Ordinary Human Failings Audiobook By Megan Nolan cover art

Ordinary Human Failings

A Novel

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Ordinary Human Failings

By: Megan Nolan
Narrated by: Jessica Regan
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About this listen

When a 10-year-old child is suspected of a violent crime, her family must face the truth about their past in this haunting, propulsive, psychologically keen story about class, trauma, and family secrets from “huge literary talent” (Karl Ove Knausgaard) and internationally bestselling author Megan Nolan.

It's 1990 in London and Tom Hargreaves has it all: a burgeoning career as a reporter, fierce ambition and a brisk disregard for the "peasants"—ordinary people, his readers, easy tabloid fodder. His star seems set to rise when he stumbles across a sensational scoop: a dead child on a London estate, grieving parents beloved across the neighborhood, and the finger of suspicion pointing at one reclusive family of Irish immigrants and “bad apples”: the Greens.

At their heart sits Carmel: beautiful, otherworldly, broken, and once destined for a future beyond her circumstances until life—and love—got in her way. Crushed by failure and surrounded by disappointment, there's nowhere for her to go and no chance of escape. Now, with the police closing in on a suspect and the tabloids hunting their monster, she must confront the secrets and silences that have trapped her family for so many generations.

©2024 Megan Nolan (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company
Crime Fiction Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt

What listeners say about Ordinary Human Failings

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Tragic, heartbreaking, beautiful, painful

I came close to crying several times. This is such a heartbreaking story. Greek tragedy alive in Ireland

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

Excellent writing, superb performance

I read about Megan Nolan in an article on up & coming Irish writers, and this novel justifies the buzz. I’ll read her first one and look forward to future releases.

There’s some genuinely great *acting*, not just reading, in the narration. It’s rare to find that.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional

I loved this book. The characters are real (imperfect) the story wonderful, and the writing gorgeous. Well worth a credit. I'm looking forward to the author's next book!

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Grim and luminous all at once.

Exceptional. The novel begins with a terrible tragedy, the violent death of a small child - and given the setting and characters, a down and out working-class Irish family, one might brace themselves for a spiraling experience, piling misery upon these people... and the reader. And while the details are often grim - alcoholism, poverty, mental illness all play prominent roles here - it's a remarkably compassionate novel, churning with a determined current of hope, and with admiration for the human spirit. Clear-eyed, authentic and captivating all the way.

Huge kudos to the audio narration as well - it's top notch.

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18 people found this helpful

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Extraordinary performance ! Love Irish literature

A deep sensitive mature book, could not believe it is only a second book of a young writer, touches profoundly

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5 people found this helpful

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Fantastic character development

This author has such a distinct a vivid voice. She is going to go down as one of the “greats”! Narrator did a wonderful job as well. Definitely recommend.

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6 people found this helpful

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Authentic feeling

I loved the authenticity of this book. Growing up in a dysfunctional Irish family is a simple premise. But it all felt so real and deep. I enjoyed every minute of it.

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Couldn't finish

Dark, hard to follow - narration was good but got a bit over the top at points. I finally gave up after a couple of hours.

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Not sure why it was so highly reviewed

I don’t understand why this book was so popular.

It is incredibly slow, boring, depressing, and the people it’s about are inane.

I really tried to finish it. I finally decided that I could let myself be done and move on, lol

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1 person found this helpful