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Soldier Sailor

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Soldier Sailor

By: Claire Kilroy
Narrated by: Simone Collins
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AS HEARD ON FRONT ROW - a resonant and provocative novel.
'Astonishing' Stephanie Merritt, Observer
'Very, very funny' PAUL MURRAY
'My favourite book I've read this year' PANDORA SYKES
'Intense, furious, moving and often extremely funny' DAVID NICHOLS

In her wildly acclaimed new novel Claire Kilroy creates an unforgettable heroine, whose fierce love for her young son clashes with the seismic change to her own identity.
As her marriage strains and she struggles with questions of love, autonomy, creativity and the passing of time, an old friend makes a welcome return - but can he really offer a lifeline to the woman she used to be?

©2023 Claire Kilroy (P)2023 Faber & Faber Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Witty Thought-Provoking Funny
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Poetic and lyrical yet down in the trenches of motherhood. I loved this - took me back to my first little boy and he’s 35 now!
Very well read, immersive listening

A beautiful evocation of new motherhood

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Listening over a period of only 24 hours, I found Soldier Sailor arresting, brutal and moving. I cannot recommend highly enough to any parent, at any stage of their journey.

Exceptional

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this should come with a health warning for new mums or mums who've had pnd or mums with rubbish / absent partners. so painful to listen to but so beautiful.

excruciating and beautiful

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If you’ve raised a toddler, you could have written this (well, a clumsy, unpoetic version). If your wife is at home raising a toddler, you should be forced to listen to this. If someone you know is struggling with this stage, one of the kindest things you can do for her is to listen to this.

Soldier Sailor is a stream of consciousness collection of thoughts and experiences. Despite (or perhaps, because of) the lack of linear plot and the microscopic focus on the mother and son, I was quickly immersed in their world and rooting for them to keep each other alive.

I gave it only four stars because it stirred unsettling feelings and left me uncertain about some memories of my own babies. But then again, I’m sure that was the point! And it also goes to show that no matter how masterful the writing, our own judgements and biases seem to protect us from wholehearted empathy for someone else’s inner monologue. We’re too busy being driven mad by our own.

A raw but beautiful portrayal of motherhood

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Staggeringly beautiful writing, full of emotion, capturing the highs and lows of motherhood. Narration was perfect

A difficult but utterly beautiful read.

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