Saints for All Occasions

A Novel

De: J. Courtney Sullivan

Narrado por: Susan Denaker

A sweeping, unforgettable novel from the New York Times best-selling author of Maine, about the hope, sacrifice, and love between two sisters and the secret that drives them apart.

Nora and Theresa Flynn are 21 and 17 when they leave their small village in Ireland and journey to America. Nora is the responsible sister; she's shy and serious and engaged to a man she isn't sure that she loves. Theresa is gregarious; she is thrilled by their new life in Boston and besotted with the fashionable dresses and dance halls on Dudley Street. But when Theresa ends up pregnant, Nora is forced to come up with a plan - a decision with repercussions they are both far too young to understand.

Fifty years later Nora is the matriarch of a big Catholic family, with four grown children: John, a successful if opportunistic political consultant; Bridget, quietly preparing to have a baby with her girlfriend; Brian, at loose ends after a failed baseball career; and Patrick, Nora's favorite, the beautiful boy who gives her no end of heartache. Estranged from her sister, Theresa is a cloistered nun, living in an abbey in rural Vermont. Until, after decades of silence, a sudden death forces Nora and Theresa to confront the choices they made so long ago.

A graceful, supremely moving novel from one of our most beloved writers, Saints for All Occasions explores the fascinating, funny, and sometimes achingly sad ways a secret at the heart of one family both breaks them and binds them together.

©2017 J. Courtney Sullivan (P)2017 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"I hope to read another novel as strong and wise and beautiful and heartbreaking as J. Courtney Sullivan's Saints for All Occasions, but I'm not sure I will." (Richard Russo)

Entertaining book

Loved the characters. Great narration. Some questions were left about the motives of the characters at the end of the story, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Predictable ending.

A family full of secrets!

What a riveting book. All the characters are well-developed, the Boston/Dorchester/Irish immigrant scene well-drawn. I had read very little about that social and religious dynamic and it gave me an understanding of the area and the 50s to 00's era. In some ways, the ending was just the beginning. The narrator is excellent, adept at Irish and American accents as well as children's voices. I highly recommend it!

Nice book, overdramatic reading

Any additional comments?

With the tight plotting of this book, the last thing needed is the narrator's overly dramatic reading. The story speaks for itself and doesn't need emotion ladled on thickly. It's a tribute to the writing that I was able to finish listening to it despite my dislike of the narration.

The narration ruined it

The narration is cloying. A saccharine style is used that is more suitable for reading to preschoolers. However, I am an adult as are the characters in this book.

If you are Irish will bring back do many memories !!!

If you have Irish roots must read!!
Narrator is so good with Irish accents. I could hear my grandmother and aunts.
The description of Irish wakes was so right on. Great book!

Insightful take on the lives of American women in the late 20th century.

I really enjoyed this book. I can understand why one reviewer said it was tedious. But it really wasn’t. Many families of catholic, european descent living in America in the mid to late 20th century lived the lives of the characters in this book. The struggles and consequences would be found somewhere in every family and I don’t know why but I took great comfort in knowing that. I know this family. It’s my family and it’s your family. It you like that kind of book, go for it.

Interesting

Very relevant if you come from an Irish family. The accuracy makes it kind of a downer

Very good story of Irish family.

I loved it.I enjoy stories of Irish families with complicated relationships. Irish culture throughout the novel.

fantastic story

really enjoyed the story. very thought provoking. characters came to life and made you relate to them

The ending is so disappointing!

I thought something happened with my phone because the way this book ended all of the sudden left me with so many questions! I was totally into the story and loved it until the last chapter ended!