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Philomena

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Philomena

By: Martin Sixsmith
Narrated by: John Curless
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About this listen

Falling pregnant as a teenager in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to the convent in Co. Tipperary to be looked after as a fallen woman. She cared for her baby for three years until the Church took him and sold him, like countless others, to America for adoption. She spent the next 50 years secretly searching for him, unaware that he was searching for her from across the Atlantic.

©2009 Martin Sixsmith, foreword: 2013 Judi Dench (P)2013 Recorded Books LLC Parenting & Families Relationships Women Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Emotionally Gripping Inspiring Thought-Provoking Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

Now a major film starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan
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The narrator's Irish accent was interesting, teetering somewhere between Jamaica and Yorkshire. He also read about a "rubber plant" and enunciated it as if it were a plant made of rubber rather than the plant otherwise known as ficus elastica.
After watching the film it was interesting to hear more about Mary and to hear more accurately how the nuns behaved.
It was painful to have to listen to the author's intimate and detailed imaginings of what Mikey might have been thinking and feeling at numerous points throughout the book. His amateur psychology added nothing to the story.
Despite the above, it's a great book. It's interesting and exposes the huge and horrific perversity of elements of both Ireland and the Catholic Church in the second half of the 20th century.

Great but flawed

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I felt uncomfortable reading about the promiscuous lifestyle of a closeted gay man. If he were still alive today, I’m sure he wouldn’t be happy about having this broadcast to the world.

Tragic but amazing story

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I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It has been very well narrated.

Very moving story

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This book surprised me in that it deals almost exclusively with Michael and only touches on Philomena.
It details the intense, driving savagery and greed of a Catholic Church carried away on a flight of its own self importance.
It details Michael s life but I felt it dealt far too much with his sexuality. He was gay and that's the man he was. I'm just not sure we needed to hear about the fluorescent jock straps at the gay clubs etc etc etc.
Well read but a few mispronounced names and places took from its certainty a little.

Surprised

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My God I loved this book. I ordered it after watching the film with Judy Dench.

The story of Irish sexual love has been captured perfectly. A cloud of shame followed the Mother’s and children all their lives. Shunned shamed and scarred, all to perpetuate a myth of Catholic sexual purity.

Thank God those days are gone in Ireland. Unfortunately in Africa, South America, and the Philippines, history is repeating itself.

He’s told our story

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Would you consider the audio edition of Philomena to be better than the print version?

i have not read the book but did enjoy this version

What was one of the most memorable moments of Philomena?

it was well read out with and how the mother knew he had been looking

What does John Curless bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

i felt as if i was there going through it all

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

i cryed when he found out he had aids when he died and when his mom learnt how much her son had done and how proud she was of him

Any additional comments?

everyone need to either read or hear

amazing

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I had seen the film, and so knew the plot of the film and the outcome of a mother and sons search for each other, and how the Catholic church, used babies, who's crime was born out of wedlock, to be sold for monatory gain, and thwarted the mothers wishes to stay reunited, and even later on,the nuns, kept up the silence, to questions that people asked.....and they were supposed to be religious, and follow the teachings of Christ, only to follow the corruption of the Catholic Church!!! such bigotry !!

A love that could not die

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It took me a while to get into this book, not because it was bad or the narration wasnt good, but that the subject matter is so awful. The book is extremely well written and the narration is good. My heart breaks for Philomena and Michael/ Anthony. That this is based in fact is just horrendous. But everyone should be made to listen to make sure this never happens again. Dont be put off by the fact that it is a tough listen. It is well worth it

heartbreaking

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Well worth buying. In places the dialogue and performance are a little cringey, but ignore that and crack on. Its a good read.

Thought provoking.

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Any additional comments?

This story shows the inhumanity of the Catholic Church in Ireland. To treat young mothers and their babies in this way is unforgivable. Listen to the book but expect to be made angry.

Heart wrenching

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