Beautifully written & narrated book

I’m rarely moved to write a review, but this book was wonderful. Based on true events, it tells the story of three poor Irish women in the 1820s, iwho believe the disabled grandson of one of the women is a changeling swapped by ‘The Good People’ ( fairy folk) and who try to ‘get the fairy out of him’ with rituals and herbs, Hannah Kent has brilliantly evoked the daily lives of the country people and the superstitions that permeated every part of life for them, despite the disapproval of the Catholic Church. It really opened my eyes to how the ‘old ways’ of these people clashed with the modern thinking of the educated classes, and the church who saw no place for the old superstitions or herbal cures in 19th century Ireland. It’s also a thought provoking lesson in the misogyny and prejudice that still surrounded older women, particularly elderly spinster women who were handy with herbal cures - they were both sought out by their communities when people needed a cure, and yet at the same time viewed with suspicion and often blamed when bad things happened.
Hannah’s writing is filled with wonderful descriptions of the Irish landscape, and it’s people, it was an absolute treat to hear this story of Ireland read so perfectly in Caroline Lennon’s beautiful Irish lilt. She really brought the story to life for me and on occasion had me close to tears. I have also listened to Hannah Kent’s ‘Burial Rites’ also based on a true story in Iceland and at a similar period in time and I heartily recommend both books.

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A book to remember

This book is beautifully written wonderfully read and a story full of empathy. I enjoyed every word. I was sorry that I had to leave it. The very last line still resounding in my ears

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Fascinating

This book was beautifully written and a great historical novel however I found it very bleak and cried a lot !

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2 people found this helpful

Not a book I’d normally read, but I persevered

I had no idea what this book was about and expected something different. I found it hard to get into it, but did eventually and got drawn into the world of Irish Folklore and Fairies.
It was interesting to put myself in the position of those back then in their poverty stricken times and beliefs.
I enjoyed the book in the end, even though I very nearly gave up

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On and on and on...and on

Could have been condensed into a novella. A different variation of the same story in every chapter. Characters have so much potential, but the story lacked any development until the last few chapters. Dull

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Good book

Didn’t want this book to end , thought it was fabulous. I was in the story with them from word go .

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Immersive

My third Audible choice by this author. The depth of the story, the gentleness of the narrative have kept me such good company these last few days. I have learnt from this author that the richness of life provides more than enough interest to engage and enthral me. Each story is so beyond the modern story lines that bore me. I know each of the women in the 3 books I have heard, each unforgettable in her own way, the domesticity, the forces of nature at play, the myths and superstitions.
I have learnt something from each of the books. The characters from all this author's works stay with me. Her words are like finding a new friend.

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Beautiful writing.

So beautifully written that it totally immerses the reader in village life and folklore of early Victorian Ireland. The myriad of superstitions that people lived by seem odd to us now, but must have made some kind of sense, in a time when medicines and law were only for the wealthy. I'm still not sure whether the wise woman believed all the spells she recommended, or was making them up as she went along.

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1 person found this helpful

Haunting and unforgettable

Any additional comments?

The most haunting book I have heard for some time. Hannah Kent captures the simple, sweet, melancholy lives of the characters and the folklore and superstition that binds or divides the community they live in. The beautiful, soft lilt of the narration by Caroline Lennon brings it all to life, as the poor people of the Irish valley struggle to find explanations for life events they cannot understand.

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Immersive

Would you listen to The Good People again? Why?

As in Burial Rites, Hannah Kent's prose plunges you into a different and unfamiliar world through a compelling story of human sorrow, struggle and superstition. What a tremendous author she is. The compelling beauty of this book was matched by perfect narration from Caroline Lennon.

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