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Close to Home

By: Michael Magee
Narrated by: Conor MacNeill
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

WINNER OF THE ROONEY PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023
WATERSTONES IRISH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARDS 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2023

Sean is back. Back in Belfast and back into old habits. Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. Back in these scarred streets, where the promised prosperity of peacetime has never arrived. Back among his brothers, his ma, and all the things they never talk about. Until one night Sean finds himself at a party – dog-tired, surrounded by jeering strangers, his back against the wall – and he makes a big mistake.

'Staggeringly humane, unfaltering, taut and tender... [It] feels like that rarest of things: a genuinely necessary book' Guardian

'Every detail rings true, every character is fleshy and real and heartbreaking... Michael Magee has a remarkable talent' Sunday Times

©2023 Michael Magee (P)2023 Penguin Audio Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant
I’m only half way through but can’t wait to say how pleased I am with what I’m hearing. I grew up in west Belfast myself, albeit a long time ago (I’m nearly 70) and I’m enjoying so much the authentic speech and vivid sense of place, both geographically and in the distinctive culture.
You can’t escape the mountain - it’s at the bottom of every street. When the ma occasionally sells a painting it’s “Madonna, Gerry Adams, somebody’s Alsatian ..” Superbly observed. I’ll come back when it’s finished to share more.
A perfect reading from Conor MacNeill - what a relief they got somebody able to get the accents right while also reading with near flawless intelligence.

PS Just finished it and sorry it's over. Some people had said it's one of those books where nothing happens. i can understand their point but what does happen is much closer to life than in typical plots. It's not banal though.There are some very tense situations and in fact a lot of tensions underpin all of the everyday stuff. But it's more about gradually revealing more and more of the emotional core of the main characters and the histories which have moulded them. A couple of scenes really caught me off guard and brought tears to my eyes.

Authentic and skilful writing

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Wonderful narration brings this story to life. The tale of modern Belfast is spot on and the characters are all very real. Great listen.

Great story

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Loved it to bits, best narration of any book I’ve listened to. Conor MacNeill is a class act. I saw on Twitter someone say this was like a Douglas Stuart book, and I kinda get where they were coming from. Magee is able to paint the place just as clearly as Stuart paints Glasgow in Snuggie Bain and Young Mungo, but Close to Home has the warmth and hope I sorely missed in those novels. I absolutely loved this book.

I was in the phone to my pal the other night and she always asks what I’m reading, I said I was reading Close to Home and she asked what this book is about. I couldn’t really say, it’s a book about a Belfast boy in his early 20’s kicking about, but it’s beautiful, and it’s one of the best I’ve ever read. Use your credit - you’ll absolutely adore it.

I’d love to catch up with Sean, I hope the story continues.

I absolutely adored this book

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Such great insights into the life of a young man living in Belfast. Such a great tone of voice. Everything feels right and every interaction so moving !

Powerful novel

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I can't recommend this book enough. One of the best narrators I have listed to. The story is superb too. The main characters are so loveable and the story depicts the cycles of poverty very realistically.

Brillant narrator

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