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A Change of Climate cover art

A Change of Climate

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Sandra Duncan
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Summary

Ralph and Anna Eldred live in the big Red House in Norfolk, raising their four children and devoting their lives to charity. But the constant flood of 'good souls and sad cases' welcomed into their home hides the growing crises in their own family. From the violent townships of South Africa to the windswept countryside of Norfolk, this is an epic yet subtle family saga about what happens when trust is broken...

©1994 Hilary Mantel (P)2011 W F Howes Ltd

What listeners say about A Change of Climate

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    265
  • 4 Stars
    149
  • 3 Stars
    79
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A haunting tale acutely observed

After thoroughly enjoying both "Wolf Hall" and "Bring up the Bodies" I was impatient for the publication of the promised sequel. In the meantime, I thought I would try Hilary Mantel's other works and started with "A Change in Climate".



I was not disappointed at all. This novel is as acutely observed as both of her prize winners. Mantel has captured an era and locations exquisitely. This haunting tale unfolds slowly and perfectly as does her insight into her characters and their development. They live on with me and I find myself wondering how they are getting on (daft I know, but this phenomenon often marks the quality of fictional characters who have really lived for me whilst I was reading or, in this case, listening).



I'm looking forward to meeting and gradually getting to know more people in other Hilary Mantel novels.

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89 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A change of climate

When you read the synopsis of this book, you think "Oh we'll, i'll give it a try!

It turns out as a stunning read so well written by Hilary Mantel and you find that although the synopsis is accurate, it is also simplified. The story comes to a very unexpected end. Read it, it is so good!

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54 people found this helpful

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

Powerful tragedy by a world class author.

Hilary Mantel's ability to bring characters to life is supreme. Unfolding the tragedies of human existence in a powerful way, this novel spans the awfulness of the years of early apartheid in South Africa, and returns from the vastness of the veld to parochial Norfolk. The people, the countryside, the tussle between love, betrayal, hope and loss are brilliantly explored in a novel I found hard to put down. An unforgettable tale, beautifully narrated and a fitting reading of the work of such a talented author.

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23 people found this helpful

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

Takes a While

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was OK.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The African parts when the book finally got to it.

How could the performance have been better?

Less mouth noises in the recording.

Could you see A Change of Climate being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No.

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23 people found this helpful

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

Very slow

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The pace of the first half of the book was so slow that I got bored and broke off listening to it but kept returning as I felt the story could eventually start and be a good book. It could be condensed into half to make it more gripping.

What other book might you compare A Change of Climate to, and why?

No idea on this

Which character – as performed by Sandra Duncan – was your favourite?

None, they all seemed rather lifeless

Was A Change of Climate worth the listening time?

No

Any additional comments?

I tried several times to listen to this book but it was so slow and the characters had no real appeal that 3/4 of the way through the first half of the book I gave up completely.

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15 people found this helpful

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

A change of climate

A wonderful book, not comfortable listening but utterly gripping. The narration was perfect, every character vivid.

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13 people found this helpful

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

Needing concentration!

I found it difficult to get into this book for most of the first part. Every time I thought I had the characters worked out I would come back to it after a break and then wonder again what or who it was talking about! I really had to concentrate on every detail!
However, I am glad I stayed with it because when I got the hang of the flash-backs to Africa from Norfolk and the various family characters of two generations fell into place it was an extremely good story of family secrets and the change these made on the characters as they develop their lives and get older.
No happy endings and conclusion a little open-ended but personally I would rather have that kind of reality!

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13 people found this helpful

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

Addictive!

Excellent.
Narrator superb.
Talking books on my iPhone has add a whole new dimension to my life and really improved my sleep pattern. Thank you.

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10 people found this helpful

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

Er...brilliantly written, but did i want to know ?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, couldnt put it down, yet so frustrating that even the breakout didnt make up for it

If you’ve listened to books by Hilary Mantel before, how does this one compare?

How did she get from this to the joyous Cromwell

What didn’t you like about Sandra Duncan’s performance?

Didnt like the male voice, clipped and gratey may have reflected the story, but enough already!

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Depends on the actors

Any additional comments?

Worth reading but ... Dont know, feel worthy that i got to the end but so well written.

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9 people found this helpful

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

Not Mantel's best!

What did you like best about A Change of Climate? What did you like least?

'A Change Of Climate' is a family saga that challenges the reader to think about faith or a lack of it without prejudice. Mantel encourages questions about God and human relationships, about faith, fear of rejection, being 'good', suffering and guilt. She especially prompts us to think about how our actions have consequences. I didn't like the parts where Mantel becomes overly descriptive and slows the story to a point where I would find my mind wandering!

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have explored more fully the reasons and consequences of Ralph's affair.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Some of the accents were a little weak.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Yes.

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8 people found this helpful