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The Boy from the Sea

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The Boy from the Sea

By: Garrett Carr
Narrated by: Stanley Townsend
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About this listen

As read on BBC Radio 4
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.

©2025 Garrett Carr (P)2025 Macmillan Publishers International Limited Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural World Literature Funny
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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.

Deeply moving and poetic

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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.

Hmmm

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Some great observations and turns of phrase. A little disappointed with the ending. Enough for a Mike Leigh film though....

Took me back to the 70s and 80s with dry humour.

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Great book , characters inner lives well explored and a portayal of Killybegs in boom and bust fishing times - have a listen

Fantastic portrayal of Donegal in the trawling heyday

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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.

Revitating

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This was a great listen. It’s a story about family, relationships and how people change when circumstances do. Very well narrated. Elements of humour and loss in a small fishing community.

Family Feuds in Donegal

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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.

The narrator was excellent

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Uplifting story of irish family. V evocative of life 40 years ago. Well written and great observational prose. Thank you to the author

Good family story

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Well written and beautifully read.
irish literature at its best.
Can't wait to discover more from this author.

Great storytelling

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A beautifully written and read book, a true listening pleasure. One of the rare books I’ll rehear at a later date.

V.G.

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