Listening Still
The Irish bestseller
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THE TOP TEN IRISH BESTSELLER
'Absorbing and heartwarming' Irish Times
'A wonderfully unexpected tale of life, death and everything in between' Graham Norton
Seventeen years ago, Jeanie Masterson chose duty over love, giving up the chance of a new life in London with her childhood sweetheart to work in the family undertakers in her small Irish town.
Now, when Jeanie's parents suddenly announce their plan to retire and leave the business to her and her husband, it brings long-silenced doubts about her job, her marriage and her future to the surface. Faced once again with a choice between stability and freedom, can Jeanie find the courage to listen to her own voice?
'Warm and funny, full of lovely characters and poignant moments.' Good Housekeeping
'Ireland's long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin . . . An outstanding read' Sunday Express
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Irish writer Griffin (When All Is Said) follows in her frustrating latest a young woman who can talk to the recently dead. Jeanie Masterson grows up in the small town of Kilcross, where her funeral director father, David, has earned a reputation for sharing the last wishes of the dead. David teaches her the tricks of their trade, and she marries Niall, a childhood friend, seeming content with the plan to one day take over the family business. But when her parents announce their retirement, she questions her life choices. Jeanie reflects on her first love and her regret for not moving to London with him, the weight of her gift for clairvoyancy, her fear of having children, and her struggle to save her failing marriage. When she suffers a devastating loss, Jeanie leaves Ireland to visit a friend in Oslo, where she seems on her way to find some peace until she learns a dark secret about her family. The author does a good job building out the central premise ("not all wanted to talk or, as Dad said over the years that followed, needed to," Jeanie narrates, explaining why she only hears from some of the dead), but often gets mired in flat prose and unconvincing romantic subplots. Griffin's fans will appreciate this, but others can take a pass.
