Ordinary Human Failings

A Novel

De: Megan Nolan

Narrado por: Jessica Regan

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

Tragic, heartbreaking, beautiful, painful

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

Short but intense

This is a short book, great story of an Irish family in a series of tragedies. Pretty compelling.

Whooh! I feel like I need to go for a walk.

So much dysfunction, misfortune, so much angst, unexpressed unresolved conflicts, self-doubt, self-loathing against the backdrop of a society saddled with history, traditional beliefs and biases.

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.

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.

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.

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.

real but disturbing

To say I enjoyed this novel would not be quite accurate... but it was very well written, the character development was excellent, and the tale heart-wrenching and all too believable. A good read, but not a feel-good read.

All character development, no plot

For me, a good book has a balance of decent character development and an interesting story to tell. This book is 90% character backstories, which describe the spectrum of family dysfunction and tragic circumstances. The story is sad, but not really interesting. There are no plot developments, action, twists, or surprises. This should be a relatable story, as everyone experiences some degree of dysfunction and/or tragedy in their family, social, or work life. Instead, this story was just sad, dull, and a real struggle to finish.

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