So Late in the Day

De: Claire Keegan

Narrado por: Claire Keegan

An exquisite new short story from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Small Things Like These and Foster.

'A genuine once-in-a-generation writer.' The Times

After an uneventful Friday at the Dublin office, Cathal faces into the long weekend and takes the bus home. There, his mind agitates over a woman named Sabine with whom he could have spent his life, had he acted differently. All evening, with only the television and a bottle of champagne for company, thoughts of this woman and others intrude - and the true significance of this particular date is revealed.

From one of the finest writers working today, Keegan's new story asks if a lack of generosity might ruin what could be between men and women. Is it possible to love without sharing?

'Every word is the right word in the right place, and the effect is resonant and deeply moving.' Hilary Mantel

'Claire Keegan makes her moments real - and then she makes them matter.' Colm Tóibín

©2023 Claire Keegan (P)2023 Faber & Faber

Magnificent.

Miraculous the clarity of the picture that Keegan paints, and the vision of past and future stories that she conjures, with so few words. Just beautiful- and so real that you know you have been, or know, these people.

Incredible Writing

Loved the narrator, the main character, the interpretation of the secondary character’s motives. Don’t want to give away the thread!

Mesmerizing narration

She writes so beautifully. This is a great listen and I highly recommend. I could picture every scene.

Author’s ability to pluck the mystery out of everyday life

Author’s voice; her strength; her courage; her brilliant reduction of emotion into small words ; short story of a huge moment of characters’ lives

subtle use of symbols and foreshadowing that benefits from a second reading

perfect narration by the author as it is unemotional yet ollows for focusing on the words

This Audible is not the full Kindle/Book version.

This short story is beautifully read by the author, Claire Keegan. There are a few minor changes from the 2022 New Yorker print and audio version where it first appeared. This Audible version only includes the one short story “So Late in the Day.” The title of the Kindle & Hardcover versions (128 pages) has a slightly different title “So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men.” It contains two additional short stories: “The Long and Painful Death” and “Antarctica.” I do not want to discourage anyone from buying this Audible version. The opportunity to hear Clair Keegan read “So Late in the Day” is absolutely mesmerizing. I just want others to avoid the confusion I went through, thinking that I had bought the entire book on Audible. The titles of the Audible and the Kindle/Hardcover versions are so similar that it’s easy to miss that the two additional short stories are not included in the Audible product.

Keegan is always amazing

The fine-grained observation of details, the beautiful use of language, the deep melancholy — all together a spell.

Superb

Superb and sad. Brilliantly written, poignant meditation of loss. Pitch perfect narration by the author.

Will it ever change?

Could anyone have ever shared this sadly common story better than Claire? Never!

How many dream of a change. Favorite moment... She walked away

Fantastic writing and narration

Such a beautifully written piece and I absolutely loved the narration by the author. Highly recommend.