Long Island

By: Colm Toibin

Narrated by: Jessie Buckley

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK * INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “Stunning.” —People * “Dazzling yet devastating...Tóibín is simply one of the world’s best living literary writers.” —The Boston Globe * “Momentous and hugely affecting.” —The Wall Street Journal *

From the beloved, critically acclaimed, bestselling author comes a spectacularly moving novel featuring Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, Tóibín’s most popular work in twenty years.

Eilis Lacey is Irish, married to Tony Fiorello, a plumber and one of four Italian American brothers, all of whom live in neighboring houses on a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with their wives and children and Tony’s parents, a huge extended family. It is the spring of 1976 and Eilis is now forty with two teenage children. Though her ties to Ireland remain stronger than those that hold her to her new land and home, she has not returned in decades.

One day, when Tony is at work, an Irishman comes to the door asking for Eilis by name. He tells her that his wife is pregnant with Tony’s child and that when the baby is born, he will not raise it but instead deposit it on Eilis’s doorstep. It is what Eilis does—and what she refuses to do—in response to this stunning news that makes Tóibín’s novel so riveting and suspenseful.

Long Island is a gorgeous story “about a woman thrashing against the constraints of fate” (Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air). It is “a wonder, rich with yearning and regret” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).

©2024 Colm Toibin (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

How weak everyone was!!

This isn’t the same girl. Elise seemed so cold and distant even from the start. Not in love with her husband which is why she came back in the fist place. I felt that the writer forgot about her and Tony’s connection. They were closer than that. I don’t believe Tony would have cheated either. The ending didn’t make sense and I also felt that he Jim way too weak. Nancy would have been that way, she never was sure of herself and would have acted that way to secure her relationship. Jim, I feel would have talked to her sooner though.
Tony would have stood up for his wife to his family, and though no fault of the baby, they could have found a home other than his parents. To me, none of this was believable or in my opinion what would have happened to a strong marriage.
I hated to see a story end just so we have to wait for another book.

Good story

He tells a good story...easy to listen to.
More of the story was in Ireland rather than on Long Island though. However I hated the ending...

colm tuibin long Island

very interesting ending, I was not expecting such a non conclusion ending . I guess I can imagine any ending I like.

Unfinished work

The story kept me engaged however the characters were not very developed. The ending felt like the author got tired of writing and just ended the book. Quite a disappointment.

Great story telling

From the first chapter, I’m haunted by the characters. Each unfolding in subtle ways. The story captures cultural tendencies of Irish and Italian at a time, in the not too distant past, when we were all more closely tied to family and cultural identity. The narration is also very enjoyable.

The Irish brough of the narrator

Loved it! Highly recommend if you’re of Irish descent or love the Irish culture. Buy it!

Happiness Anyone?

I couldn’t understand why the performance for the women all seemed like they were cranky? It didn’t come off as contemplative, moody or in low spirits; it came off as cranky.

Loved reading about Ellis again. But...it just...ends.

As a massive lover of Brooklyn, I enjoyed the 20yr look ahead with Long Island and was listening super intently, on the edge of my seat at certain points. I even got used to the narrators somewhat distracting New York accent (she did her absolute best! I just found it funny). But overalll I feel like we're left to wondee what will happen, and. I feel a bit shortchanged. I recall feeling the same at the end of Brooklyn. Maybe the eventual screenwriters of the Long Island film adaptation will fix improve the ending like they did with the Brooklyn screenplay! We'll see!

Disappointed

I enjoyed the first half and then it devolved into a silly melodrama and the end left us hanging - why did I waste my time ? I think the author should have just said this was #2 in a trilogy or a series. I feel scammed!

Extremely well read!

I loved this story, though it gets to be a nail biter at the end, which isn’t particularly satisfying.