Narrated by Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls)
From Anne Griffin, the bestselling author of When All is Said, comes Listening Still, a refreshing new novel about a young woman who can hear the dead—a talent which is both a gift and a curse.
Jeanie Masterson has a gift: she can hear the recently dead and give voice to their final wishes and revelations. Inherited from her father, this gift has enabled the family undertakers to flourish in their small Irish town. Yet she has always been uneasy about censoring some of the dead's last messages to the living. Unsure, too, about the choice she made when she left school seventeen years ago: to stay or leave for a new life in London with her charismatic teenage sweetheart.
So when Jeanie's parents unexpectedly announce their plan to retire, she is jolted out of her limbo. In this captivating successor to her much-lauded debut, When All Is Said, Anne Griffin portrays a young woman who is torn between duty, a comfortable marriage, a calling she both loves and hates and her last chance to break free. Listening Still is a heartachingly honest look at what we give up and what we gain when we choose to follow our heart.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press
3 of 3 copies available
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 1, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781250836991
- File size: 290034 KB
- Duration: 10:04:14
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Narrator Nicola Coughlan brings a lovely lilting accent that enhances this contemporary Irish tale about the Mastersons, a family of undertakers whose ability to hear the dead comes in quite handy. Jeanie is startled out of her everyday life when her parents announce they are riding off into the sunset of their retirement. Coughlan captures Jeanie's dismay and disorientation in a convincing and sympathetic manner. Coughlan's true gift is her ability to deliver dialogue in a theatrical style. The quality of the listening experience is on par with that of a well-performed radio play in which one narrator flawlessly takes on all the roles. Coughlan shows her dexterity as various conflicts pull Jeanie's well-established routines apart. This is an enjoyable and interesting listening experience, thanks to both Coughlan and Jeanie's talents. M.R. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine -
March 21, 2022
Irish writer Griffin (When All Is Said) follows in her frustrating latest a young woman who can talk to the recently dead. Jeanie Masterson grows up in the small town of Kilcross, where her funeral director father, David, has earned a reputation for sharing the last wishes of the dead. David teaches her the tricks of their trade, and she marries Niall, a childhood friend, seeming content with the plan to one day take over the family business. But when her parents announce their retirement, she questions her life choices. Jeanie reflects on her first love and her regret for not moving to London with him, the weight of her gift for clairvoyancy, her fear of having children, and her struggle to save her failing marriage. When she suffers a devastating loss, Jeanie leaves Ireland to visit a friend in Oslo, where she seems on her way to find some peace until she learns a dark secret about her family. The author does a good job building out the central premise (“not all wanted to talk or, as Dad said over the years that followed, needed to,” Jeanie narrates, explaining why she only hears from some of the dead), but often gets mired in flat prose and unconvincing romantic subplots. Griffin’s fans will appreciate this, but others can take a pass. -
March 1, 2022
Griffin (When All Is Said) takes listeners to a small town in Ireland as she explores the dynamics of families, feeling left behind, and living up to expectations. Jeanie Masterson has a unique ability: an embalmer in the family's funeral business, she can communicate with individuals who have recently passed away, sharing with family their loved ones' last thoughts. When her parents decide to retire early, Jeanie feels an immense amount of pressure, prompting her to consider whether she wants to keep her life as it is or take a different path. Nicola Coughlin's narration matches the book's quiet, unassuming tone and pacing, while also clearly conveying the characters' emotions. Throughout the novel are also hints about a family secret that listeners will want to uncover. VERDICT For fans of magical realism and Irish settings.--Stephanie Charlefour
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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