Bookseller Reviews
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You can’t bury the past....
Graham Norton’s third novel opens up with an accident that tears apart a small community, It is about how the tragedy affects so many lives and the secret ... READ MORE
Tissues at the ready!
Another excellent fictional offering from the ever lovely Graham Norton. Starting in a small town in Ireland in 1987, this is a thought provoking and heart... READ MORE
Small town Ireland: Big world author
Connor is one of only people who managed to walk away, relatively uninjured, from a car crash the day before his sister's wedding. A day at the beach ends ... READ MORE
Synopsis
Shame and longing can flow through generations, but the secrets of the heart will not be buried for ever.
It is 1987 and a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony a group of young friends, including bride and groom, drive out to the beach. There is an accident. Three survive, but three are killed.
The lives of the families are shattered and the rifts between them are felt throughout the small town. Connor is one of the survivors. But staying among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame of having been the driver. He leaves the only place he knows for another life, taking his secrets with him. Travelling first to Liverpool, then London, he makes a home - of sorts - for himself in New York. The city provides shelter and possibility for the displaced, somewhere Connor can forget his past and forge a new life.
But the secrets, the unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind will not be silenced. And before long, Connor will have to confront his past.
Graham Norton's powerful and timely novel of emigration and return demonstrates his keen understanding of the power of stigma and secrecy - with devastating results.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
- ISBN: 9781473665163
- Number of pages: 368
- Dimensions: 196 x 130 x 32 mm
- Weight: 258g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allHighly recommended
I read and enjoyed Graham Norton's last book and was delighted to receive an ARC of his latest novel from the publisher and Netgalley.I wasn't disappointed... READ MORE
Good
I found this one harder to get into than his previous books but I have given it four stars for the simple reason that I don't know how much my current mood... READ MORE
Beautifully written, a joy to read!
I’d like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Home Stretch’ by Graham Norton in exchange for my honest and unbi... READ MORE
Fantastic
Wow. What a book. Home Stretch is something very special. The beautifully told tale of one catastrophic event and the reverberations that last a lifetime f... READ MORE
Becomes an absorbing read
3.5 stars
A serious car crash occurs in the village of Mullinmore near Cork in 1987. On the eve of a wedding, three young people are tragically killed inc... READ MORE
An Awesome Story, Skilfully Told!
Smart, sophisticated and very satisfying - this is a memorable read!
When a car goes off the road in a small town in Cork, the reverberations have long la... READ MORE
Home Stretch
Well, if this author's first two books hadn't made people sit up and pay attention to his ability as an author, this one cements that. Due to his prolific ... READ MORE
Another great read from Mr Norton
Loved his other books so was looking forward to reading this one and as always it was great didn’t disappoint me in anyway Graeme writes in a way that is ... READ MORE
Small-town Irish life
The characters, plot and natural prose drew me in immediately and I was able to easily see the family, attitude and values of those living in the Village ... READ MORE
Superb book
Never ceases to amaze me how such a funny man can write a book with such intrigue, empathy and a lot of surprises. Another excellent book by Graham Norton.
Terrific read
I really enjoy the writing of Graham Norton both his autobiographies and more recently his excellent novels. His writing is so good and I have read all thr... READ MORE
Great read!
It is 1987. A group of young people go on a trip to the beach the afternoon before two of the crowd get married. On the way home there is a car crash, two ... READ MORE
Could not put this book down!
Graham’s third novel gripped me from page 1. It’s funny, sad, touching and emotional. Loved it so much I didn’t want it to end.
Something Very Special
Simply amazing. I consumed this book so quickly- it was rich and emotional and had just the right amount of humour to go along with the story of sadness an... READ MORE
Moving
Well I never had Graham Norton down as an author. He’s also surprised me. He’s a very good author.
Home stretch is filled with so many emotions. It will ha... READ MORE
Graham’s Best Yet
Wow. What a book. Home Stretch is something very special. The beautifully told tale of one catastrophic event and the reverberations that last a lifetime f... READ MORE
One of my favourites
I feel like Norton should be extremely happy with this creation. From beginning to end he managed to write a story that evoked all the emotions and to ensu... READ MORE
Home Stretch
Absolutely loved this book, kept the interest flowing at the end of each chapter making it hard to put book down. Good characters helped to unfold their in... READ MORE
A poignant and though-provoking read, Definitely one to read this autumn
In 'Home Stretch', Graham Norton details life in a small village in Ireland in the late 1980's when a tragic car crash, on the eve of a wedding, destroys s... READ MORE
Really enjoyable family story
Home Stretch by Graham Norton
He taps in to his knowledge of small town Ireland andNew York but mainly his understanding of people.
The fall out f... READ MORE
Graham Norton gets better and better
It is the mid-1980s and a group of friends take a trip to the beach just before the wedding of two of their party. There is an accident and three are kill... READ MORE
An Intriguing Read
Ireland 1987: A small Irish community is preparing for the wedding g of two of it's inhabitants. As the friends head home the night before the wedding, th... READ MORE
Another Graham Norton success
What I love about Graham Norton's writing is the way he takes a relatively simple story and presents it with so much depth and feeling that you can't help ... READ MORE
His best book yet
Home Stretch is the third novel from Graham Norton. I have read his previous two fiction novels and I think this is the best one yet.
It’s 1987 in small to... READ MORE