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The Queen of Dirt Island

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The Queen of Dirt Island

By: Donal Ryan
Narrated by: Emma Lowe
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About this listen

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 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Thought-Provoking Island

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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)
All stars
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Lovely story. Great narration enjoy. Defo recommend. Lovely story of the strength of women. I loved their relationship. Narrator really brought it to life

The women.

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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

What a fabulous book!

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I listened to this book via audible and it was absolutely wonderful. The narrator was fabulous. An easy listen but one I couldn’t stop listening to. A story of 4 generations of women in an Irish family. It made me laugh and cry . I loved it.

The Queen of Dirt Island

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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.

Well, this was wonderful

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

Fabulous read

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

What a pleasure

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Slow and gentle but utterly absorbing. Beautifully written with wonderful, vivid characters. Enjoyed every minute

Beautiful portrayal of Womens lives

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Such a stirring book, beautifully read by Emma Lowe. Perfect for audio. So sad to have finished it.

Wonderful book

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Laughed and cried - strong women in not to easy times and circumstances. Really enjoyed jt.

So Irish

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Nana is gas craic. She brought back fond memories of my own lovely, judgemental nanas.

Great story and narration

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