The Boy from the Sea
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The Boy from the Sea
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Narrated by:
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Stanley Townsend
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By:
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Garrett Carr
About this listen
THE IRISH TIMES NO. 4 BESTSELLER
A Sunday Times Best Book of 2025
An Observer Best Debut of 2025
'Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment' - Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses
'A joy . . . vivid, loving and genuinely funny' The Sunday Times
'I didn't want it to ever end' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
In 1973 on the west coast of Ireland, a baby is found abandoned on the beach. Who is he? Where is he from? What changes will he bring?
Ambrose, a local fisherman, is far more interested in who he will become and – with a curious community looking on – takes the baby home and adopts him. But for Declan, the baby’s new brother, this arrival is surely bad news. Rivalries can be decades in the making . . .
Set over twenty years, Garrett Carr’s The Boy from the Sea is about a restless boy trying to find his place in the world, and a town caught in the storm of a rapidly approaching future.
What listeners say about The Boy from the Sea
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniel Carter
- 03-04-25
Deeply moving and poetic
Thank you for your most powerful, wonderful, deeply moving novel which I’ve just listened to over three days, read absolutely beautifully by Stanley Townsend. I found it totally compelling, the depth of feeling evoked so subtly, the poetry of the writing has bowled me over. The landscape, the sea, the colours, the elements, the toughness of the trawling fisherman’s life and the families at home. Whole lives lived through this book, and narrated by a collective narrator brings so much heart. The limitations of people are here but also the ability of community to care is an antidote to the idea that we as humans are selfish. So much happens. There is huge drama. But it is also quiet. There is such kindness, forgiveness, understanding and love in this book. It is a beautiful novel.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Joann Robertson
- 19-02-25
Hmmm
I put this on my pre order wishlist following some top 20 or the other so I was really looking forward to it.
It was ok, the narration was good but the story was quite dull.
The characters are solid and there is a real sense of the place but the story seems to lack a point. Unless the point is to paint a picture of a small Irish community and an adopted boy.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CHRISTINE SPALDING
- 16-04-25
The narrator was excellent
Felt the story was weak, didn’t live up to the early expectations.
Became so grim , miserable and at times revolting it was hard to keep going with it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Suzanne Leedham
- 16-03-25
Good family story
Uplifting story of irish family. V evocative of life 40 years ago. Well written and great observational prose. Thank you to the author
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aine
- 01-03-25
Fantastic portrayal of Donegal in the trawling heyday
Great book , characters inner lives well explored and a portayal of Killybegs in boom and bust fishing times - have a listen
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Siobhan
- 04-04-25
Revitating
A compelling story of family relationships set in Killybegs. A joyful combination of major life events with attention to detail- beautiful descriptions of everyday activities & objects. Narrator expertly tells a story. Didn’t want it to end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-03-25
The Boy From The Sea
I loved this book. The author’s turn of phrase is so clever. So many funny moments.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs B Moore
- 11-04-25
V.G.
A beautifully written and read book, a true listening pleasure. One of the rare books I’ll rehear at a later date.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Waggy From Derby
- 26-02-25
a very boring story
I thought something might happen but it just dragged and then dragged some more. this book was not for me
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