The Misremembered Man

By: Christina McKenna

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The Misremembered Man is a beautifully rendered portrait of life in rural Ireland which charms and delights with its authentic characters and gentle humor. This vivid portrayal of the universal search for love brings with it a darker tale, heartbreaking in its poignancy.

©2008 Christina McKenna (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Beautiful story

The Misremembered Man is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about the horrors inflicted on orphaned children in Ireland. I was engaged in the story from the first page through the last. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about this dark period in Irish history.

Engaging Tale

This was a very good book to listen to as the characters were not perfect but all major characters had normal human emotions. The Irish brogue was sometimes a little hard to understand but it also helps the telling of the story. Very good book.

A joy to listen to!

What a beautifully written story full of every emotion there is! You will laugh, cry, and ultimately not be able to stop thinking about this richly woven story full of unique characters.

Laughed and cried out loud

This was such a delightful tale. Characters were believable and stayed in true form throughout the engaging story.

Laughter, Tears, Unforgettable Trip to Ireland

Jamie, Number 86, was dropped off at an orphanage in the 1930s in rural Ireland. The institution was run by nuns and priests who regularly reminded him that he was unwanted, unloved and that basically everything he ever did was wrong. And they punished him. Over and over. Beat him. Starved him. Ridiculed him. Yet his young soul sought to be loved. To escape his prison. The story going back and forth between Jamie’s childhood and the 1970s, when Jamie is in his 40s, is one of the most beautiful, harsh, yet hilariously funny that I have ever heard. The Irish brogue, especially by Jamie’s friends absolutely cracks me up. I love Paddy and his wife Rose, who has a way with words . . . to say the least. Squarely in Jamie’s corner, the couple are everything that Jamie lacked growing up. The parallel story of Lydia, the old maid teacher taking care of her sick mother, always putting her own needs second, is also a good tale. The meeting of Jamie and Lydia and the antics with his hair piece had me rolling in the floor laughing!!! Rarely have I encountered the range of raw human emotions as I did while listening to this story. Christina McKenna is a talented author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

A wonderful and deep book.

I thought this might be a light hearted book. In some ways it was while in others it was very deep. The main character was endearing and made you hope for the best for him. All of the characters, from the most loving to the ones you absolutely hated, were extremely well written. The story line had twists and turns. Can't say it turned out the way I had hoped, yet I completely enjoyed this book. Well narrated as well. While reading, know that the atrocities being presented happened all the way up until 1991; could still be happening. Evil presents itself where it can hide and take advantage of the innocent. As a Catholic, I was brought up that God is loving and it is unacceptable to allow evil to continue; don't say you are doing something in the name of God unless it is for a positive and loving reason.

Inspired by events

Inspired by true & horrific events endured in Irish orphanages (excerpt from author) this novel was a roller coaster of emotions between the alternating stories (with a commonality revealed at the end). I swear this could be a Hallmark Channel movie if not for the unspeakable events endured by the main character of the book.
I picked this from Amazon Unlimited with audio– which I enjoyed the recitation very much by the Irish narrator.

Slow and Sad

Not great. I didn't really like any of the characters. It was a sad life with harsh adults.

I love a good story and an uplifting ending!

This book checks off every box on my list of elements for a good read!

Great story

This is the best story I’ve (read) listened to in a while. It’s beautifully written. Narration is just ok. Uses some sort of made up accent for Jamey’s best friends. Irritating.

Great stuff

I really enjoyed this one, at times funny but at other times brutal and touching. As a debut, it's a great introduction and I was fully invested in the characters.

The narration was outstanding and that perfectly brought the woke thing to life.

On the negative side it did end rather abruptly and feel a little like it was tying up the loose ends for the final quarter or so.

That said, I still found it a great read and would recommend.

A wonderful book

This remarkable book can make you laugh with one chapter and cry with the next. Well written with a perfect naration it is the best book I've listened to in a long time.

I laughed I cried

what a wonderful story, well written and extremely well narrated, every voice suited the character. thank god those days of the Magdalene laundries and industrial orphanages are gone, in saying that the story takes you well outside of those horrid places. added to the countryside of Ireland

What a book!!!

I laughed and cried!!! I read on average a book a week. I'm never without yet very fussy too. I will never forget this book. Strongly recommended.

Entertaining and Deeply Moving

This story made me smile, laugh and shed some tears and at the end feel uplifted by such triumphant redemption. so many memories of home.

The skilled and crafted storytelling kept me engaged all the way through.

the narration was sensitive to the subject matter and the situation of the main characters.

Altogether, a joyous read.

Stunning

I read this book a few years ago on Kindle, then decided I would like to listen to it this time round.
This is an absolutely beautiful book. I laughed and cried. Very well narrated.
Please don't miss this

SPECTACULAR

Thank you Christina, I really loved this book. I revelled in such a broad range of emotions and to finish with such a riveting, heart thumping ending....Spectacular.
Also Gary Furlong narrates this story so perfectly. His voice is mesmerising.

Wonderful

I laughed and cried. Reading this book was quite a traumatic experience, beautifully written and read.

crying but laughing

The first book I've read in a long time that could make me cry and laugh; then in its final moments held me in stop-breathing suspense. A rarity.