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Old God's Time

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Old God's Time

By: Sebastian Barry
Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
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About this listen

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER

TWICE WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR

Tom Kettle, a retired policeman, and widower, is settling into the quiet of his new home in Dalkey, overlooking the sea. His solitude is interrupted when two former colleagues turn up at his door to ask about a traumatic, decades-old case. A case that Tom never quite came to terms with. And his peace is further disturbed when his new neighbour, a mysterious young mother, asks for his help.

A beautiful, haunting novel, in which nothing is quite as it seems, Old God's Time is an unforgettable exploration of family, loss and love

©2023 Sebastian Barry (P)2023 Faber Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction World Literature Native American Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

"His work reminds us how much we need these rare gifts of the natural storyteller." (Tessa Hadley)

"Full of love and heartache, this is an unforgettable novel from one of our finest writers." (Douglas Stuart)

"Shocking, stunning and extraordinarily brave. Barry has once again written a character for the ages." (Liz Nugent)
All stars
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Absolutely stunning writing. Hogan’s a marvellous wordsmith.
Warning: reader discretion is advised. A gut wrenching topic.

Wow

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I'm grateful to Sebastian Barry for telling this story, while fictional, a truth all priests and men in power should acknowledge. I'm glad that such evil is highlighted here so powerfully.

A powerful telling of an Irish tragedy

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It took a long time before I realised where the story was going. We’ll past halfway I had a short burst of interest, but not enough for me to feel this a riveting story. But I know lovers of SB will enjoy this novel

Great writing but not my “cup-of-tea”

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Beautifully written and beautifully read read look into one old man's thoughts and life experiences.

Thought provoking and compassionate

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The reader did a fantastic job but as the narrator appears to be in the throes of dementia, I found the story hard to follow. It also includes quite graphic descriptions of child abuse which were jarring and haunting

Confusing and haunting

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At times new words and phrases in this book so brilliantly described the deeply familiar grief caused by the Catholic Church that I was left breathless. A man realises, in the twilight of his seemingly outrageous tragedy of a life that human beings “are designed for….the summer’s justice, the planet’s mercy.” Irish Sebastian Barry tells a divine story.

Both old gods and new will weep.”

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A beautiful poetic book, sensitively read, that lingers with the listener for days after. A book with a tue heart.

Delightful

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I loved Old God's Time. it is an important story that depicts the truth of what occurs in the lives of too many children and it makes you think. Much of the subject matter is tragic yet the author has written in a way that allows you to keep listening without being overwhelmed. I did not know of the author previously but will read more of his works. Beautifully written and convincingly performed by an excellent narrator.

Beautifully written. intense and original story

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I could get no further than about the quarter of the way through the book by which time the main character, an Irish detective, had described three child abuse cases. although the story is very well written and very well narrated I just could not continue . others might be able to

the horror of child abuse

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Beautiful book and outstanding narration…the images and characters will stay with me for a long time, I’m sure…

Wonderful book…

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