Be Near Me [MP3 CD]

I am taking my time only because the other reviewer (there is only one so far), was so far off the mark, in giving
the book only three (or 3.5, as she claims in her review), that I want to remedy her review. This is a terrific
book. The writing is beautiful--not lah-dee-dah beautiful, but strong and thoughtful--and the characterizations
are splendid. I believed utterly in the conflicted priest, in his dying, snobbish, decent housekeeper, and most
of all I believed in the ghastly beast that the Scottish town became.

If you are a reader of highly literate material, I recommend this. If you like your novels more obvious,
skip it. (But you will be missing a fine book).

Andrew O'Hagan's "Be Near Me" is a work of indescribable beauty. From the opening dialogue that David Anderton (Father David) has with his mother to the final pages, a wistful thirty years later, O'Hagan elicits some of the finest characterizations and dialogue I have read.

This is a story about distance and loss. David, an Oxford student, falls in love with Conor, a young man from another college. After a certain kiss with Conor, David knows where he his headed...the priesthood. As it turns out, that's one of the few pieces of knowledge David will carry with him.

Much of the book centers around Father David's time in the Scottish town of Dalgarnock many years later, where he is not exactly welcomed by all. He meets an adolescent couple, younger than their years, befriends them, takes them on trips and becomes their confidante. After falling for Mark, the male of this duo, David is drawn into him one night and an indiscretion occurs. A trial follows and the rest is left for the reader to witness.

"Be Near Me", like the fine wine David drinks, simply gets better with each passing chapter. O'Hagan's narrative is so good that I found it hard to leave his book for even a minute. Each character evokes a certain empathy...not an easy task with multiple principals. By telling a Catholic priest's story from within, O'Hagan captures the "other side" of what we so often miss in the headlines of abuse. It is the choice of not facing one's sexuality that often draws men into the priesthood coupled with the ensuing loneliness that tortures its victims. The author presents this side with pathos and tenderness.

I highly recommend "Be Near Me" as it is a compelling work and one of the best books of the year. O'Hagan has created a masterpiece and the reader will understand the joys and sorrows of each of the individuals portrayed. It is a tour de force, full of emotion, depth and care.

Be Near Me is a searing read and paints a vivid portrait of an idealistic priest battling his inner demons. The Catholic priest in question, Oxford-educated David Anderton, finds himself heading the parish of a small town, Dalgarnock, and is met with suspicion by the townspeople. He befriends two troubled teens, Mark & Lisa & this friendship leads Anderton on a dangerous path that causes him to confront his past demons whilst struggling to deal with the consequences of his present actions.

Though the stories of sexual misdeeds in the church is not uncommon in these present times, the author succeeds in making other themes in the novel strike a more resonant chord within readers. Themes such as devotion, friendship, love, even ethics are given due consideration and the character of the priest arouses one's sympathy, despite his failings. A well-written novel that enables us to gain an insightful perspective of the central characters' lives.