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The Magdalen Girls cover art

The Magdalen Girls

Written by: V.S. Alexander
Narrated by: Alana Kerr Collins
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Publisher's Summary

Dublin, 1962. Within the gated grounds of the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Redemption lies one of the city's Magdalen Laundries. Once places of refuge, the laundries have evolved into grim workhouses. Some inmates are "fallen" women - unwed mothers, prostitutes, or petty criminals. Most are ordinary girls whose only sin lies in being too pretty, too independent, or tempting the wrong man. Among them is 16-year-old Teagan Tiernan, sent by her family when her beauty provokes a lustful revelation from a young priest.

Teagan soon befriends Nora Craven, a new arrival who thought nothing could be worse than living in a squalid tenement flat. Stripped of their freedom and dignity, the girls are given new names and denied contact with the outside world. The Mother Superior, Sister Anne, who has secrets of her own, inflicts cruel, dehumanizing punishments - but always in the name of love. Finally, Nora and Teagan find an ally in the reclusive Lea, who helps them endure - and plot an escape. But as they will discover, the outside world has dangers too, especially for young women with soiled reputations.

Told with candor, compassion, and vivid historical detail, The Magdalen Girls is a masterfully written novel of life within the era's notorious institutions - and an inspiring story of friendship, hope, and unyielding courage.

©2016 V.S. Alexander (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The Magdalen Girls

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Amazing

Very well written and read. It is highlighting a very important aspect in the history. I am in Canada this nation also witnessed residential schools. Thank you for this beautiful book.

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3 people found this helpful

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Another Revelation

Misogyny, control, slave labour is all this is. The veils of religion supported by a brainwashed society. Fortunately, the
curtains part more every day on the joke that is the Church.
All religions that expect you to abide by a set of rules or be punished are only about control. Any sequestered situation or self governing group is a recipe for abuse. It's great that stories about all these things are bravely being told

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2 people found this helpful

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History Never Kind

I enjoyed this story. Would have liked to continue to follow Tiegen. Glad these laundries no longer exist

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1 person found this helpful

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Excellent

Highly recommend! Captivating from beginning to end. Great narrator too! This was my first listen by this author. I can’t wait to “read” more.

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1 person found this helpful

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BORING

Weak story line. Slow development. Anti-climatic. Short sentences. One of the worst narrators ever.....minimal expression and all characters sound the same.

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Not worth your time

Not sure if it was the story or the narration, but it was not a good experience.

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Well said

Listening was excellent however I had to come to the end to understand that it is not a novel but true. Sad but true

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I felt such empathy for these young women.

I have researched this topic in different ways, but this book made it so real. This was such a shameful period, and the poor young women and girls who were treated so badly by the church and society are to be pitied and admired for what they went through. The author brought the girls and their stories to life for me.

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Pain and wrongfulness of false accusations

A rendering of the quiet way establishments such as this in the writings of truth. Any religion can fall by the wayside thinking they are doing Gods will, to a point of its leaders taking the place of God in judgement and punishment.
Yet to be heard are these organizations admitting they were wrong. Consequently many who have been subjected to this form of punishment carry scars the remainder of their lives.

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Well written and narrated

Well written, narrator makes the characters come to life. The accent fits perfectly. well done

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