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  • The Queen of Dirt Island

  • By: Donal Ryan
  • Narrated by: Emma Lowe
  • Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (139 ratings)
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The Queen of Dirt Island cover art

The Queen of Dirt Island

By: Donal Ryan
Narrated by: Emma Lowe
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

From the multi-award-winning author of the number one best seller, Strange Flowers, a searing, jubilant story about four generations of women and fierce love.

The Aylward women of Nenagh, Tipperary, are mad about each other, but you wouldn't always think it. You'd have to know them to know—in spite of what the neighbours might say about raised voices and dramatic scenes—that their house is a place of peace, filled with love, a refuge from the sadness and cruelty of the world.

Their story begins at an end and ends at a beginning. It involves wives and widows, gunrunners and gougers, sinners and saints. It's a story of terrible betrayals and fierce loyalties, of isolation and togetherness, of transgression, forgiveness, desire and love. About all the things family can be and all the things it sometimes isn't. From the prize-winning author of Strange Flowers and The Spinning Heart, The Queen of Dirt Island is an uplifting celebration of fierce, loyal love and the powerful stories that bind generations together.

©2022 Donal Ryan (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Donal Ryan is giving us characters that we haven't seen in Irish literature before." (Roddy Doyle)

"Ryan's work has set a benchmark to which other writers will aspire." (John Boyne)

"I think you have to truly love people to write like this." (Rachel Joyce)

What listeners say about The Queen of Dirt Island

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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What a fabulous book!

Beautiful story about generations of Irish women and they're strength and solidarity. Their families, their loves and loses. I read it twice! I hope we hear about Pearl now in Donal Ryan's next book

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Delightful. Beautifully written.

My daughter picked it up while on holiday in Ireland and gave it to me to read. We both loved it. For me it was a connection to the Ireland of my mother, who was born in Tipperary and I think my daughter understood me better too, the turn of phrases, what’s important in life, etc etc . We both loved the structure of the book, the short chapters that nonetheless moved the story along. It’s a truthful book and the author is a brilliant writer and storyteller. I’ll be checking out his other books now.

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Lovely easy story

This was a very well written story. I binged listened to the audio which was very easy do
Sucked me in after the first 2or3 chapters . Lots of bad language but it’s in the context of the era and the socio-economics of the times.

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Worth persevering

At first I found the narration excruciatingly slow, but once over that, it’s a beautiful book that springs to life so vividly. The characters are complex and well-drawn (and the accents brilliant, narrator forgiven).
Highly recommend.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Desperate Narration

The narration was very oirish. it made it very challenging to listen to. I deleted it for a finish. Donal Ryan's book deserves so much better.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fabulous read

I absolutely loved this book and I could not put it down, such a fabulous read, a really moving book. A must read.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautifully told. Great voiceover work. Evocative and true.

The voice over artist is excellent. She brought this story alive and added vibrant colour to a story well told. I like the short chapters x

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What a pleasure

I have loved every precious moment in the company of these fully fledged female characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A wonderful evocation of changing Ireland

I am old enough to recognise the rhythm of the language of the older generation depicted in this book.

The narration was terrific.

This is a book written by a man about women. I am a man and I thought it well written. I have recommended to many people and look forward to hearing a woman’s perspective on this man’s feminine voice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Well, this was wonderful

First the narrator: fantastic. She caught each person so well. I can’t imagine how she didn’t laugh sometimes.

These women, wholly recognisable to me and many more, are exceptional in their honesty and unfettered brusqueness. That a man wrote this is even more impressive. He suspect he grew up with some strong women around him.

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