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Caledonian Road
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
10 posts | 7 read | 3 reading | 17 to read
From the author of Mayflies, an irresistible, unputdownable, state-of-the-nation novelthe story of one mans epic fall from grace. Campbell Flynn, art historian and biographer of Vermeer, always knew that when his life came crashing down, it would happen in public?yet he never imagined that a single year in London would expose so much. Entangled with a brilliant student, he begins to see trouble brewing for his family and friends. All his worlds collide?the art scene and academia, fashion and the English aristocracy, journalism and the internet?as dangerous forces enter his life and Caledonian Road gives up its secrets. Andrew OHagan has written a social novel in the Victorian style, drawing a whole cast of characters into company with each other and revealing the inner energies of the way we live now.
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TheKidUpstairs
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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"Tall and sharp at fifty-two, Campbell Flynn was a tinderbox in a Savile Row suit, a man who believed his childhood was so far behind him that all its threats had vanished."

Happily kicking off the new year with this #AuldLangSpine chunkster (although you're right @CarolynM it doesn't read like a big book, I've whipped through the first 90 or so pages already)

@monalyisha

CarolynM 😊 3d
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CarolynM
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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#Top24of24

It wasn‘t a great reading year for me, but at least it was better than 2023. The 2 top rows are my highest rated, the 3 at the bottom right the best of my romance reading.

LeeRHarry Some good ones there - happy Rare Singles made it on the list. 😊 HNY 🥳 - Hope you‘re enjoying a lovely sunny NYD! 😊 4d
Ruthiella Kate Atkinson would make my top list too! 4d
Centique Wow i have not read any of these! This is going to be a great list of new discoveries for me 😍 4d
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sarahbarnes I want to read that Atkinson and I have a copy of that Lively on my shelf! 4d
BarbaraBB Lots of inspiration and I see another O‘Hagan as well! 4d
LeahBergen I like that my very first Heyer made it to your list 😆 4d
Cathythoughts These look good 👍🏻❤️ 4d
60 likes7 comments
blurb
TheKidUpstairs
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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All set for the New Year!

Liberty Scarf is for my IRL Book Club, one of the authors will be joining us at the end of the month (my first time as host with an author present 🤞)

The others are from @CarolynM #AuldLangSpine list. I'll be starting with the tagged (didn't realize how chunky it is! Read the first couple lines, it's engaging and intriguing right off the bat.)

Loaded onto the Kobo are two more from Carolyn: One Another and Rapture.

monalyisha Omg! I added Caledonian Road to my TBR, too, after seeing Carolyn‘s list. I‘m also surprised at its size! 4d
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha which were the books you were most excited to add to your tbr after seeing everyone's lists? 4d
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monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Good question! I love having so many recs at my disposal…but also, no *direct* recs (it somehow feels more free that way 😅). I think I‘m most excited about a hearty handful of nonfic titles. I want to remember who they came from before tagging them, though, so…please hold. Incoming! (I was also really amped to read Margo, which I‘ve already done — and which you know didn‘t disappoint.) 4d
monalyisha I asked for, and received, this book from @Mitch‘s list for Christmas. 4d
monalyisha There‘s a memoir from @Chelsea.Poole, of course. 4d
monalyisha @kspenmoll & @BarbaraJean both had this one on their list. I don‘t have any readers in my personal life who‘d read religious nonfic (especially the kind of stuff I like, which blends the secular and the spiritual), so this was particularly welcome. 4d
monalyisha For fiction, I added this one from @JacqMac. 4d
monalyisha And there are a bunch of fiction (and nonfiction) titles from my match ( @Christine ) that I‘m excited for, of course. Most notably… (edited) 4d
monalyisha And finally, Miller‘s new novel, which I somehow totally missed (and I *loved* The Change, so I‘m amped)! This was on @Librarybelle‘s list, too. (edited) 4d
monalyisha I lied. One more from @Christine. 4d
monalyisha I forgot that I convinced my book club to add one to our list for 2025 that came to me from @shortsarahrose ! 4d
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha I tagged Wildlife Congregations and Rag and Bone as soon as I saw people's lists, both sound great. I (not surprising) agree with @Chelsea.Poole that How to Say Babylon is a great read - beautiful and fierce. I'm listening to Rebel Girl now - highly recommend going audio, she's an excellent storyteller 4d
monalyisha It just feels natural to lean towards an audiobook for a musician! 4d
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha women and other monsters sounds SOOOO up my alley. Looks like I already had it tagged, thanks for the reminder to move it up my list! 4d
CarolynM Caledonian Road is quite long, but it‘s very readable. I made my IRL book group read it & many of them are allergic to long books, but they all said it was easy to read. Hope you find that too. @monalyisha 4d
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha she created a really great Spotify list to go along with it, with all the songs mentioned in the book. It makes a great listening companion! 4d
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Ooo…good tip! Thanks. 4d
monalyisha @CarolynM If they flow, the length doesn‘t matter so much. 🩵 4d
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha oh, and I've totally got Night Swimmers paperback on pre-order. I have a totally weakness for Irish lit. 4d
Singout @monalyisha My IRL group‘s book this month is 4d
BarbaraJean Oooh, I hope you enjoy Altar in the World! 9h
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blurb
CarolynM
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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#12BooksOf2024 May

I read some great books in May, including my top 2 reads of the year. Caledonian Road was the best, Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko was runner up. Andrew O‘Hagan was also my highlight of this year‘s Melbourne Writers‘ Festival.

LeahBergen Well, I guess I have to stack this! 😄 7d
Maria_Pulver Sounds intriguing - adding to TBR 🙏 7d
TrishB On my tbr! 7d
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Cathythoughts I think I might have this on kindle. I‘ll get it if not 👍🏻 7d
mjtwo I still need to read Caledonian Road but loved Edenglassie 7d
BarbaraBB I bought this based on your review but haven‘t read it yet! 7d
Andrew65 Looks good. 7d
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blurb
TheKidUpstairs
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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@CarolynM what a great #AuldLangSpine list! The only one I've read is Clear, and I loved it so that's always a great sign. Caledonian Rd, Death at the Sign of the Rook, and Driver's Seat are all available through the library, so I've got my holds placed and will start there. Edenglassie sounds right up my alley, and it is released here on Jan 2, which seems like a sign. And I'll have to see what else I can get my hands on!

@monalyisha

TheKidUpstairs Girl in a Pink Dress and Rare Singles both sound especially good, but neither are available here so I'll have to keep my eye out for future release (or possibly do a Blackwell's order if they're there and I'm feeling impatient 🤣) 1mo
squirrelbrain I‘ve had Edenglassie bookmarked on Everand for ages, as so many Aus Littens have loved it! I also have a digital ARC of Rare Singles - just haven‘t got to it yet. 🤷‍♀️ It‘s a great list! (edited) 1mo
monalyisha Added Edenglassie to my TBR *immediately* after researching @CarolynM‘s list! Girl in a Pink dress made an appearance on more than one list, and Rare Singles was one I definitely imagined you might like! 1mo
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monalyisha Not to be an enabler. 😉 (I‘m always an enabler when it comes to shopping. Don‘t trust me! 😅) 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha I always appreciate a little bookish enabling 😉 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha and you're right, Rare Singles is totally my type of book: maternal angst, unlikely friendships, and soul music 🎯 1mo
MeganAnn This is the first list I‘ve seen where I don‘t think I‘m familiar with a single title on it. 🧐 Wild! I very much look forward to seeing your reviews in January. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole These look perfect for you! I look forward to your reviews 😊 1mo
BarbaraBB Great choices for you! I remember @CarolynM ‘s review of Caledonian Road, it made me want to read the book immediately! And I loved 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @MeganAnn most were totally new to me, too! I love it 😁 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB I've never read any Spark, so I'm glad to have the motivation to pick one up! 1mo
CarolynM If you can‘t get the Australian titles I would be very happy to send them to you. Just let me know🙂 4w
TheKidUpstairs @CarolynM that's so kind of you! It seems like the only one that I can't find to borrow or buy is Girl in a Pink Dress, which I would love to read. You may run into a similar problem with some of the CanLit on my list (there's a few indie press titles in there), I'd be happy to send something out to you as well! 4w
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review
MrsMalaprop
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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Pickpick

Oomph! That packed a punch 🤛. I think the epigraph says it all.

“After a certain distance every step we take in life we find the ice growing thinner below our feet, and all around us and behind us we see our contemporaries going through.” Robert Louis Stevenson

Reminiscent of Bonfire of the Vanities. Epic read 👏.

BarbaraBB Wow that review makes me want to read it immediately! 3mo
CarolynM I‘m a little bit in love with Andrew O‘Hagan. I think this is a great book. You should definitely read it @BarbaraBB 3mo
BarbaraBB @CarolynM I definitely will now you say so too! 3mo
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review
AnneCecilie
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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Pickpick

Dinners and charities, the authors and Dukes seem to be living the life along with the MPs working for the country, but if you lift your eyes and look behind all the glitter you‘ll see something different. People involved in money laundering, illegal immigration, modern slavery and the distribution of drugs. How will the important people react when all eyes are on them because they have been found out?

CarolynM Great review! It‘s such a good book. 5mo
The_Book_Ninja Interesting. Cally Road is where my mum and dad grew up. Didn‘t know there‘s a book set there. It‘s hardly the most romantic road in London 5mo
charl08 Just reading his now because of a work bookgroup, and thinking I want to add his whole backlist to my wishlist! 5mo
55 likes3 comments
review
CarolynM
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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Pickpick

A sprawling saga of modern London that exposes the web of relationships at the intersection of aristocracy, politics, celebrity & business that facilitate & cover up corruption, abuse & bigotry. Meanwhile, for many outside that sphere, their social & family connections are more likely to endanger than empower them. There‘s a lot to think about, a lot to Spark anger at the inequality & injustice, but it‘s also frequently funny. I loved it.

squirrelbrain Great review! I just got this from the (digital) library and I‘m really looking forward to it. 8mo
LeeRHarry Fab review! 😊 8mo
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ stacked. 8mo
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BarbaraBB This is one I have been eyeing! 8mo
CarolynM @squirrelbrain @LeeRHarry @Cathythoughts Thank you! I am going to his sessions at the Melbourne Writers Festival on the weekend and I‘m looking forward to it even more now. 8mo
CarolynM @BarbaraBB I think it‘s really good. 8mo
LeeRHarry @CarolynM I‘m going to a couple of sessions tomorrow. 😊 8mo
CarolynM @LeeRHarry I‘m going to Melissa Lucashenko tomorrow. I‘ve got to try to finish Edenglassie this afternoon. 8mo
LeeRHarry @CarolynM I would have liked to have seen her but haven‘t read the copy of Edenglassie you sent me 🫣 I‘m seeing Charlotte Wood and Lauren Groff and then Alexis Wright. (edited) 8mo
CarolynM @LeeRHarry They all should be interesting. We‘ll have to swap notes here after the sessions😀 8mo
CarolynM @LeeRHarry Andrew O‘Hagan‘s sessions were fabulous. The one with Richard Fidler was recorded for his Conversations podcast if you‘re interested. 8mo
LeeRHarry @CarolynM thanks 😊 I saw Alexis Wright speak yesterday and she was great too. I forget how much I enjoy going to author events. 8mo
Rissreads I‘m so jealous of your writers festival. I might have to try get over there next year for it. 8mo
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blurb
CarolynM
Caledonian Road: A Novel | Andrew O'Hagan
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Here are my suggestions for #CampLitsy24

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Chelsea.Poole I nearly added Worry to my list…great selections ☺️ 9mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I love Tommy Orange, so glad to see him come up, this one is definitely on my TBR. 9mo
squirrelbrain I considered nominating both the Tommy Orange and Caledonian Road - great choices! 9mo
BarbaraBB I‘d love to read O‘Hagan and Organhe and I am super intrigued by the cover of 9mo
Megabooks Worry sounds really good, and it wasn't on my radar at all! Great nominees! 9mo
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