Nothing But Blue Sky
Kathleen MacMahon
Narrated By: Stephen Hogan
Duration: 10 hours and 28 minutes
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
Is there such a thing as a perfect marriage?
David thought so. But when his wife Mary Rose dies suddenly he has to think again. In reliving their twenty years together David sees that the ground beneath them had shifted and he simply hadn't noticed. Or had chosen not to.
Figuring out who Mary Rose really was and the secrets that she kept - some of these hidden in plain sight - makes David wonder if he really knew her. Did he even know himself?
Nothing But Blue Sky is a precise and tender story of love in marriage - a gripping examination of what binds couples together and of what keeps them apart.
© Kathleen MacMahon 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020
Genre
Modern and contemporary fiction, Family life fiction, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Interior life
Listen to a sample
Sure and subtle, MacMahon holds the reader in her spell. She is a born storyteller
What a beautiful novel ... elegant, understated, subtly powerful, and rings so perfectly true ... Beautiful, poignant moments, drawn with such quiet power. And that quiet power is alive and at work on every page
Touching and enthralling
A piece of perfection - a subtle, thought-provoking investigation of a marriage. It rings true. It's the best book I've read all year
Full of humour and brims with the warmth of family, friendship and the possibility of second chances
I've been recommending Nothing But Blue Sky to anyone who'll listen ... It's about grief and eulogising and getting into the "habit of happiness" and I just loved it
Kathleen MacMahon's prose could not appear more effortless or beautiful
This elegant, tender novel is an absolute pleasure
Excellent (and darkly funny) ... A sensitive, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful exploration of grief
A poignant, gentle and astutely observed novel about marriage and the evolution of love
A beautifully written and powerful tale
Kathleen MacMahon writes with a confidence and ease and with an unerring sense of timing
Kathleen MacMahon has written an absorbing, grave, and emotionally resonant study of a marriage, of a life, of masculinity and of grief. A marvellous achievement
The most beautiful prose I have read in years ... Not only my favourite novel of the year, but possibly of the decade
It's rare to read an account of a happy normal marriage and she does it brilliantly
Full of humour and brims with the warmth of family, friendship and the possibility of second chances
Kathleen MacMahon sensitively explores the complexities of the human heart and reveals how even in the depths of grief, unexpected light can emerge from the darkness
An elegantly written and moving account of one man coming to terms with the sudden death of his wife
Heart-wrenching ... Almost a parable, it's a cautionary tale for those failing to appreciate just how short life can be
Beautiful ... A gentle but deeply affecting read, and the perfect reminder of how sadness and hope can sometimes live side by side
Stunning
Insightful and deeply moving, this is a story of one man's grief that somehow manages to hold onto its sense of humour. I loved this book
A tender portrait of a marriage and how we are formed by our closest relationships
Heart-rending ... a tender and beautiful [love story] ... MacMahon's words ring with the honesty of truth, offering genuine insight into the human condition
A tender dissection of marriage
Gentle and triumphant, MacMahon offers us a novel steeped in beautiful prose and poignant tenderness
Skilfully written with a wonderful lightness of touch ... An acutely observed portrait of a relationship ... filled with astute observations of human behaviour