26 hours of brilliant storytelling, but such a disappointing ending

The story is absorbing, the characters well written and I feel like I can really see the setting - it was described so well! I loved & really rooted for PJ and genuinely hated some of the others at times! I was unsure at first of the style, written from different points of view, but it really helped show the faults of each character without judgement. The time jumps in their recollections gave reasons for their behaviour.
I was so invested in these characters and then it ended. Was it lazy? Was it trying to be clever in the way of 'Inception' ending - is the top still spinning? I feel doubtful that a sequel is being written but I can live in hope! Disappointment isn't the word I'm looking for really, I actually feel sad! I want to know what happened to this family. Who lives? Who dies? What happens next? I had started recommending this book to people but now I am unsure if I will continue to do so. I feel guilty knowing that my recommendation might lead to them feeling how I do now! Obviously a sign of good writing that I actually care so much but I do feel so let down now.

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13 people found this helpful

Brilliance but the ending has left me just a little bit deflated

I loved this book. But the ending is too up in the air. That is my only criticism. Beautiful writing and such introspection of human characters and internalised expectations.

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4 people found this helpful

Got to be another book surely?

Great book but totally agrees really rushed/ disappointing ending after all that time!!!

But surely got to have sequel?? if not then a totally waste of a credit and 26 hrs of my life!

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Engaging with excellent narration

The story and characters build gradually. I agree with others that it could have been a lot shorter. That might have made it easier to remember the various clues to the ending. I thought the rapid change in narration in the last 10mins increased the tension and led the reader to realise what was likely to happen.

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Fantastic story with great readers

wonderful storylines with a superb ending. life should not need us to have all things spelt out and if you are in need of this, perhaps this is not for you. A truly great read with so much going on. you don't want it to stop. loved it

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Fantastic, fierce, funny

I was consumed by this over the course of a week. Brilliant characters I felt such hope and fear for, with inner lives we got to see. Wonderful.

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I didn’t like the ending

I liked the separate narrators. I nearly put it down at the start as I thought it was too cheesey(Cass).
I loved PJs narration.
As for the ending… well I think it needs a better one than a soap opera cliff hanger.

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Brilliant narration and story

Brilliant summary of the lows and highs of modern Ireland, eloquently written and brilliantly delivered here by a great cast of narrators.
And yes the ending is different but didn’t detract from the book.

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Glad I finished it - or am I? !

I always try to finish books and the fact that this was on the Booker shortlist, combined with being set in Ireland drew me to choose to listen. The fact that it was 26 hours did ring a warning bell, plus the slow pace was off putting but the contemporary Irish setting drew me in. The folklore analogies were obvious as were the references to a potential dystopian future but all the time, I couldn’t help but think that this was a soap opera written with a TV dramatisation in mind. Dickie’s lament at the end was for me the best part of the novel. The unresolved ending left me feeling thoroughly cheated and looking at the other reviews, I see this was also felt by other listeners . It deserved 4* for the story, given the amount of planning which has clearly gone into it, but for me lack of editing, thin characterisation and the ending resulted in my 3*.

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Once you start this book you won’t have time for anything else!

I loved that I thought I knew what was going to happen and was then surprised. Great characters, fantastic plot. Families, sadly a lot of it rings true.

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