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Ordinary Human Failings

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Ordinary Human Failings

By: Megan Nolan
Narrated by: Jessica Regan
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2024.

A Highly Anticipated Novel of 2023 in The Times, i-D, Esquire and the Guardian.

When we look beyond the headlines, everyone has a story to tell

It's 1990 in London and Tom Hargreaves has it all: a burgeoning career as a reporter, fierce ambition and a brisk disregard for the "peasants" - ordinary people, his readers, easy tabloid fodder. His star looks set to rise when he stumbles across a scoop: a dead child on a London estate, grieving parents loved across the neighbourhood, and the finger of suspicion pointing at one reclusive family of Irish immigrants and "bad apples": the Greens.

At their heart sits Carmel: beautiful, otherworldly, broken, and once destined for a future beyond her circumstances until life - and love - got in her way. Crushed by failure and surrounded by disappointment, there's nowhere for her to go and no chance of escape. Now, with the police closing in on a suspect and the tabloids hunting their monster, she must confront the secrets and silences that have trapped her family for so many generations.

©2023 Megan Nolan (P)2023 Penguin Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt England

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Critic reviews

A brilliant analysis of what happens when we treat horror and pain as entertainment. Nolan writes with great compassion (Nicole Flattery, author of Nothing Special)
All stars
Most relevant  
The characters were well developed and likeable bar the journalist. I liked the way the story unfolded, quite relatable and easy to see how little things can snowball and create bigger issues. I'm from waterford so enjoyed the familiarity and quick chapters. would definitely read more by same author.

a very quick enjoyable listen

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I found it a Tough read about human failings and sufferings. Tragedy destroying lives. Well written. Good ending.

Tough read about human failings.

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I liked that the book did not follow a predictable path. The characters seemed familiar and typical of a common current narrative, but the depth of their thoughts and self reflections made them complex and likeable.

Revealing inner thoughts of familiar characters

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The familiar and unfamiliar, poignantly heartbreaking. You want more for each character but know they have been dealt their cards and do with them what they will. I look forward to reading more from this writer, skilled at mining the psychology of human failings.

Heartbreaking poignant

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beautifully written and so well observed. at times almost too heartbreaking but also too engaging to stop. perfect narrator also.

sad insightful but hopeful also

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This author writes characters with such depth and such love that they lodge deep in your heart, familiar and strange at the same time. She portrays the grip of alcoholism like no other too. Grateful to be alive at the same time as Meg Nolan.

I loved this book

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I’ve just finished an feel a little too emotional to leave a coherent review. But……WOW! Absolutely tragic, yet out of this story of such sadness comes beautiful hope. I really want there to be a sequel where everyone lives happily ever after!

A harrowing but astonishing listen

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It’s not a cheerful book, but I’m always interested in reading books with flawed characters.
Well written and narrated

Sad but insightful and hopeful

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Disappointing. I persevered, but a poor conclusion to the story,
Far too much hot air.

Disappointing

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Such a wonderful book. Megan Nolan is an amazing writer. I loved it and will think about it for a long time.

Fantastic writing!

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