Unique, engaging, leaves you wanting more.

Kevin Barry reads with the same authentic tone with which he writes. He creates atmosphere with ease, allows for fun, cheek and raw truth to coexist in the same sentance. Pretentions are exposed and honesty delivered. A well told yarn.

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5 people found this helpful

Bizarre, stunning experience

I found the experience of listening to this book wildly challenging and deeply moving. The author/narrator weaves a fantastic tale.
It took me 3 or 4 restarts before I felt confident and comfortable enough to proceed. I relistened to most chapters 2 or 3 times so I could savour the precision of the language and the flow of the meandering.

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8 people found this helpful

Rip-roarious and exhilarating

The story travels, expertly carried by Barry, through unexpected territory. Characterisation brilliant, laughing just recalling some of the characters.

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1 person found this helpful

Great story

Really enjoyed this, very well written book and a great story.
The performance was great but I'm fairly sure I heard a woman laugh and cough in the background a few times. It didn't take anything away from the book. I'd highly recommend it.

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1 person found this helpful

Sort of Great

I love the conceit: the fictionalised account of real events in which John Lennon tries to lose the press & find himself, in Western Ireland. I liked the unconventional structure: the author wrote his little article about how he conceived, researched & wrote the book, in the middle, not at the end. I enjoyed reading the book. But there are really only two characters & I failed to engage with either of them. The whole book strains under the weight oftoo much worn out, broken down psychedelia. There's a weird musing, or a spook, or a hallucination in almost every paragraph. Eventually I was listening to it because I enjoyed the sounds, like a piece of music. When it finished (at the end of the middle, because there seems to be no ending) I was surprised buts lightly relieved.

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6 people found this helpful

Melodic narration

I liked the mixture of surreal and factual with evocative characters and locations.
I didn’t like the way the book ends and then without a breath are the credits… too abrupt after the other worldly story

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Perfect concept novel on a perfect concept album

Mesmerising. I'm sure this book will stay with me for a long time, perhaps forever, just like Lennon's memories of being 17 years old.

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1 person found this helpful

Kevin Barry just keeps giving...

He creates a desire to absorb and 'meul' over each phrase, description and image of he animate and inanimate.

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1 person found this helpful

Great stuff.

Great stuff from Kevin Barry, wonderfully read by himself - novel and humorous and full of invention.

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1 person found this helpful

I'm besotted...

I listened to this with only one break and that was at the point where 'John' is afraid for his safety and ...... I also felt the fear, so it seemed a good place to take a break.
Kevin Barry ( he's the one I'm besotted with) covers so many emotions but in such an understated way: there is anger, sadness, despair, longing, frustration, etc. all expressed by Mr. Barry in the enchanting and comedic voice of Cornelius, the flat tones of John and the terrifying 'Joe Director'.
Any further comment would amount to a spoiler, I think.

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4 people found this helpful