Brilliant

Oh, I loved this book. Achingly beautiful in sadness and doubt. The horrors of the church, and unerring devotion by those who perpetuate the control. The ‘goodness’ of individuals getting sucked up into rules and traditions that are cruel and harming.

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Brilliant

What a compelling and moving book.
It gave me an insight into Ireland and the church. Excellent story. Beautifully performed.

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John Boyne at his brilliant best

This novel concerns the gradual uncovering of widespread child abuse in the Catholic church in Ireland. This occurred from the late 1970s onwards. Boyne highlights the duplicitous role of the Church hierarchy in maintaining a wall of silence in the face of an increasing number of allegations. The author also alludes to the various conspiracy theories circulating at the time concerning the sudden death of Pope John Paul 1 (the 'laughing Pope') after only 33 days in office. It is intimated that those who followed after him were more concerned with saving the reputation of the church, rather than listening to the victims.

The story is told through the eyes of Odren Yates who starts training for the priesthood at the same time as his friend Tom Cordle. Parental pressure has been for both men instrumental in pushing them in the direction of the Church.Tom tries to run away from the seminary at the end of the first term but returns battered and bruised and under the very real threat of further violence. Conversely Odren settles happily into his new life as a priest. The two men then embark upon their different yet often parallel paths. One becomes a serial abuser, and ends up in jail. The other is sexually inexperienced and exemplifies this in a strange and seemingly out of character incident mid way through the book. Although not an abuser himself, he demonstrates an almost callous naivety in failing to report to the police any suspicions he might have had about his friend. Even more astonishing, but ultimately poignant, he leaves the abuser to look after his young nephew while he is away one night. It is difficult to empathise with either man, even though both can claim to have experienced a history of loneliness. One has seemingly learnt nothing from his incarceration, while the other does at least try to patch up things with his family.

A very challenging subject which does not attempt to rationalise or explain what drives young men to act this way towards innocent children.

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A very powerful book

This is a very powerful and unsettling book - and superbly narrated by Owen McDonnell. It brought home to me that it’s easy to blame men in positions of power for society’s evils but we should all ask ourselves whether we’re preferring not to face up to the cruelty and neglect that’s happening in plain sight.

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Boyne at his best

John Boyne is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. The sorcery he uses in his writing, getting right to the guts of sensitive issues then slamming you right in your heart, is nothing less than magical. Here, Boyne takes the subject of child abuse within the Catholic Church, and brings us a hard-hitting yet compelling story of Father Odrin Yates, who faces the subject head on. A truly wonderful, sensitivity written, but gritty book. Wonderful narration by Owen McDonnell.

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Didn’t want to stop listening

Beautifully written and narrated . The story is compelling . It approaches an horrifically tragic subject sensitivity and honesty without being gratuitous.
I kept my headphones on , listening to this almost constantly until the end .

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Another gem from John Boyne

Excellent piece by John Boyne as always.
The narration by Owen McDonnell is outstanding and really took on every character perfectly.
I think it is one of those books that will stay with me. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.

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Brilliant author

I thoroughly enjoyed this book that was recommended by a member of my book club. This is the story of a young man who becomes a catholic priest. The story is beautifully written and well narrated on audible. I would highly recommend and will look for other books by this author .

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Heartbreaking and beautiful

I loved every minute of this book. Wonderful narration coupled with an astounding narrative. John Boyne’s use of a non-linear timeline keeps the key elements building while maintaining character development and suspense. My favourite author. Read it!

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Utterly compelling

Engaging from the opening paragraph, this is a story that in part highlights how the abuse of power occurs not just through "structures" and "bad people", but also through the inaction, & naivety of "nice" & "good people".....too afraid to really see and speak out..... Truth, fear, complicity, conformity, are all powerful themes of this beautifully written novel.

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12 people found this helpful