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  • The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

  • By: Rachel Joyce
  • Narrated by: Celia Imrie
  • Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,044 ratings)
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The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy cover art

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

By: Rachel Joyce
Narrated by: Celia Imrie
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Summary

When Queenie Hennessy discovers that Harold Fry is walking the length of England to save her, and all she has to do is wait, she is shocked. Her note had explained she was dying. How can she wait? A new volunteer at the hospice suggests that Queenie should write again; only this time she must tell Harold everything. In confessing to secrets she has hidden for 20 years, she will find atonement for the past. As the volunteer points out, ‘Even though you’ve done your travelling, you’re starting a new journey, too.’

Queenie thought her first letter would be the end of the story. She was wrong. It was the beginning.Told in simple, emotionally-honest prose, with a mischievous bite, this is a novel about the journey we all must take to learn who we are; it is about loving and letting go. And most of all it is about finding joy in unexpected places and at times we least expect.

©2014 Rachel Joyce (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A joy to listen to this

I listened to The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry before listening to this story to remind me of the basis for the story, I loved that book - narrated by the fabulous Jim Broadbent, and this book read by Celia Imrie kept up the standard. It was a delight to be able to slot the incidents from Harold's journey into this book, seen from the other side. Celia Imrie did it proud, I loved the story, laughed and cried with Queenie, got cross on her behalf when she was 'taken for a ride', but loved her personality and character.
I hadn't discovered Rachel Joyce prior to my introduction to Harold Fry, and now feel that I would like to find more by this author.
This is a superb 'duet' of stories that has left me pondering and thinking about the characters long after I have pressed the 'off' button.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unforgettable story of unrequited love

This book is an unmissable companion to ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’. I recommend listening to the latter first as it sets the scene for Queenie’s revelations. The Harold book is an actual journey that changes Harold’s life and Queenie’s is a journey of the soul through confession of her feelings. Both books will remain in my mind for a long time as they are so full of human feelings that moved me greatly. The two books were my companions for over 20 hours and I feel a sense of loss that I won’t hear more about Harold and Queenie’s lives. I got the impression from the Harold book that Queenie was a quiet, unassuming person with a dull life and so was pleased to learn of her colourful past and indomitable spirit. While Harold met a sequence of new people as he trudged North, Queenie’s world in the hospice is full of memorable characters given voice with wit and skill by the narrator Celia Imrie. A hospice setting sounds grim, but it’s not as there’s much laughter and excitement as the inhabitants plan for the imminent arrival of Harold.
Without giving anything away I found the ending heart-breaking.

These two books are among the best I have ever listened to and hearing them dramatized by two outstanding narrators added to the pleasure.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • M
  • 23-10-14

Unrequited Love and Dying, another journey

I loved the unlikely pilgramage of Harold Fry so bought this book as soon as it came out. I have listened to it in just a few days. It is very different to the first book but still very good. I found it quite a harrowing read, love and dying being big subjects that Rachel Joyce does an excellent job with. I am writing this shortly after finishing the book - I have to say the book has a lovely warmth but still left me feeling a very sad.

It was really interesting to see another side to all the main characters from the first book. As Rachel Joyce says this book is neither a sequel or prequel - it runs parallel to the original book.

Celia Imrie does a fantastic job of narrating this book - so much so I will look for her other performances too.

In summary a sad but excellent book that I am glad I read - it perfectly compliments the first book and like the first book it doesnt take the path of least resistance and makes the reader reflect on some of the really big issues for us all.

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20 people found this helpful

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

The saddest and most moving book

If you could sum up The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy in three words, what would they be?

reflective, sad , warm

What did you like best about this story?

surprises, and filling in the story that Harold Fry didn't tell us

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

the voices of each and every character, I would never have made them so alive and real if I'd read it

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

yes, but if I say here it will give the story away, but I felt very very sad at the end

Any additional comments?

this was the saddest book I've ever read, I just couldn't stop reading it because I wanted it to be over, that wasn't because it was bad, it's brilliant, but it hurt so much. My husband read it at the same time I listened to it, and he felt the same. Don't try to read this if you're feeling low, but it's a wonderful story

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvelous and moving experience

A great book made into an amazing audiobook. Easily my most widely recommended book series.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • MH
  • 06-12-15

Wonderful

I loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book just as much without having read the other one first. As Rachel Joyce herself says, the two books are meant as companions, not as a first and a sequel. The Love Song... is written in the same beautiful, descriptive language and with the same quiet yet poignant observations about life and the people in it as The Unlikely Pilgrimage is. It is moving, sad, thought provoking, captivating and beautiful. The narration is wonderful as well.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An easy listen

A very enjoyable easy listening book. A joy to listen to following the pilgrimage of Harold Fry .

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

Any additional comments?

Will return to 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' before listening to this again - will make it even more poignant.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

How lovely

What a great story. So wonderful to hear Queenie's story.
I enjoyed it as much if not more than Harold's!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful companion to Harold Frys' story

A moving tale that gives life to Queenie's side of the story between Harold and herself.
Thoroughly enjoyable if ultimately sad experience that is wonderfully narrated by Celia.

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2 people found this helpful