Where I Belong

By: Alan Doyle

Narrated by: Alan Doyle

From the lead singer of the band Great Big Sea comes a lyrical and captivating musical memoir about growing up in the tiny fishing village of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, and then taking to the world stage.

Singer-songwriter and front man of the great Canadian band Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle is also a lyrical storyteller and a creative force. In Where I Belong, Alan paints a vivid, raucous, and heartwarming portrait of a curious young lad born into the small coastal fishing community of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, and destined to become a renowned musician who carried the musical tradition of generations before him and brought his signature sound to the world. He tells of a childhood surrounded by larger-than-life characters who made an indelible impression on his music and work; of his first job on the wharf, cutting out cod tongues for fishermen; of growing up in a family of five in a two-bedroom house with a beef-bucket as a toilet, yet lacking nothing; of learning at his father's knee how to sing the story of a song and learning from his mother how to simply "be good"; and, finally, of how everything he ever learned as a kid prepared him for that pivotal moment when he became part of Great Big Sea and sailed away on what would be the greatest musical adventure of his life.

Filled with the lore and traditions of the East Coast and told in a voice that is at once captivating and refreshingly candid, this is a narrative journey about small-town life, curiosity, and creative fulfillment and, finally, about leaving everything you know behind only to learn that no matter where you go, home will always be with you.

©2015 Alan Doyle (P)2015 Random House Audio

Most enjoyable!

As a couple of Californians driving around Newfoundland for a month with our camping trailer this was a most enjoyable listen. It gave us the feel of the locals and helped us understand the dialect of the natives plus it was very entertaining. Thank you Alan Doyle for making it happened.

Where I Belong - Belongs on Your Audible "Reading" List!

Easily the most enjoyable audio book I have "read" all year. A rare "perfect" book!

Amazing

I can't recommend this book enough. I bet reading it would be great, but hearing Alan tell the story himself, with all the nuance that only someone who lived the story can use, brings each of the stories to another level; the humor is better, the wit sharper, the sarcasm more biting. The stories just seem to come alive when hearing them straight from the horse's mouth. I was actually a bit sad when this book came to an end. I wanted it to continue going on and on indefinitely.

If you get this is a book, I'm sure it's great. If you can get this as an audiobook, do it. If you choose neither, well… Go run up and down the hill.

Loved this book!

Brilliant and very entertaining storytelling! Alan charms the heck out of you! Bravo and thanks

Proud to be a Newfoundlander

Obviously I loved this book. It reminds me of the place I want to be The Rock!

We met a townie

We met a townie while we were visiting Newfoundland. She was staying in Petty Harbour, as were we, and she said there was this book we had to read. Little did we know we were about to meet Alan Doyle, one of the Doyles from Petty Harbour. We left Newfoundland soon after, but took Al an with us as we toured the rest of the Maritimes. We can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who wants the Maritimes to come alive, to understand a bit of Newfoundland culture, and to be completely enchanted with Alan and the great big sea. Alan narrates the book with such incredible humor and sensitivity. We are sorry to hear it end, and are immediately planning to purchase “A Newfoundlander in Canada”, as we complete the rest of our trip and go back to Minnesota. We highly recommend this book to anyone visiting the Maritimes, who was a curious kid or who has been raised either Protestant or Catholic.

The BEST audio book EVER!

Any additional comments?

I have listened and enjoyed hundreds of books and this is the FIRST time I have written a review. Stop what you're doing and download this book, because it doesn't get better than this! This guy has it all... humor, humanity and the ability to tell a great tale.

Mr Doyle has found where he belongs!

I absolutely loved this audio book! Having Alan Doyle narrate his life story was brilliant!

The book was good but the audible version was fantastic!

A wonderful biography, made even better when read by the author. CBC needs to make a series of these wonderful poignant moments of the Author's childhood. Thank you Alan for sharing!

Charming Stories

Not just for Great Big Sea fans, this guy is a great storyteller! Highly recommended.