I Loved Him From The Day He Died cover art

I Loved Him From The Day He Died

My Father, Forgiveness and a Final Pilgrimage

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I Loved Him From The Day He Died

By: Michael Harding
Narrated by: Michael Harding
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About this listen

 A stunning new memoir from the number one bestselling, award-winning author of All the Things Left Unsaid and Staring at Lakes.

Michael Harding was twenty three when his father died; a parent who was sometimes distant and aloof, yet had a profound effect on the writer's life.

In the summer of 2023, Harding took a short holiday in Spain, walking the Camino de Santiago, during which he began to unpack the long ago trauma of losing a father he never really knew, and, in the end, finding a father he never doubted.

In this new book, he examines how the parent shapes the child, and how the child, in turn, becomes a parent in the search for that which makes us whole - love.

Praise for Michael Harding's writing:
'A beautiful book of great tenderness and wisdom' Joseph O'Connor

'I read this book in one sitting ... it held me and wouldn't let go' Mary McEvoy

'Wonderful' John Boyne

'Hilarious, and tender, and mad, and harrowing, and wistful, and always beautifully written' Kevin Barry

'Extraordinary' Deirdre Purcell©2024 Michael Harding Fatherhood Grief & Loss Parenting & Families Personal Development Relationships

Critic reviews

Harding's prose style is fluid and fluent, like running water, simultaneously airy and earthy ... unflinching, merciless honesty
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This beautiful book has held me in an incredibly interesting place. Its gentleness has a sort of sadness that feels warm, and familiar. That familiar sense of paternal love and loss is something I carry around me too.
But Michael has a sense of distance between his daddy and himself. I adore the depth of his story. I often wondered throughout the book if Michael ever invited his dad into a conversation with him in recent years? That thought still remains unanswered today as I finished the book. But I am now satisfied that his dad does indeed leave beautiful silent gifts of love and affection in many places for Michael.
Thank you Michael for bringing me into the most fascinating world of remembrance and love for my own beautiful affectionate dad.
I adore this book.

Magnificent

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loved the nostalgia and humanity of it. transported me home to the kitchen by the range

writing like poetry

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There aren’t many books that explore, so honestly, the sometimes difficult relationships with Fathers.
Thank you.

Relationships with Fathers

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I liked it all a great read as always by Michael Harding so easy to listen to and understand

The way the story was told.

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A wonderfully wrtten, sad but loving look back over the years. I would have been visiting family in Castlepollard too during this time. Michael has captured the essence of his father's and mother's life. Such a sweet read.

Beautiful, poignant read

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