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So many Lives and All of them are Yours
£6.99
A sharp, funny and unexpectedly tender novel about reinvention, regret, late‑life love and the messy business of trying to start over.
From the author of the award‑winning The Sound of My Voice, this is a compassionate, darkly humorous story about music, midlife crisis and the courage it takes to change your life before it’s too late.
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About the Ebook
So Many Lives and All of Them Are Yours follows Morris Magellan, a man who has finally snapped. After being fired from his corporate job, he sells everything — the house, the car, the comfortable life — determined to pursue the one thing that ever truly mattered to him: music.
He retreats to his childhood home in the Borders, hoping to escape the noise of the city, confront old ghosts and compose the masterpiece he believes is still inside him. But solitude brings its own dangers. His past begins to close in. The future feels increasingly unstable. And the bad habits he thought he’d left behind return with alarming force.
Then he meets Jess — and everything shifts.
Set between the Borders, 1960s London and present‑day Edinburgh, this is a novel about second chances, creative obsession, late‑life romance and the urgent question of how to make the most of the time we have left. Written with humour, compassion and emotional clarity, it’s a warm, wise and quietly devastating story.
Critical Praise
"A funny, humane and beautifully observed novel about music, memory and the messy art of starting again."
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- A witty, emotionally rich character study from a celebrated Scottish novelist.
- Explores creativity, regret and reinvention with warmth and honesty.
- Perfect for readers who enjoy humour with heart and fiction about late‑life love.
- Evocative settings across the Borders, 1960s London and modern Edinburgh.
- A standout Polygon title blending humour, melancholy and hope.
About the Author
Ron Butlin (author of The Sound of My Voice) is one of Scotland’s most acclaimed contemporary writers, known for his sharp wit, emotional insight and distinctive narrative voice. His work spans novels, poetry, short stories and libretti, and has won numerous awards and international recognition.
Publication Details
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Imprint: Polygon
Publication Date: 7 September 2023
Print Length: 192 pages
ISBN (Ebook): 9781788855822
Format: Ebook
Language: English
Categories: Fiction / Humour
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