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Beatlebone

By Kevin Barry
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3.47 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 3,671 ratings, 577 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Beatlebone by Kevin Barry is a surreal and imaginative journey following John Lennon as he attempts to escape the pressures of fame. Set in 1978, Lennon seeks solitude on an Irish island he owns, hoping to find peace and inspiration. The novel intertwines humour, introspection, and magical realism, providing a unique exploration of identity and artistic struggle.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy tales that blend historical fiction with surreal elements, as it offers a fictional exploration of John Lennon's journey to a remote island in Ireland. Its lyrical prose, moody atmosphere, and intriguing mix of reality and imagination make it ideal for those who appreciate both character-driven narratives and rich, evocative language.

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One of the most talked-about novels of 2015. Winner of the Goldsmiths prize and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

John is so many miles from love now and home. This is the story of his strangest trip.

A novel of family, ghosts, love, music and the quest for truth, Beatlebone recounts a wild journey through the west of Ireland in 1978. At its helm is John, a maddened genius fleeing fame and seeking peace. With his deadpan Irish driver, Cornelius, at his side, John is hellbent on reaching the Island of Dorinish, an assignment he arranged ten years before.

Lyrical, freewheeling, quixotic and fun, Beatlebone is a sad and beautiful comedy.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Kevin Barry's Beatlebone is lauded for its inventive and lyrical prose, blending humour and depth. Critics praise it for its surreal exploration of fame and creativity, describing it as a unique fusion of wit and melancholic insight. The novel captures the essence of John Lennon with vibrancy, while the dialogue and thematic depth resonate powerfully, offering both an homage to great artists and a fresh literary experience.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781782116165

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 June 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Books

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 184g

Pages: 272

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Kevin Barry Literary Fiction

About the Author

Kevin Barry is the author of the novel City of Bohane and two short story collections, Dark Lies the Island and There Are Little Kingdoms. He was awarded the Rooney Prize in 2007 and won The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize in 2012. For City of Bohane he was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and the Irish Book Award, and won the Author's Club First Novel Prize, The European Prize for Literature and the IMPAC Prize. Beatlebone, his second novel, was the winner of the Goldsmiths Prize and was shortlisted for the Irish Book Award.

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