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All That Man Is
- Narrated by: Huw Parmenter, Mark Meadows, Sean Barrett
- Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins
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Summary
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2016
An ingenious book from the exceptional Granta Best Young British Novelist
Nine men: each of them at a different stage of life, away from home, and striving - in the suburbs of Prague, in a cheap Cypriot hotel - to understand just what it means to be alive here and now.
Tracing an arc from the spring of youth to the winter of old age, All That Man Is brings these separate lives together to show us men as they are - ludicrous and inarticulate, shocking and despicable; vital, pitiable, hilarious, and full of heartfelt longing.
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- ANNABEL
- 11-10-17
Boring, predictable
When I read the summary of his book, I thought it might be interesting. It was not.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Miss S T Chapman
- 02-09-17
Dull
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
If you aren't looking for much plot or anything that moves at a pace, you may like this.
What was most disappointing about David Szalay’s story?
It was boring.
What three words best describe the narrators’s performance?
The narrator did an OK job, he just does' t have much to work with.
What character would you cut from All That Man Is?
It has left me cold. No character is a better description.
Any additional comments?
I am confused as to how it got such a high rating.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Joakim Hermansson
- 26-08-17
writing for the end
much like the main character I mostly waited for the End but was kept by the long line of promising incidents.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anders
- 14-06-17
boring, predictable and boring
Gave up after 2/3. All stories is about people having problems dealing with sex but the stories are not adding any new understanding or even interesting development. After few paragraphs you know the short-story to the end and do not get any surprise at all.
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1 person found this helpful
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- david dodson (purple triangle ltd)
- 29-05-17
The most depressing book ever
I have given up on this book after 5 chapters which is very unlike me, I will usually keep going. However this has got to be the most boring book I have ever read. It is so depressing. I felt so fed up after listening to this. All it did was focus on all the negatives of the men. The stories were boring will sadness interjected into them. The endings were as though the author just got bored.
Also the narrator didn't help I felt as his voice was very flat and level.
Maybe I am missing the point as it's an award willing book but I just found it utterly depressing and cannot recommend to anyone I am afraid.
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1 person found this helpful
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- A Person
- 29-03-17
Full of empathy
Wonderful writing full of empathy for the flawed and unglamorous protagonists and their friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Often very moving and occasionally very funny. Acutely observant of the human condition.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Christoph Fischer
- 19-02-17
Only half what man is
This is a mapping out of the stages of life, illustrated by 9 (?) parts focusing on different men of different ages. We start off with the young and careless, travelling and sexually motivated men and end up with the lonely and ill oll man who spends his time in the hospital.
I enjoyed many of the stories, found them well written and not to be faulted. Much is shrewdly observed, well put and, for this middle-aged man, fascinating as reflection and mirror.
Yet, my biggest problem with this is that it seems to focus only on the negative side. These are all anti-heroes, devoid of morals, meaning in their life and without purpose. For me it's missing some of the better parts that man is. The men here only seem happy when achieving sexual conquests or business success - even if this is hurting others.
In that the novel paints a bad picture of men and a bleak, depressing outlook, despite some fabulous writing and characterisation. It's easy to point out flaws but much harder to show how to be a better man. One or two more inspiring stories might have made a difference for me.
Having said all that, the novel definitely engaged me throughout and stayed with me for days after.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Si
- 09-02-17
Good, with reservations
The narratives are linked tenuously by theme, not by plot, and the book is essentially a compilation of individual short stories. The author writes exceptionally well, lacking pretension and with clarity, although little actually happens for the duration of the book. You get the impression that, for whatever reason, the author has presented us with some of the less interesting events of the characters' lives and whilst this approach goes some way to illustrating the overarching motif, it left me feeling cheated after each transition.
I've often thought it's a pity the review ratings don't separate narrative and literary ability, never more so than for this particular book.
Still, I did enjoy listening to such an accomplished presentation and the impressive narration together with the author's linguistic skills made it a four star for me.
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1 person found this helpful
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- joanjava
- 08-11-16
Woeful men on the edge of a nervous breakdown
Makes you realise how few books you know where guys are relentlessly flawed and frail. Each story is like stepping into a nightmare in motion. With each main character imprisoned.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Auryn Kelly
- 29-01-24
A wonderful listen
9 short stories, beautifully mundane yet provoking and intense. The three narrators provide their own distinct interpretations of the characters and stories. Would certainly recommend.
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