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The Thrill of It All

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The Thrill of It All

By: Joseph O'Connor
Narrated by: Ciarán Hinds
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About this listen

At college in 1980s, Robbie Goulding, an Irish-born teenager, meets Fran Mulvey, a Vietnamese refugee. Together they form a band. Joined by cellist Sarah-Thérèse Sherlock and her brother Seán on drums, they set out to chase fame.

Spanning 25 years, we fast-forward through an evocative soundtrack of struggle and laughter. Infused with blues, New Wave, and punk, the tale stretches from the Glastonbury Festival to Long Island, culminating in July 2012, a night that changes everything.

©2014 Joseph O'Connor (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction
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Most relevant
I loved this book so much despite not being a massive music fan. Perfectly captures what it feels like to be London-Irish. I’m surprised it didn’t win every prize going.

Beautiful and funny

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Thrill of It All to be better than the print version?

Being an admirer of O'Connor as well as Hinds, I alternated between the two versions, catching up or reading along whenever I felt like it. The transition was seamless every time. The whole (audio) book is a joy, a personal exploration of the defining forces in life: love, friendship and music - in no particular order. Hinds' mastery as a narrator sets a standard of its own. With a voice famed for its expressive depths, he invests every character with a vulnerability perfectly matching O'Connor's work. There's not a note to be heard in this audio production and yet I feel his performance has never been closer to a song.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Even when you're not usually inclined to like a curly-haired, alcoholic pop guitarist of a certain age, you can't help being attracted to Rob. His observations and self- deprecating wit are very appealing. His story is utterly believable as he and his co-characters were written with great humanity.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was impossible not to burst out laughing on more than one occasion while walking, to the consternation of both passers-by and my canine companion. The skilful build-up toward the final performance makes for a cathartic experience and I dare any listener (or reader) not to well up at that point.

A witty, moving song

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I thought this would be funny, didn’t make me laugh. The narrator just sounded weary to my ears. Maybe he was supposed to?

Not for me

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