O Brother
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O Brother
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Narrated by:
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John Niven
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By:
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John Niven
About this listen
John Niven’s little brother Gary was fearless, popular, stubborn, handsome, hilarious and sometimes terrifying. In 2010, after years of chaotic struggle against the world, he took his own life at the age of 42.
Hoping for the best while often witnessing the worst, John, his younger sister Linda and their mother, Jeanette, saw the darkest fears they had for Gary played out in drug deals, prison and bankruptcy. While his life spiralled downward and the love the Nivens’ shared was tested to its limit, John drifted into his own trouble in the music industry, a world where excess was often a marker of success.
Tracking the lives of two brothers in changing times – from illicit cans of lager in 70s sitting rooms to ecstasy in 90s raves – O Brother is a tender, affecting and often uproariously funny story. It is about the bonds of family and how we try to keep the finest of those we lose alive. It is about black sheep and what it takes to break the ties that bind. Fundamentally it is about how families survive suicide, ‘that last cry, from the saddest outpost.’
©2023 John Niven (P)2023 Canongate Books LtdListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
What listeners say about O Brother
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 10-11-23
Becoming John Niven
A very funny, tender, sad, angry and honest account of loss and becoming, that rolls, swells, flows and beats like music. Its a heartbreaking account of two brothers in a family who, in the late 60s, have arrived into the middle classes with all the expectations and hope that comes with that. Johns little brother is ‘problem child’,with all the brilliant burning glory of the rebel, bearing all signs of mental health issues that will foster a terrible tragedy. We see him growing up in a time where issues like ADHD (my guess) is misunderstood and the language of child psychology does not exist especially for those hopeful parents with those class roots, Constantly told he is a ‘bad stick’ bearing the well meaning brunt of a frustrated father’s temper, the disappointment of his ever hopeful, heartbroken mother and a society not yet equipped to help, this bright flame is slowly extinguished. Niven the big brother, who’s faired better in the genes stakes, but who’s childhood is both overshadowed and outshone by his unpredictable, super cool, funny, younger brother gives a painfully, and hilariously honest confessional account of himself as the big brother allows himself to be estranged by his brother’s destructively punk attitude, which, in retrospect he realises, too late masks the darkest internal battle with mental health, in this confessional memoir he ponders the cost of his own self absorption, ambition and precarious struggles to become the unique, glorious and successful writer he is, whilst elsewhere the realities and vicissitudes of life, strained parental relationships, music and drug culture send his little brother to the darkest place, leaving behind a lifetime of myriad unanswered and agonising questions.
It’s a tragic story which like all good memories gives us a clue on how to live a better life.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 01-11-23
Astonishingly good
As good as everybody says it is. Warm and in places devastatingly sad but always so readable.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jason davies
- 14-11-23
Great story telling
This is obviously an uncomfortable topic but it’s written and read exceptionally well. Fantastic listen and made an long journey fly in.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 15-09-23
Beautifully written
I loved this book, it has everything and resonates with everyone who has a sibling.
Bravo Mr Niven 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Derek Brown
- 12-12-23
Amazing
Life-affirming, sad, totally relatable. Not always a very good brother, but a brother nonetheless. Shades lives on. RIP wee man.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss G.Harper
- 04-11-23
powerful and relatable
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and performance by the author. Although I have not shared his experiences, I became engrossed and emotionally involved.
I shall now look for his novels.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-09-23
Beautiful, funny and utterly heartbreaking
This book was just brilliant. I’m very glad the author narrated his own book- it was flawless.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicole Braddon
- 18-05-24
Honestly brutal
Could not stop listening and shed a tear, a real account of family life. Excellent have already recommended to everyone
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MS A L CONWAY
- 22-09-23
Riveting, harrowing and emotional
A Riveting, harrowing and emotional journey through the life and times of Niven’s wee brother, a boy who found growing up very difficult, and whose life was blighted by chronic cluster-headaches sending him on a path of self-abuse and unfortunately self-destruction. The characters are all very well conjured with candour and warmth. I found the book, whilst bleak, didn’t lack redemption and ultimately teaches the reader about the power of forgiveness.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 05-09-23
O Brother
In tears then laughing 10 seconds later. So many similarities with my life, growing up things that shaped my life.
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