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Instructions for a Heatwave

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Instructions for a Heatwave

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Dearbhla Molloy
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About this listen

The stunning new novel from Costa-Novel-Award-winning novelist Maggie O'Farrell: a portrait of an Irish family in crisis in the legendary heatwave of 1976.

It's July 1976. In London, it hasn't rained for months, gardens are filled with aphids, water comes from a standpipe and Robert Riordan tells his wife Gretta that he's going round the corner to buy a newspaper. He doesn't come back.

The search for Robert brings Gretta's children - two estranged sisters and a brother on the brink of divorce - back home, each with different ideas as to where their father might have gone. None of them suspects that their mother might have an explanation that even now she cannot share.

©2013 Maggie O'Farrell (P)2013 Headline Digital Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Heartfelt

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All stars
Most relevant  
Reminiscent of the 1970s era going to and from past events. Lovely detail of characters, feelings and experiences. Family members interwoven throughout but some how joining up in the end. A worthwhile read.

An enjoyable book that allows the reader to soak in the characters, who are missed like long lost friends at the end.

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I don’t want it to end! Another beautifully told tale, masterfully penned by Maggie O Farrell.

Too short

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Harrowing in places but a truly wonderful story of family love and loyalty-loved it

Wonderful story about life

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I just love the minute detail in Maggie O'Farrell's writing, listening on audio is almost like eves dropping on a real life family's situation.
Fantastic narration too.

Such a great exploration of sibling relationships

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i absolutely loved this book about a dysfunctional Irish family who come together to look for their missing Father.
Thank you Maggie O'Farreĺl for your sublime writing.

Instructions for a Heatwave

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Would highly recommend this. Beautifully narrated. Characterisation visible. Loved the way we dipped into each of the siblings stories. All brought to life by Dearbhla Malloy.

Rich and detailed with surprises

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I loved this the prose, the characters. it's gentle in the telling and quietly reveals the stories behind every day families

a gentle, beautiful story

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I have recently read Maggie O’Farrell’s latest book Portrait of a Marriage and now I cannot get enough of her books. Being a young adult in an Irish Catholic family in the Seventies, her writings touched memories of my life at that time. I really enjoyed the narration too. A thoroughly good read (I also bought the Kindle version)

ANOTHER GOOD READ

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I love Maggie O'Farrell books, and her latest didn't disappoint.



I really enjoyed Instructions for a Heatwave. It's beautifully written and the characters are believable.



Great book

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Where does Instructions for a Heatwave rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was a really enjoyable book, not to be ranked amongst the classics but a real page turner that made you want to get to the end. A light read but quite different with all the family members with their miriad of emotional problems. It had a realistic storyline and anyone who was about during the summer of 1976 will comprehend the sheer monotony of every day living in the heat. The narrator was superb and has such a likeable tone that the whole story ran along very smoothly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Instructions for a Heatwave?

Probably when Eefa started hoarding the contracts into the blue folder as if she was an ostritch, never knowing if the problem would be resolved and if it was what the outcome would be. I was startled that no-one had identified the nature of her problem, (even in 1976) but was quite amazed that she was able to continue such a productive lifestyle with this hiden secret. I felt for her as I once worked with someone just like her.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed Greta at the convent. It was written with great empathy, yet almost had a touch of humour because of the circumstances of her being there..

Any additional comments?

Maggie O'Farrell has a great talent for making characters come alive and even those with unfortunate traits sit well with the narrative from beginning to end.

Really enjoyable

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