Long Island Audiobook By Colm Toibin cover art

Long Island

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Long Island

By: Colm Toibin
Narrated by: Jessie Buckley
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About this listen

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK * INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “Stunning.” —People * “Dazzling yet devastating...Tóibín is simply one of the world’s best living literary writers.” —The Boston Globe * “Momentous and hugely affecting.” —The Wall Street Journal *

From the beloved, critically acclaimed, bestselling author comes a spectacularly moving novel featuring Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, Tóibín’s most popular work in twenty years.

Eilis Lacey is Irish, married to Tony Fiorello, a plumber and one of four Italian American brothers, all of whom live in neighboring houses on a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with their wives and children and Tony’s parents, a huge extended family. It is the spring of 1976 and Eilis is now forty with two teenage children. Though her ties to Ireland remain stronger than those that hold her to her new land and home, she has not returned in decades.

One day, when Tony is at work, an Irishman comes to the door asking for Eilis by name. He tells her that his wife is pregnant with Tony’s child and that when the baby is born, he will not raise it but instead deposit it on Eilis’s doorstep. It is what Eilis does—and what she refuses to do—in response to this stunning news that makes Tóibín’s novel so riveting and suspenseful.

Long Island is a gorgeous story “about a woman thrashing against the constraints of fate” (Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air). It is “a wonder, rich with yearning and regret” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).

©2024 Colm Toibin (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio
City Life Family Life Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Urban Marriage Ireland Island
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Interview: In "Long Island," Colm Tóibín gives a second act to characters from his beloved novel "Brooklyn,"

'A plot is an action that allows consequences to matter.'
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  • Long Island
  • 'A plot is an action that allows consequences to matter.'

What listeners say about Long Island

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Character development and language used

I miss the characters now I’ve finished the book ! Hope there is another book in the works .

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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The family’s feeling About the Baby

The end. What happened when she got home and the baby was next door, the family reaction to Ellish and the baby.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Believable

I’m disappointed we are left hanging without resolution at the last page. Language and story line was quite good tho I have no idea what is a STRAND” ?!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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I’m left hanging

Very well written. As far as the story - It was not believable that Tony could have done that - his family is so very close. I feel like it ended leaving us all hanging. Elise left people hanging so maybe that is why it ended that way !

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Writer and Reader and Audience Hit Gold

Colm Toibin has been one of my favorite authors for years. Now that my eyes get tired and I am listening more to his words, I realize, even more, the brilliance of his language. This reading is a lovely tribute to Toibin’s art. I could listen all day to the narrator’s wonderful voice and her intelligent understanding of Toibin’ss well crafted characters.

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The transformation of such an everyday situation into something extraordinary.

I was sucked in by the ordinary nature of the dilemma, someone having a child outside of a marriage, someone choosing to not accept it, and the ramifications of that decision. It struck me that it is truly a talent to create such an engaging novel of gossip.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Mediocre ending

The reader of both books was great. I listened to both back to back, which I don’t recommend. Even though both readers were very good, the style, and accent are different. It would have been nice to have the same reader for both. After awhile I adjusted to the change and it went along fine. If I had tried to read the story, I would not have finished. Lacks the page turner style I love. As a listener, it passed the miles while I drove to and fro.

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Stunning in every way

Incredible novel, stellar performance by Jessie Buckley. The shifting perspectives and shifting sympathies you feel are the thing I most admire. So masterfully handled by the author.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fabulous story. Great reader.

Sensational read. Excellent story. The reader was amazing. She brought each character to life. Thank you.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very disappointed in the ending!

Just finished listening to Long Island by Colm Toibin and have to say I am very disappointed! Without giving away any spoilers when the book finally ended, and rather abruptly, I kept rewinding to see if I missed something.
I will say, it was not as good as Brooklyn, in my opinion, but was keeping my interest. All I will say is that I am very disappointed in how it ended - or should I say did NOT end.
The narrator on this one was just ok. They should bring back the narrator of Brooklyn, Kirsten Potter.

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