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Be Near Me

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Caledonian Road
3.44 goodreads logo

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( 1,365 ratings, 215 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Be Near Me by Andrew O'Hagan follows the story of an English priest, Father David Anderton, who seeks peace and renewal in a small Scottish community. As he becomes involved in the lives of the local youths, his past mistakes and vulnerabilities surface, challenging his sense of self and belonging. The novel explores themes of identity, redemption, and the complex nature of human relationships.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you appreciate deeply introspective narratives that explore themes of faith, morality, and human connection set against a vividly depicted Scottish backdrop. The author's rich prose and character-driven storytelling offer a thought-provoking journey into the complexities of personal and social dilemmas.

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The Booker-longlisted, third novel from Andrew O'Hagan, one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists 2003 and author of the Booker-shortlisted Our Fathers and Personality.

Longlisted for the Booker Prize, Andrew O'Hagan's Be Near Me is a brilliantly moving story of art and politics, love and change, and the way we live now.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Be near me when my light is low, When the blood creeps, and nerves prick, And tingle; and the heart is sick, And all the wheels of, Being slow. - from In Memoriam, A.H.H. Alfred Lord Tennyson.

When an English priest takes over a small Scottish parish, not everyone is ready to accept him. He makes friends with two local youths, Mark and Lisa, and clashes with a world he can barely understand. The town seems to grow darker each night. Fate comes calling and before the summer is out his quiet life becomes the focus of public hysteria.

Father David looks back to find a Lancashire childhood. He remembers a lost father and a grand school for Catholic boys. He finds 1960s Oxford in the heat of student revolt and recalls a choice he once made in the orange groves of Rome.

Be Near Me is a story of art and politics, love and change, and it is a book about the way we live now. Trapped in class hatreds, threatened by personal flaws, Father David begins to discover what happened to the ideals of his generation. Meanwhile, a religious war is unfolding on his doorstep...

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Be Near Me by Andrew O'Hagan is celebrated for its introspective and profound exploration of themes such as friendship, trust, and moral ambiguity. Critics, including John Burnside from the Daily Telegraph, praise it as a standout work in contemporary British fiction, highlighting its eloquent writing and emotional depth. The novel's portrayal of its characters and the nuanced depiction of societal challenges resonate powerfully, marking it as a significant literary achievement.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571216048

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 April 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main - Re-issue

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 225g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Andrew O'Hagan was born in Glasgow in 1968. His first book, The Missing, was published in 1995 and shortlisted for the Esquire/Waterstone's/Apple Non-Fiction Award. Our Fathers, his debut novel, was shortlisted for the 1999 Booker Prize. His second novel, Personality, won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. In 2003 Granta named him one of the Best of Young British Novelists. He lives in London.

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