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Michael O'Donnell

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.michael-odonnell.com

Genre

Fiction

Member Since

August 2023

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Michael O'Donnell is the author of the novels ABOVE THE FIRE and CONCERT BLACK. Apple Books named him a debut writer to watch in 2023. In a starred review, Booklist called ABOVE THE FIRE "an utterly gripping debut novel," and The National Book Review described CONCERT BLACK as a "high-powered literary chess match." He has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist, among other publications. A longtime member of the National Book Critics Circle, he practiced law for over twenty years before turning to writing. O'Donnell lives in the Chicago area with his family. ...more

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Michael O'Donnell’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 1,631 ratings · 239 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Above the Fire 3.94 avg rating — 1,588 ratings — published 2023	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Concert Black: A Novel 4.47 avg rating — 43 ratings — published 2026 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael O'Donnell is currently reading

All Will Be Well: A Memoir

by John McGahern

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Oct 01, 2026 06:37AM

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Michael O'Donnell is currently reading All Will Be Well: A Memoir by John McGahern	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 01, 2026 06:37AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of All Will Be Well by John McGahern. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — All Will Be Well by John McGahern <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael O'Donnell rated a book it was amazing Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church by Philip Shenon (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2026 12:59PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael O'Donnell rated a book really liked it Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2026 12:59PM · like
Michael O'Donnell finished reading Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2026 12:58PM · like
Michael O'Donnell rated a book it was amazing That They May Face the Rising Sun by John McGahern	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2026 12:58PM · like
Michael O'Donnell is currently reading Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 25, 2026 06:48AM · like
Michael O'Donnell is currently reading Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church by Philip Shenon (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 25, 2026 06:47AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael O'Donnell rated a book it was amazing East of Eden by John Steinbeck	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 25, 2026 06:47AM · like
Michael O'Donnell rated a book it was amazing Undergrowth by Nancy Burke	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 10, 2026 06:40AM · like
Michael O'Donnell did not finish The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 10, 2026 06:40AM · like

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Quotes by Michael O'Donnell (?)

“But hope was more elusive than innocence because it entailed choosing to believe despite knowing the reasons not to.”
― Michael O'Donnell, Above the Fire: A Novel

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“He blew a cloud of smoke up and into the beams of light that shone from above. It revealed him in profile as he held himself still, his head like the bust of an icon waiting to be cast.”
― Michael O'Donnell, Concert Black

tags: literary-fiction-authors, music-quotes-by-authors

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