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The Colour cover art

The Colour

By: Rose Tremain
Narrated by: Eleanor Bron
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Summary

Shortlisted for the Orange prize for Fiction, 2004.

Joseph and Harriet Blackstone emigrate from Norfolk to New Zealand in search of new beginnings and prosperity. But the harsh land near Christchurch where they settle threatens to destroy them almost before they begin. When Joseph finds gold in the creek he is seized by a rapturous obsession with the voluptuous riches awaiting him deep in the earth. Abandoning his farm and family, he sets off alone for the new gold-fields over the Southern Alps, a moral wilderness where many others, under the seductive dreams of "the colour", are violently rushing to their destinies. By turns both moving and terrifying, it is a story of the quest for the impossible, an attempt to mine the complexities of love and in the process discover the sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of happiness.

©2003 Rose Tremain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The sense of period is forcefully conveyed....Her new level of ambition makes it perhaps the author's most important book yet." (Amazon.co.uk)

What listeners say about The Colour

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautiful writing and reading, but melancholy

Tremain really is a lovely writer - clear, intelligent, interesting people and places. I completely recommend this. However, slight health warning, it is really tinged with sadness throughout. Depending what state of mind you are in at the time of reading, the effect of listening for a while can be a bit much I found. One for when you are feeling strong and wanting to be provoked into thinking!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Gold is not the colour - discuss

The Colour: narrative on the human condition, the pursuit of happiness or running away from it all? You choose. For me it's all three rearing their somewhat dark heads through the lead character - Joseph Blackstone. The colour of the narrative, and the exceptional delivery and characterisation by the narrator, is what sets this audiobook apart - the reason I've given it 4 stars. However, I was left sad and pensive without really knowing why. Maybe I should join a book club and analyse it!

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written and narrated.

I loved this book but audible short sort out the editing. The chapters do not relate to the chapters of the book which can make navigation difficult sometimes. The audible announcement immediately after the last word at the end was horrible.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely narration

I really enjoy reading or listening to Rose Tremain's novels- there's a real depth to the characters (whether you like them or not) which makes them seem very 3 dimensional and believable. The narration was beautifully done - serene and yet passionate when it counts. I've never read about gold panning before or very much set in New Zealand so both elements made it an absorbing read/listen.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story, beautifully read but what a shame Audible couldn't be bothered to edit it properly

The whole experience of listening to this book is marred by the absence of any editing

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, beautifully read but Audible editing poor

A wonderful evocative and human story set in the context of the New Zealand gold rush. The story itself and the reading of it are both wonderful but the editing in the transcription from the CDs it has been taken from is ham fisted at best and shamefully spoils the ending

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amateurish editing

This is a compelling story beautifully read by Eleanor Bron. However the quality of the editing was atrocious and definitely detracted from the narration. Frequently had to “rewind” to listen again as it interrupted the narrator and the flow of the story.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good story but ruined by the editing

I enjoyed the story but I would recommend buying the book, as it's clear that the narration has been stripped from an original CD recording and edited together poorly, which is quite jarring when you're trying to get lost in the descriptions. Buy the book instead!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

what a dirge, badly edited too

When I got to chapter 12 I realized why the editing was so poor when a voice suddenly boomed "DISK TWELVE". There are no gaps between some chapters, not even a breath!! the editing is terrible!
I usually love Rose Tremain but this was slow and miserable.
It was read with no warmth.
Even Rose Tremain fans should save their credits rather than get this!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

NZ gold rush

I had read this when it was first published and wanted to revisit it having just read the Luminaries and had my interest in the gold rush renewed. Rose Tremain does not disappoint with the fascinating story of British settlers arriving in New Zealand to start a new life and then getting drawn into the gold rush, with all its hardships. Beautifully read by Eleanor Bron whose voice I could listen to for hours.

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1 person found this helpful