, moving novel full of compassion, empathy finely drawn characters with an excellent plot. The narration is superb. I could barely stop listening and wanted it to go on and on - just under 6 hours was too short!

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Moving and beautiful

I enjoyed every moment of the listening and am left with a deep feeling of love at the end.

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Exceptional heart-felt story

I enjoyed this book from start to finish through three generations of life's big challenges

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