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Be Near Me

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Be Near Me

By: Andrew O'Hagan
Narrated by: Jerome Pride
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About this listen

In a small Scottish parish, an English priest is stalked by the fear of scandal, class hatred and lost ideals. Over the spring and summer of 2003, Father David becomes friends with two young people, Mark and Lisa: by the year's end his life is the focus of public hysteria. As he looks back to his childhood and to Oxford in the fever of student revolt, Father David begins to reconsider the central events of his life, and to see what may have happened to the political hopes of his generation. Meanwhile, religious warfare breaks out on his doorstep.

©2006 Andrew O'Hagan (P)2006 Bolinda Publishing Christianity Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Psychological Fiction

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Critic reviews

"A rich and fascinating novel that promises rewards with rereading." (Booklist)
"O'Hagan...enchants with his effortless prose, vivid characters...a heartrending tour de force." (Publishers Weekly)
All stars
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A wonderfully sensitive book which kept me gripped almost to the end. The very last 15 minutes disappointed me - seemed like unnecessary tidying up when I would have been content with David's final meeting with Mark as the closing words. Leave some work for the reader to imagine other thoughts and happenings for David.

Another thoughtful story by Andrew O'Hagan

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This seemed dated to me. Another story about Oxford days. Let’s have a 25 year moratorium. Otherwise, I am not sure what to make of the story. How should I feel about the hero of the piece, and his insistence that you can’t choose who you fall in love with? How would the story change if he had fallen in love with the young female lead?

Very competent composition

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Superbly written, a description of a searing isolation in the midst of a community devoid of insight. The question of what love can survive and how to remain a person with integrity under dehumanising conditions confronts the reader, and leads to heartsearching. An astonishing book.

Intimate lonliness

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He is a very good writer great observer of people and very compelling story line .

Good Book

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It limped slowly towards an inevitable conclusion. I am still waiting for something to happen. Well written but truly depressing.

Tedious

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