Himself

A Novel

By: Jess Kidd

Narrated by: Aidan Kelly

A charming ne’er-do-well returns to his haunted Irish hometown to uncover the truth about his mother in this “supernaturally skilled debut” (Vanity Fair) and turns the town—and his life—upside down.

Having been abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, Mahony assumed all his life that his mother wanted nothing to do with him. That is, until one night in 1976 while drinking a pint at a Dublin pub, he receives an anonymous note implying that she may have been forced to give him up. Determined to find out what really happened, Mahony embarks on a pilgrimage back to his hometown, the rural village of Mulderrig. Neither he nor Mulderrig can possibly prepare for what’s in store…

From the moment he arrives, Mahony’s presence completely changes the village. Women fall all over themselves. The real and the fantastic are blurred. Chatty ghosts rise from their graves with secrets to tell, and local preacher Father Quinn will do anything to get rid of the slippery young man who is threatening the moral purity of his parish.

A spectacular new addition to the grand Irish storytelling tradition, Himself “is a darkly comic tale of murder, intrigue, haunting and illegitimacy…wickedly funny” (Daily Express).

Fantastic

Incredible book, lyrically written. Told like a story passed down like a myth from a trusted grandmother. The Irish narration makes me want to cross the sea and begin a new life. Pain, friendship, discovery and growth are all explored like a new doctor picking through an infected wound, but shot through with colour and life and poetry. Highly recommended!

can't wait for the movie!

great writing, awesome narration. story is funny and scary. Now one of my favorites!One of those books you recommend to your friends. I enjoyed the descriptions of old Irish women and their fierce determination to right a wrong.

magical story read beautifully

With a lovely but understandable Irish accent, the narrator reads this story that caught me from the very beginning with its mystery and humor.

Weird but real good.

I enjoyed the whole book. it was weird from the beginning but still a really good listen.

Entertaining and magical

An imaginative story about a young man (Mahony) in his 20s searching for answers about his mother. I was swept up in this tale that was filled with colorful characters who made me laugh or cringe.
The audiobook made the story even better because if I'm reading a book set in Ireland I want to hear it. Aidan Kelly's narration was first rate and highly entertaining.

More like this, please.

Secrets upon secrets, a missing person mystery, all with some magic sprinkled though out.
Yes, please!
Jess Kidd is masterful at combining the real and surreal in this book. And, Aiden Kelly does a superb job with narration. One of my all time favorites on audible.
I couldn't agree more with the publishers review below:
"Himself is a simmering mixture - a blend of the natural everyday and the supernatural, folklore and mystery, and a healthy dose of quintessentially Irish humor. The result is a darkly comic crime story in the tradition of a classic Irish trickster tale, complete with a twisting and turning plot, a small town rife with secrets, and an infectious love of language and storytelling that is a hallmark of the finest Irish writers."

Enchanting & Fabulous

If only I could turn back time so I could read/listen to this book anew.
This book took me on a journey I didn’t want to end. No words I can muster would do this book justice .
The narrator, Aiden Kelly, exceptional. I could listen to his voice all day, everyday, forever.
A true treasure!!

A dark intriguing story

The incident with the dog was excessively violent and ruined the book for me. I couldn't get it out of my head for the remaining story and that is where it ended for me.

Brilliant ghost story

A truly wonderful story. Great narration. Impossible to encapsulate. A mystery, a tale of many kinds of love, of many kinds of searching.

one of the best

Outrageously funny!! Shockingly horrific at moments and seriously sad as well.
Jess Kidd describes so perfectly you can see the spaces and people right before you.
<Spoilers>
Being an oprhan myself, I was incredibly moved by the scene where the main character receives a suitcase of his mother's belongings.
You could see the baby clothes in the suitcase as he saw them but then the old shoes of his mother.
It still had the imprint of her foot in the shoe. Of course that means the world to a child that never knew his mom. Then the silver backed hair brush with some long black hair caught in the tines. Maybe its not the same if you have never had to go without your parents but Jess Kidd describes it exactly how I think I would feel.

A scene with a dog had me crying outloud . Really awful and beautiful in turns.

The dead, the ghosts are almost a side note but just a part of the every day life and you just except it naturally as it goes along.

Its all life Irish style or life with a twist in 1976 but you have to pay attention.
Standing ovation to the narrator Aiden Kelly.