Before listening to this audiobook, I did not know much about James Joyce’s wife. This opened my eyes to her and her struggles! The narration was perfect! I recommend this for fans of The Paris Wife!

DNF @15%

Gosh, this cover is gorgeous. I love the lettering and the image so even though I didn't know who Nora was, I wanted to read this book. This time, the pretty cover did not work in my favour. I enjoy Nuala's prose, but I just couldn't keep my attention on the story - print or audio. I have not really red much or James Joyce, or interested in him. I am going to pass on this one, but do want to try her novel, Miss Emily. I would recommend reading other reviews, because I did like O'Connor's writing, and if this subject matter sounds interesting it may work for you.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss, and the audiobook from Netalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

This book is so beautifully written in its simplicity. It follows a fictionalized version of Nora Joyce - wife of writer James Joyce - in her complete messy emotions and complicated life. The tone is so human, and Nora is at its best when it explores being alive. The characterization flushes out its characters without besmirching the family it depicts. In this, fiction honors a legacy - of a woman behind a man. Highs and lows read as natural and true. A love letter to the woman, Nora is given her own narrative outside of her husband’s.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harper Audio for allowing me to read this voice galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this audio story of the life of Nora Barnacle Joyce and James Joyce. It’s 1904 and James is taken with Nora who is just 20 and working as a maid. He sees much more for her and in her. He is right of course.

This is truly a love story. Nora is so dedicated to Jim and all that he desires. She loves him unconditionally. This does put much strain on her as he wants to keep moving, changing, and wants her with him, but will not marry her. He also goes out many nights drinking and taking up with other women. They leave Ireland, but each place they go, Jim easily becomes restless and does not bother to ask Nora if this is her wish, too. It hurts your heart sometimes b/c she is such a loving soul.

Jim certainly is talented, but I don’t think he would have had success without his ‘Goosie’ He loves her dearly, but she is strength that keeps there bond from every leaving. She just has so much love and caring in her that she knows Jim is her darlings and her life. They have two children that she raises through all the changes and gives them all she has.

Nora Barnacle Joyce was such a brace, tenacious, bold women that is always determined to go on. This is a true love story, Jim and Nora spend their entire lives together. She just knows her world will lose the best part without Jim. She doesn’t ever consider a different path. It touches your soul, to read such an eloquently written book about the heart and where that brings you.

Interesting story but not sufficiently different from other fictional narratives associated with Joyce.

Nora was the love of James Joyce. Some of you might be thinking, I know that name but why? Joyce was an Irish novelist and was considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Though this book is fiction it dives straight into Nora’s life and her lifelong love with Joyce.

The story starts in 1904 when Nora is very young, and a maid working at a local hotel. One fateful encounter will change the path of her life forever, and knows she will follow Joyce anywhere. When Joyce wants to leave Ireland, Nora follows him as they travel and meet with important friends throughout Paris and Zurich. Nora struggles with her desire for Joyce, but also a life of poverty. He drinks, gambles and also writes, and she is always there to support him and be an inspiration. Their story is a true testament to love.

Wow. Who knew James Joyce and his beloved Nora Barnacle were so, um, hot and heavy. I really knew nothing of either but there was a lot of passion between these two. At the heart of this story though was a love that was filled with drama and addiction, and family troubles. A biographical fiction of the woman behind the man and I enjoyed learning so much about of Ireland’s beloved writers, from the perspective of the woman who loved him. So interesting! Thank you to @harperbooks @harperaudio @harperperennial for my ARC and ALC.

Loved the narrator on this one too. Excellent job!

So much to love in this insightful , vibrant, poignant , heartfelt and passionate story about James Joyce’s wife and muse, Nora Barnacle Joyce.

Jenn McGuirk narration was brilliant .

I just reviewed Nora by Nuala O'Connor. #Nora #NetGalley #HarperCollins #MustRead2021

I always enjoy a female empowerment theme! This book was a rollercoaster following one couple as they navigate their world and their lives. More than just a love story, this book also follows how they navigate the ups and downs of life together and also just life in general. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I love reading biographical fiction about writers and their muses and wives, so this book was one I thought I'd enjoy. Unfortunately, the story failed to draw me in and the story was a bit too gritty for my taste.
Still, I appreciate the research the author put into this book and the atmosphere and voice of Nora she managed to create.
The narrator was a bit harsher and less engaging than I'd have envisioned also, but I suppose this fit and she did a good job moving the story along.
I think more dedicated fans of James Joyce or the time period would enjoy this book.
Many thanks to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I alternated between reading and listening to this title. Both gave a good insight into the lives of Nora Barnacle and James Joyce. I did adore the narration and could hear that voice in my head when I was reading the text. The voices are beautifully captured in the audio.

So many find the works of James Joyce to be difficult to understand. It is fascinating to hear this icon simply referred to as “Jim” by Nora. It puts him in some perspective.

When the novel opens, Nora is working as a hotel maid. She meets Joyce on that fateful Bloomsday of June 16th and her life is transformed. Although he will not marry, Nora agrees to leave Ireland with her Jim as they seek a better life in Europe. It soon becomes clear that finding this life will not be easy. Readers become part of these characters’ worlds as their lives unfold.

Nora and Jim are earthy, bawdy lovers and their relationship is described in some detail. This adds to the aliveness and intensity of the characters and I feel belongs in the book. It is possible that some will wish for less of this description though.

I recommend this historical novel for its characterizations, details and keen look at the lives of these two well known Irish lovers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

First off I was gifted the audio book from Netgalley. So I want to thank the author Nuala O'Connor and Netgalley for gifting me the audio book. I am applauding for the narrator! She did such an amazing job. Such a fascinating story. I love finding a hidden gem about actual people. Even though I have never read any of James Joyce's books the story behind him and his families life is very interesting. I highly recommend to readers who love (I am guessing this is historical fiction?) I am not sure what is true and what is not. I will say I look forward to reading more about this family.

Highly recommend this audiobook to those who enjoy historical fiction. The narrator did an excellent job expressing emotion and telling the story in a way that will keep the listener engaged in the story. I also appreciate the use of language from the time period. The book is lengthy, but worth the time spent going from cover to cover!

Nora is the wife of writer James Joyce. The book takes you into an artist’s world filled with the struggles and uncertainties of living with (and dependent upon) a spouse whose income is not guaranteed, who spends frivolously, and prefers “the drink.”

After listening to this audiobook you will find it cannot be denied that the Joyce’s enjoyed quite a passionate love affair (often described explicitly in the book) despite their persistent troubles of poverty and addiction. They really were quite devoted to one another considering the promiscuity of the community they engaged with socially. Upon starting this book I knew very little of the Joyce family and now feel compelled to read his most popular work.

This story begins in 1904, when Nora Barnacle is a cleaner at the Finn's hotel in Dublin. She meets Jim Joyce, an aspiring writer. Jim asks Nora to leave Dublin with him, but he is not willing to marry. Nora wants to marry and figures she can convince him if they go to Zurich together. James is a wanderer and Nora follows him.

James has a teaching job and writes when he can. When jobs don't work out, they move. This book brings us to Italy, France, and England. Nora is supportive of Jim. She likes the way he speaks, his language, his voice and she supports him in his writing. She is surprised that Jim is interested in her since she is an uneducated woman, but they can't seem to be apart from each other even when they are both attracted to others.

Nora advocates for herself with an independence that is surprising for the time period. She talks positively about her own sexual pleasure, about their need for money to take care of the home and eventually their two children. She is incredibly patient when it comes to Jim's drinking and staying out all night. Nora seems to understand Jim in a way that no one else could. As Jim becomes more successful with his writing, money is less of a concern, but Nora is honest about the family dynamics especially the tension between her and her daughter Lucia. Lucia's mental health and the effects on the family is a large part of the end of the book.

The book is written in brief chapters and told chronologically. The story begins with a sex scene and there are several other explicit scenes throughout the story. I believe these come from the famous love letters Nora and James sent each other that were published at one time, but are no longer in print.

This novel brings Nora and James' story to life. I think this will be one of the best historical fiction novels of 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the audio copy for an honest review. Jenn McGuirk is the narrator and she does it to perfection. Love the Irish accent!

Bookworm Rating: 🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛

Nora: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce is a fictional telling of the life of Nora Barnacle and her long-time companion, famed Irish novelist James Joyce. Through rivers of alcohol, loss of a child, poverty strained family relations, until finally wealthy patronage, fame and marriage O'Connor limbs the rich inner life of Nora, who I had been quite unfamiliar with. The language rich and wonderful, with Irish expressions and language throuout the dialogue, with descriptions of poverty and hunger that filled their early life, even as they travelled to many of the biggest cities in Europe. The cast includes many luminaries from the Lost Generation including Hemingway, Ezra Pound and future playwright Samuel Beckett.

Plus the narration by Jenn McGuirk on the audio is just captivating. Each character has a voice and the language with her Gaelic lilt is even clearer and more powerful. A grand listening experience.

Acclaimed Irish novelist Nuala O’Connor’s bold reimagining of the life of James Joyce’s wife, muse, and the model for Molly Bloom in Ulysses is a “lively and loving paean to the indomitable Nora Barnacle”

Dublin, 1904. Nora Joseph Barnacle is a twenty-year-old from Galway working as a maid at Finn’s Hotel. She enjoys the liveliness of her adopted city and on June 16—Bloomsday—her life is changed when she meets Dubliner James Joyce, a fateful encounter that turns into a lifelong love.

I just adored this book. Although this is a work of fiction, Nuala O’Connor did such a wonderful job researching and writing about Nora Joyce, that I felt like I was right beside Nora for the whole story. It’s a rare artist that can bring a story to life like that. I am excited to read more of her books and will be looking to learn more about Nora as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. Too often Irish characters are narrated by British voices. I was happy to hear a beautiful Irish voice that transported me to 1904 Dublin.


DISCLAIMER: I received this audiobook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!

Every once in a while, a book comes a long that in much better as an audiobook. This is one of them. Nora is the common law wife of James Joyce. Told in her voice, the narrator, Jenn McGuirk, has the ability to change voices for different characters and portrays Nora Joseph Barnacle’s love for Joyce even as he drinks, writes and gambles his way to literary stardom. Nora’s life was hard. She was the one picking up the pieces. Both the writing and the narration give testament to the full range of Nora’s emotions. She deserves a lot more credit for keeping Joyce moving forward as she struggled to take care of their family.