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At the Table

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About this listen

A 2022 BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR for THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, RED, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND CRITIC

To Nicole and Jamie Maguire, their parents seem the ideal couple—a suburban double act, happily married for more than 30 years. So when Linda and Gerry announce that they've decided to separate, the news sends shockwaves through the siblings' lives, forcing them to confront their own expectations and desires.

Hardworking—and hard-drinking—Nicole, pursues the ex she unceremoniously dumped six years ago, while people-pleasing Jamie fears he's sleepwalking into a marriage he doesn't actually want. But as the siblings grapple with the pressures of thirtysomething life, their parents struggle to protect the fragile façade of their own relationship and the secrets they've both been keeping.

Set in 2018, Claire Powell's beautifully observed debut novel follows each member of the Maguire family over a tumultuous year of lunches, dinners and drinks, as old conflicts arise and relationships are re-evaluated. A gripping yet tender depiction of family dynamics, love and disillusionment, At the Table is about what it means to grow up—both as an individual and as a family.

©2022 Claire Powell (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction

Critic reviews

"At the Table is a hugely intelligent, emotionally astute novel about family dynamics, and Claire Powell is an incredible new talent." (Marian Keyes)

"Painfully funny, acutely well-observed, powerfully resonant in its humanity and emotional accuracy. I missed this book whenever I wasn't reading it." (Luke Kennard)

"A brilliant, coruscating depiction of dysfunctional family life. SO astute, on so many levels. I loved it." (Hannah Beckerman)
All stars
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Not a hugely compelling storyline but the book is kept enjoyable but the rounded and well developed characters

Enjoyable with rounded characters

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Brill characters all real and rounded. Can’t quite put my finger on why I enjoyed it so much. But maybe that’s the point. I’ll be watching out for this author xx

Loved it.

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This was a great book, lovely narration with very likeable characters. The story was never dull or slow which can be an issue with this type of story, loved it from beginning to end.

Life isn’t perfect

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Initially difficult to relax into because of the flat narration and endless ‘says’ attributions which are unnecessary as the voices are varied and identifiable. The accents are harsh London, soft Irish or easy Received Pronunciation. Nicole is an interesting character but brash, rude, shouty and she jumps to sometimes sadly wrong conclusions. She seems very real. Her journey through the book is redemptive and ultimately satisfying. Her mother Linda is spiky, pitiful and awkward but totally understandable . Gerry the father is basically good and eventually honest. Nicole’s brother Jamie is tortured and unhappy. I ended up up involved and interested, I felt for all the characters. The succession of meals out were so realistic I felt I was amongst them. A busy listen that kept me intrigued.

Eating out, social occasions, some sweet mostly excruciating

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the a narrator is the highlight of this story! the story is ok enjoyable. strange ending

narrator is amazing

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