Leonard And Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession is one of those engaging, gentle stories that envelop you like a warm hug. You can't help but be drawn in by the charm of the characters and the all-pervading sense of "niceness".
Both Leonard and Hungry Paul have always lived at home. Leonard was brought up by his mother and is now coming to terms with her recent death. He's a quiet and unassuming young man, content with his life, never wanting to be the centre of attention. Hungry Paul, Leonard's best friend, is "different" and his parents have always been protective of him. He's one of those people who is a little naive, open and trusting of others.
A chance encounter at work opens Leonard's eyes to the possibility of romance, although being new to dating he does discover there are some pitfalls. He also takes a look at his career options, realising that he is more than capable of writing a book himself, rather than just doing all the research and ghostwriting for someone else.
With Hungry Paul it's entering a competition that opens doors. Hungry Paul is more than happy with the status quo, it's the rest of his family that wants things to change, particularly his sister, Grace. Grace is worried that Hungry Paul is becoming a burden upon their aging parents and worries about how he will cope when they are no longer around.
The audiobook is narrated by John Hopkins, whose tone, pace and pitch are perfect. He is able to narrate each separate character so you know exactly who is speaking without resorting to silly voices. The narration matches the story line to perfection, I could have listened all day.
This isn't a story of cataclysmic change, it's about the ordinariness of life. However, there's nothing wrong with being ordinary if you focus on what you are good at and treat everyone with kindness.
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