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Mayflies

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About this listen

'An immensely engaging writer: wry and witty, and insightful.' Sunday Times

'A vivid and meticulous writer.' Observer

From the widely renowned author Andrew O'Hagan, a heartbreaking novel of an extraordinary lifelong friendship.

Everyone has a Tully Dawson: the friend who defines your life.

In the summer of 1986, in a small Scottish town, James and Tully ignite a brilliant friendship based on music, films and the rebel spirit. With school over and the locked world of their fathers before them, they rush towards the climax of their youth: a magical weekend in Manchester, the epicentre of everything that inspires them in working-class Britain. There, against the greatest soundtrack ever recorded, a vow is made: to go at life differently. Thirty years on, half a life away, the phone rings. Tully has news.

Mayflies is a memorial to youth's euphorias and to everyday tragedy. A tender goodbye to an old union, it discovers the joy and the costs of love.

©2020 Andrew O'Hagan (P)2020 Faber & Faber Coming of Age Dark Humour Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Comedy
All stars
Most relevant
I want to listen all over again so I can reminisce at the end with Noodles and Tully.
Superb narration
This book and it’s narration could not be better

Oh my word

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Sublime. Read it. Beyond excellent.
we read so many excellent books in 2020 but Mayflies was the best by far. incredible.

Possibly the best book we heard this year

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This is a lovely book about the joys of being young and also becoming older. The book is in two parts, and the first is the most evocative and the one I connected with the most. Its tells of the events of group of lads including Noodles, the narrator and his best friend Tully as they head off for a weekend in Manchester to experience the joys of music, drink and drugs and to see The Smiths, New Order and The Fall as well as as a night in the Hacienda. What really marks the book out is the dialogue is just so spot-on and beautifully observed. I am of a similar age and I just knew people just like those friends of Tully and Noodles. You really feel every character, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is based on a life the author once had also.

The second part of the book then follows up the story as the characters are in their 50s. There are some beautiful reflections upon life, it's both funny and sad, and it's a beautifully told story that I very much enjoyed. I will now think about the characters, I'm sure for a while.

Touching, evocative, and beautifully told

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I chose this book after reading its good reviews. Ever so glad I did. Both tender and truthful, romantic and tough. An emotional listen, narrated perfectly by the author. Oh, Tully. Oh, Jimmy. Pure love for youse.

Outstanding, heartfelt, thing of beauty

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I wanted to read this after feeling the tv version was thin and cursory. So glad I did as the book conveys the magic of a weekend in 1980s Manchester for the boys becoming men and some of the real challenges of opting for euthanasia when family is against end of life. I loved the details of literature, music, film and even perfume that takes you to the heart of the eras and characters.

Male friendship story tested by death and female loyalties

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