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Mayflies cover art

Mayflies

By: Andrew O'Hagan
Narrated by: Andrew O'Hagan
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Summary

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

Critic reviews

"An immensely engaging writer: wry and witty, and insightful." (Sunday Times)

"A vivid and meticulous writer." (Observer)

What listeners say about Mayflies

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Remarkable book

I’ve never written a review for Audible or Amazon before but felt moved to say what an extraordinarily touching and funny book this is, in my opinion. The author’s own narration added enormously to the story. Thank you - I wonder what else this writer has written.......

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book

Fantastic book, touching for so many reasons. Young friendship and old friendship. Love Andrew O’Hagan’s narration too

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10 people found this helpful

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What an incredible book

This book has all the emotions. I laughed, was astounded and shocked and I cried. It is a beautiful story of youth, growth, friendship and courage. I loved every second.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A tale of true friendship

A book that encapsulates the best of friendship and the best of humanity.
I read the first chapter and stopped, bought my best friend a copy, then finished this brilliant book in one sitting.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Oh my word

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

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5 people found this helpful

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Amazing

What a wonderful book full of humour and pathos Beautiful love story to a friendship

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4 people found this helpful

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Simple beautiful

A coming of age story showing how friendships in our childhood (if held onto) can be the most beautiful parts of our existence. Love and friendship the main themes with surrounding glimpses into the how life was in the glory days, cannot recommend this book enough for many laughs, tears and recommendations into proper music.

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4 people found this helpful

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Ok

This book was nostalgic and wistful, with a few poignant moments, but overall not for me.

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3 people found this helpful

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A window into friendship, life, love and loss.

It has to be said the narration by the author Andrew O'Hagan really did bring this book to life with so many personal, group and themes of a time insights that ensured you felt you were there. A great story of friendship and loss told with vivid details not just of the environments, settings and places, but critically the personalities and individuals who formed the main protagonists. For anyone who lived during these times the book is a rare and real reminder of what life was like (albeit in and around Glasgow and Manchester) at that time. The final 1/3 had me gripped listening to every nuance of details shared and the humanness of life, friendship, love and loss. The best book I've hear in months and may yet be my best for 2021.

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3 people found this helpful

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Possibly the best book we heard this year

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

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3 people found this helpful