Long Island

By: Colm Tóibín

Narrated by: Jessie Buckley

A novel of enormous wit and profound emotional resonance from one of the world's finest writers.

Eilis Lacey is Irish, married to Tony Fiorello, a plumber and one of four Italian American brothers, all of whom live in neighbouring houses on a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with their wives and children and Tony's parents. It is the spring of 1976 and Eilis, now in her forties with two teenage children, has no-one to rely on in this still-new country.

One day, 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 will leave it with her. Eilis has choices to make, and what she does in the wake of this shattering news is at the heart of one of Tóibín's most riveting and emotional novels to date.

Riveting

I loved everything about this book. Brilliant, faultless narration from Jessie Buckley - 10 stars!
I went back to watch 'Brooklyn' for a bit of back-story but I didn't need to - the book stands alone.
The ending was a killer ... because it wasn't an ending. I expect Book 3 from Mr Tóibím!