Book · 2020 · Fiction
The Abstainer
A Novel
- mentions
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- people
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- podcast
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- episodes
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- recommendations
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Ian Maguire's the abstainer has a classic dark almost biblical ending.
The best things said about it
All right listeners start with black start with the abstainer the soot the the dark shadowy Manchester novel then go to the northwater for the white novel.
His new novel is called the abstainer and he joins us from Manchester England Ian thanks for being here thanks very much for inviting me Pamela so this is historical fiction.
The abstainer is is is how large the kind of gaps are in the historical Rec record and I suppose that's the that's a great opportunity for the novelist.
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Abstainer by Ian McGuire is a historical novel set in nineteenth-century Manchester that explores political violence, espionage, and complex human loyalties against a dark backdrop. On The Book Review podcast, host Pamela Paul and critic Gilbert Cruz welcomed author Ian McGuire to discuss the historical fiction, with McGuire noting that the gaps in the historical record offered a great opportunity for a novelist to build a compelling narrative. Pamela Paul highlighted critical comparisons made by reviewers like Rody Doyle and Colm Tóibín, who likened McGuire's writing style to that of Joseph Conrad. Furthermore, Pamela recommended that listeners start their journey with this dark, shadowy Manchester novel before moving on to his earlier arctic work, The North Water. Echoing this praise, Dave Kim also recommended the novel on the podcast, specifically pointing to its classic, dark, and almost biblical ending as a standout feature of the narrative. Together, the podcast contributors underscored the atmospheric intensity and literary merit of McGuire's historical storytelling.
Every mention
Pamela Paul all right listeners start with black start with the abstainer the soot the the dark shadowy Manchester nove… 2
“both colem toy bean and his review of the nor northwater and Rody Doyle in his review of the abstainer this new novel compare your writing to that of Joseph Conrad”
“all right listeners start with black start with the abstainer the soot the the dark shadowy Manchester novel then go to the northwater for the white novel”
Dave Kim Ian Maguire's the abstainer has a classic dark almost biblical ending 1
“Ian Maguire's the abstainer has a classic dark almost biblical ending”
Gilbert Cruz his new novel is called the abstainer and he joins us from Manchester England Ian thanks for being here tha… 1
“his new novel is called the abstainer and he joins us from Manchester England Ian thanks for being here thanks very much for inviting me Pamela so this is historical fiction”
Ian McGuire The abstainer is is is how large the kind of gaps are in the historical Rec record and I suppose that's the… 1
“The abstainer is is is how large the kind of gaps are in the historical Rec record and I suppose that's the that's a great opportunity for the novelist”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“who are the Manchester Martyrs and how do they figure into Ian McGuire's new book the author of The award-winning novel The northwater will be here to talk about his latest novel The abstainer”
“Ian Maguire's new book is called the abstainer so here's a request for our listeners”