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The Queen of Dirt Island

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The Queen of Dirt Island

By: Donal Ryan
Narrated by: Emma Lowe
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

From the multi-award-winning author of the number one best seller, Strange Flowers, a searing, jubilant story about four generations of women and fierce love.

The Aylward women of Nenagh, Tipperary, are mad about each other, but you wouldn't always think it. You'd have to know them to know—in spite of what the neighbours might say about raised voices and dramatic scenes—that their house is a place of peace, filled with love, a refuge from the sadness and cruelty of the world.

Their story begins at an end and ends at a beginning. It involves wives and widows, gunrunners and gougers, sinners and saints. It's a story of terrible betrayals and fierce loyalties, of isolation and togetherness, of transgression, forgiveness, desire and love. About all the things family can be and all the things it sometimes isn't. From the prize-winning author of Strange Flowers and The Spinning Heart, The Queen of Dirt Island is an uplifting celebration of fierce, loyal love and the powerful stories that bind generations together.

©2022 Donal Ryan (P)2022 Penguin Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"Donal Ryan is giving us characters that we haven't seen in Irish literature before." (Roddy Doyle)

"Ryan's work has set a benchmark to which other writers will aspire." (John Boyne)

"I think you have to truly love people to write like this." (Rachel Joyce)
All stars
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The best book I have listened to in months. I have listened twice to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

Brilliant

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Beautiful and thought provoking portrayal of life in all its reality - and the connections of women

Stunning

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Nana is gas craic. She brought back fond memories of my own lovely, judgemental nanas.

Great story and narration

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First the narrator: fantastic. She caught each person so well. I can’t imagine how she didn’t laugh sometimes.

These women, wholly recognisable to me and many more, are exceptional in their honesty and unfettered brusqueness. That a man wrote this is even more impressive. He suspect he grew up with some strong women around him.

Well, this was wonderful

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This was a very well written story. I binged listened to the audio which was very easy do
Sucked me in after the first 2or3 chapters . Lots of bad language but it’s in the context of the era and the socio-economics of the times.

Lovely easy story

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