Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: I’m Still Standing
- Author: Colleen Coleman
- Narrator: Claire Mckenna
- Length: 05:44:35
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 11/04/2019
- Publisher: Whole Story QUEST
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Humor
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something magical about discovering an audiobook that perfectly captures a moment in your life. For me, ‘I’m Still Standing’ by Colleen Coleman, narrated by Claire Mckenna, arrived just as I was reflecting on my own journey of reinvention after a major career shift. Much like Evelyn Dooley, the protagonist, I too have known what it’s like to have life upend your carefully laid plans.
The story unfolds like a warm conversation with an old friend in a Dublin pub – which is fitting, given the setting. Evelyn’s escape from her broken marriage and small-town gossip to reinvent herself in Dublin resonated deeply with me. It reminded me of my own leap from academia to travel writing, that terrifying yet exhilarating moment when you trade the familiar for the unknown.
Claire Mckenna’s narration is nothing short of brilliant. She captures Evelyn’s vulnerability and growing confidence with such nuance that I found myself forgetting I was listening to a performance. There’s a particular scene where Evelyn first performs at the pub – Mckenna’s delivery of those nervous, then triumphant moments gave me chills. It transported me back to my first public reading in Mexico City, my hands shaking just as Evelyn’s must have been.
What struck me most was how Coleman weaves humor into heartbreak. The disastrous board game that triggers Evelyn’s breakup? I laughed out loud while hiking through the Andes, earning curious looks from passing llamas. Yet the story never makes light of Evelyn’s pain – it simply shows how laughter can be part of healing. This balance reminds me of those Oaxacan evenings I mentioned, where joy and sorrow often shared the same stories.
The Dublin setting comes alive through both Coleman’s writing and Mckenna’s performance. As someone who’s spent months in Ireland researching travel pieces, I could practically smell the Guinness and hear the fiddle music in the pub scenes. Mckenna’s Irish accents are authentic without being caricatures – no small feat for a story so rooted in place.
If I had one critique, it’s that some plot points resolve a bit neatly. But then again, after years of documenting real-life struggles in my travel writing, perhaps I’ve become too accustomed to messy endings. There’s undeniable comfort in Coleman’s belief in second chances and new beginnings.
For audiobook lovers, the production quality is excellent – clear, well-paced, with none of the distracting mouth noises that can plague lesser productions. At just under 6 hours, it’s perfect for a long drive or a weekend of chores. Though fair warning: you might find yourself sitting in your parked car to finish just one more chapter.
Fans of Marian Keyes or Maeve Binchy will adore this, but Coleman brings her own fresh voice to Irish women’s fiction. It’s a story about finding your footing when life knocks you down, about the unexpected friendships that help us rebuild, and about having the courage to choose adventure over safety. In other words, it’s a story for anyone who’s ever had to reinvent themselves – which, if we’re honest, is all of us at some point.
As I pack my bags for my next assignment in Lisbon, I’ll be thinking about Evelyn’s journey – and all the unexpected turns that make life such a rich story. Wherever your own path takes you, I hope you’ll let ‘I’m Still Standing’ be your companion. Until next time, keep listening, keep exploring, and remember – the best stories are often the ones we live. – Marcus
Marcus Rivera
