Haven

By: Emma Donoghue

Narrated by: Aidan Kelly

In this beautiful story of adventure and survival from the New York Times bestselling author of Room, three men vow to leave the world behind them as they set out in a small boat for an island their leader has seen in a dream, with only faith to guide them.

In seventh-century Ireland, a scholar and priest called Artt has a dream telling him to leave the sinful world behind. Taking two monks—young Trian and old Cormac—he rows down the river Shannon in search of an isolated spot on which to found a monastery. Drifting out into the Atlantic, the three men find an impossibly steep, bare island inhabited by tens of thousands of birds, and claim it for God. In such a place, what will survival mean?

Critic reviews

“Told with the clarity of a fable, Haven transports us into territories unknown, where ‘fog makes an island of every man.’ Donoghue’s men of the cloth confront challenges that rattle not only their faith in God, but their faith in each other and in the natural world. This is a patient, thoughtful novel with much to say about spirituality, hope, and human failure, and about the miracle of mercy.”—Esi Edugyan, Giller Prize-winning author of Washington Black

“Haven is a beautiful and timely novel about isolation, passion and the conflict between obedience and self-preservation. The island setting and the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading.”—Sarah Moss, author of Summerwater

a fascinating story

I found this book to be a treasure. I love books that introduce me to a place and a life I never imagined, and the world of these monks was unlike any other. The words, and the skilled reading of them, drew me into a life that made my COVID isolation pale in comparison. it has been a valued companion.

Captivating story of 7th-century monks

Why I love stories about monks and monasteries I do not really know, but I do love them, and Haven is a wonderful one. On the surface, it is the tale of three monks who turn their backs against profligate human society and establish a lonely, hungry, new order on a rocky island. Dig a bit deeper, and you will find the book questioning Christianity’s fundamental assumptions about humans’ place in the natural world and the lengths to which folks will go to show they are worthy of God’s love.

Impressive Writing, Research and Narrator

In HAVEN, Emma Donoghue masterfully transports readers to a 7th-century island off the coast of Ireland, weaving a tale of fanatical faith, survival, and a search for meaning. Her research is astounding. The story follows three monks who venture to a remote island, driven by their Prior’s increasingly fanatical vision of spiritual purity. The harsh environment tests their physical and spiritual resolve, exposing the complexities of devotion and the limits of obedience.

The narrator, Aidan Kelly, enhances the novel’s emotional depth, making this story of survival and sacrifice immediate and compelling.

Haven is a haunting exploration of belief and the human condition, Highly recommended for fans of richly detailed and morally complex narratives.

Fascinating listen

And beautifully narrated. Was riveted by this unusual survival story. Art, the so-called saintly monk, is a monster indeed. Love the accumulation of detail surrounding the young and old monks’ ingenious plans for survival on their rock island with their pious task master. Ending is perfect!

Keep reading, it gets better

This one was a slow start and I put the book down several times. Since I have always liked Emma Donoghue books, I finally decided to listen to the book. I’m glad I did! The narrator was easy to listen to and made the book more interesting. Give it a listen!