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The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually

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The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually

By: Helen Cullen
Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

When we met we were such untethered spirits floating through the world, as if one of us might drift away if we didn't hold hands tightly. We were imperfect people, who fitted perfectly together.

On an island off the west coast of Ireland, the Moone family gather, only to be shattered by tragedy. Murtagh Moone is a potter and devoted husband to Maeve, an actor struggling with her most challenging role yet as mother to their four children. Now Murtagh must hold his family close as we bear witness to their story before that night.

We return to the day Maeve and Murtagh meet, outside Trinity College in Dublin, and watch how one love story gives rise to another. As the Moone children learn who their parents truly are, we journey onwards with them to a future that none of the Moones could predict. Except perhaps Maeve herself.

The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually is a celebration of the complex, flawed and stubbornly optimistic human heart.

©2020 Helen Cullen (P)2020 Penguin Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Women's Fiction Ireland Heartfelt Tear-jerking

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Critic reviews

"This life-affirming book will draw you in and keep you there." (Independent)

"Delightful." (Sunday Times)

"Enchanting, intriguing, deeply moving." (Irish Times)
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I had no idea what to expect from this title and Helen Cullen is, to me, an unknown author. The narration throughout is outstanding. It’s so well paced and somehow captures the elegance of the writing.

On the face of it, this is a story of love and loss. As a listener, I was quickly drawn into the lives of the two central characters and their children. It’s also about community and acceptance; a small rural community welcomes the outsiders and they become part of the fabric. But then events take a different turn…

This story is difficult to review without giving away spoilers. Suffice to say I was captivated from start to finish. There are so many surprises along the way and the final twists were incredible. Filled with carefully drawn and believable characters, it’s about life and I really enjoyed it.

Lyrical and haunting

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Loved the characters, the human story of love and loss. The ending, honestly.. trying to hard to seem up with the times. This is not a bad thing but just thought was bit corny.
Characters so believable, so heartwarming and relatable.
So we'll written and a very enjoyable listen.
Get this one 👍

Beautiful

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Such a lovely story about love in different forms. Excellent narration. Great capture of siblings and family dynamics. Beautiful ending.

Simply Beautiful ❤️

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Twists and turns, tears and smiles. Beautifully read. Don’t miss this it grips you from the start.

Simply beautiful.

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Helen Cullen has given us a wonderful novel. The starkness and simplicity of her writing have added light to the darkness of her story. Her treatment of family life amid the troubles of a mother’s mental illness bring new insights into the demands of motherhood - and fatherhood. The deep despair of the first and last chapters envelop the tale of Maeve, an American actress who meets and falls in love with Murtagh, an Irish potter, in Dublin. They marry and find a full life with four children on a magical island off the west coast of Ireland. But their happiness is shattered by Maeve’s overwhelming and increasing bouts of black crow depression. You will find joy and pain, laughter and tears, devastation and relief in this haunting book. Maeve, Murtagh, their family and friends will live with me for a long time to come. Highly recommended, though not for the faint hearted.

Superb storytelling

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read so well, terribly sad yet uplifting. an excellent story of love and mental struggle.

beautiful listen

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I went into this story for my book club, and I was sceptical as I had not heard anything about the author before nor was I in the mood for a love story. But from the very first minutes of listening to the beautiful narration of Gerry O Brien I was mesmerised.
This is one of my favourite audiobooks of all time. The story is sad but so moving and well written.

Beautifully narrated

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I have been looking forward to whatever would come next from Helen Cullen since reading her debut novel last year. The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually is an emotional story about a family who I couldn’t wait to spend time with for the short amount of days over which I was able to savour the brilliant audiobook.

This heartwarming, though tragic novel continued to give the very best of what I loved about The Lost Letters of William Woolf: A grounded understanding of real-life loves, both simple and breathtakingly grand.

I wish I had more words to describe the beautiful tone that this journey carries as it strides forward through decades. I think this is really special writing!

More brilliant and enchanting than I even expected!

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A beautiful exploration of the nuances of love and loss within an Irish family. I loved the narration of this also. Highly recommend.

Beautiful

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I loved this novel, it's beautiful prose was transformative, I felt part of the Moone family and hope to hold on to that feeling for time to come.

A moving masterpiece

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