THE PILGRIMAGE

Pretty tame by modern standards, John Broderick's first novel was so scandalous when it first appeared in 1961 that it was banned in Ireland for its claim that respectable Irish people were having sex--some of it homosexual. In Patrick Moy's strong narration, the audiobook is more about human identity than sex, and the story is full of people who are troubled about who and what they are. Moy uses a range of voices and tones and paces, consistently making it clear who is speaking. Moreover, the performance continually deepens our understanding of the characters. The end of the audiobook is somewhat surprising and abrupt--but at the same time oddly satisfying. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2025]