Very enjoyable but long

Very enjoyable but long. Beautifully written and the narrator has a lovely voice which suits the story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

Just beautiful

If you could sum up The Danish Girl in three words, what would they be?

Evocative. Hopeful. Relevant.
Even though this asks for three words, I have to write at least 15 in the box, so I'll tell you why!
The writing is beautifully evocative - the imagery was wonderful, capturing Greta's days in sunny California and Einar's childhood on a Danish bog.
Although it's very sad in places, it's an uplifting book, full of hope. It shows the best parts of human relationships, even when they're hard and unusual and strained.
Although the story is almost 100 years old, it's still just as relevant today - even this week a celebrity has apologised for their insensitive tweet about Caitlyn Jenner.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Danish Girl?

All the kites, signalling change about to come.

What about Joe Jameson’s performance did you like?

I cannot overstate how good his performance was. He shifted between characters' voices easily, bringing the story to life, and was really pleasant to listen to - quiet and thoughtful, and well-suited to the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I found it easy to pick up from where I'd left off after a day or two's break, and listening in chunks made it last a couple of weeks which feels like more of a treat (to me) than bingeing it all in one go.

Any additional comments?

I know the book fictionalised many of the characters, whereas the film followed the true story more closely. I think because I loved the book so much, I'm probably not going to want to watch the film.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent narration, loved the story.

Narrator does a fantastic job, really need to see the film now! Highly recommend this audio book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Love and Understanding

This story started off very innocently at first and a little slow about a married couple Greta and Einar who are artists until one day everything changed. Greta asks Einar to dress up in women’s clothes for a painting session. Einar reluctantly agrees and over time he takes on a new persona as Lili. So hard to explain without spoiling things but they both go on a journey Einar as Lili Greta as the wife who knows she will eventually have to give Lili up and allow her to be who she needs to be. With the help of surgery etc the process starts to become a reality.

There are clues that come to light that explain how Einar becomes Lili and maybe always was deep down. Greta is strong and protective over Lili but she eventually realises Einar is no more.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very disappointing ending

Loved the story all the way through to last five minutes. Needs better ending. Very good performance though for an audio book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Beautiful and sad

If you could sum up The Danish Girl in three words, what would they be?

Beautiful,sad

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Danish Girl?

The ending

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The very last scene. Left me in tears

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but did not have the time to.

Any additional comments?

Need to see the film now

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Difficult book to listen to.

I had seen the film and had to listen to the book itself. The tragic story of Lily and her troubled life sometimes brought me to tears. Next up, reading real Lily's diary.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

"Nature's geatest mishap corrected at last"

In the 1920s Copenhagen at the beginning of this story, Danish artist Einar Wegener has been married to fellow American artist Gerta for six years. By the end of the story, Einar is 'dead' and in his place is Lili Elbe, 'Nature's greatest mishap corrected at last' as she calls herself. This much is true and is the basis of the major motion picture about to be released. The re-issued book and the download have been issued to coincide with the film.
Listening to it, I wondered whether the author David Ebershoff wrote the book with the big motion picture in his head. The short sentences, plentiful dialogue and simple but deftly chosen words create brilliant and highly charged scene after scene in the listener's imagination, whether it's of Greta's paintings, land and waterscape, the designs and texture of clothing, or of anguished dialogue.
One of the author's skills is knowing when to stop. There is plenty of detail and depth of emotion, but never too much, which goes for the pain of the rejection suffered by Gerta as well as for the details and agonies of Lili's operations. Einar's journey from male artist to Lili venturing out in her pretty dresses is tracked in all its complexities, anguish and finally post operative agonies with great empathy and insight. Einar had been a frail, slender man and when Lili first emerged, a battle was played out in his head between the two people. Doctors who diagnosed him as schizophrenic or offered a lobotomy were no help until the Dresden clinic offered him pioneering surgery.
As poignant as Lili's sufferings are, those of Greta, who supported and encouraged the Danish Girl who had been her husband whilst sustaining her own successful career as an artist, are equally intense. Heart-warming is the love of Hans for both Lili and Greta. Hans had been close boyhood friends with Einar and he stayed faithful to Einar, Lili and Greta. The kindly, gentle mood of the whole book is epitomised in Hans's words when he finally realises exactly what is happening to the little boy he knew so well, "How can I blame him for who he is?"
Lili finally finds love with Henrik but before they marry, she accepts the Dresden surgeon's offer of implanting a uterus into her in the hopes that she can bear a child. The surgeon has over-reached himself and Lili's 48 year-old weakened body rejects it. The author avoids the real-life conclusion and also any whisper of condemnation or judgement.
The narrator, British actor Jo Jameson, makes a very good job of reinforcing the book's filmic qualities with his gentle unobtrusive reading which lets the scenes unfold. He creates a range of convincing voices for all the dialogue. He had a problem with Einar/Lili and I found his solution rather wan and feeble.
Highly recommended - and an essential listen before seeing the film.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

Sensitively read and presented.

Where does The Danish Girl rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right up there

What does Joe Jameson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A versatile and sensitive narrator. Who helped me really delve into the characters

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was a very emotionally charged book

Any additional comments?

Just excellent

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Gorgeous

A sensitive portrayal of the confusion and frustration experienced during transition. Not only for the person who is transitioning but those around then.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful