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  • I Looked Away

  • By: Jane Corry
  • Narrated by: Rachel Bavidge
  • Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (102 ratings)
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I Looked Away cover art

I Looked Away

By: Jane Corry
Narrated by: Rachel Bavidge
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Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of I Looked Away, by Jane Corry, read by Rachel Bavidge.

Every Monday Ellie looks after her four-year-old grandson Josh. The love she feels for him is different to anything she's experienced before. The only thing that can mar her happiness is her husband's affair. But he swore it was over, and Ellie has decided to be thankful for what she's got.   

Then one day, while she's looking after Josh, her husband gets a call from that woman. And in a moment of pure rage, Ellie takes her eyes off her grandson.   

The accident that happens will change Ellie's life forever.   

Not least when the police discover that her younger brother died in suspicious circumstances 35 years ago.

©2018 Jane Corry (P)2018 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about I Looked Away

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

Well written, but heavy

To start this on a totally honest note, this isn't a book I will read again. However, I finished it in one day, as I had to know what'd happened. It certainly wasn't what I expected when I started reading it. I reviewed a book only today which I enjoyed because there was hardly any background before it started. This one has a lot of background which at some points I thought was too much, but I suppose when you understand the whole thing, the large amount almost makes sense. It tackles some intense issues, which not so long ago society would've avoided, which I think is a good thing they're out there now, and people know more about them. As a story, I'll warn you now. It's not the kind of book you can read while relaxing, so to speak. It's the type where you need to concentrate, or you can easily get lost. I did, anyway. It can be tricky to keep track of otherwise. But fair play to Jane for telling us about her own experience, in her own voice, at the end of the book, and reasons why she wrote it, research, etc. So while it was one I won't read again myself, it's well written, and researched and I respect Jane for her empathy in researching and writing it as she did. It's certainly one which for me at least, made me go "wo," that was intense. It makes you think, that's for sure. Some heavy subject matter, but as Jane implies, sadly for some people, it's life. So my summary would be on this one, read it if you want a powerful, impacting Psychological Thriller, but it's heavy. For what it's worth, I had every sympathy for Ellie throughout, especially at the trial. On a totally unrelated note, I live in Bristol, and a lot of the places she mentions here, I know of, what they're like etc. Put it this way. Don't read it if you're looking for a work of pure fiction to relax with in my opinion. But well done Jane for getting it out there, issues which need to be heard, and our society to know more about.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Different...

I listened to this book whilst preparing meals at home during Covid 19. It was excellently written and ‘came off the page’ well for listeners, being pleasingly paced and delivered with effective modulation, although I could not identify wholly with some of the voices given by the narrator to characters. Whilst the novel did nothing to lift the depression engendered by ‘lockdown’, it certainly made one count one’s blessings in having a comfortable home and food in the fridge. The terrible nature of homelessness and emotional abuse were vividly created. Ellie, around whom the book centres, was closely and sympathetically drawn. It was a highly detailed, absorbing tale – if, at times, a little confusing. If I were to read it again, I would want the warmth and freedom of a sunny day on holiday – not lockdown! Nevertheless, I was thoroughly engaged by the story and appreciated the author’s personal contribution at the end. I shall now read or listen to other Jane Corry novels.

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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

I loved it

This book tells a story that is full of love despair hope and longing. It is so well written and the story is so well read that I felt all of the emotions described. It tells a story of how abuse can last a life time and effect every part of your life forever. A book I would recommend to anybody

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2 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

Gripping and thought provoking.

A book which it is impossible not to be gripped by. So compelling and thought provoking. I now wonder about the stories which so many homeless people may have to tell. I so hope that some may be able to turn their lives around. Let us do what we can.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Need to Concentrate a little

This is about the life of Ellie Halls, (who has mental issues), starting from her childhood, right up to aged 49 and a grandmother, finding herself on trial for murder .

Alongside that story, we hear about Jo, about the same age, a homeless Big Issue seller on the streets of Bristol. We somehow suspect these stories are related but don't find out exactly how until near the end.

The listener needs to concentrate because the story is delivered in a disjointed way, like lots of little jigsaw pieces that we have to put together for ourselves. In some cases the author deceives us into initially putting pieces in the wrong places.

The disjointed delivery is probably intended to add mystery, intrigue and suspense, but in the case I think the author over-did it a little.

We get a piece from the author at the end of the book explaining what lead her to write a story about mental health and homelessness.

Good performance from Rachel Bavidge.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Narration was too annoying

The story interested me as I’ve got a few from this author but the narration was too annoying quite soon in.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Excellent!

This really is an excellent audiobook. It is very well written, with richly drawn characters. Unusually, the psychology is accurate. Some serious contemporary issues are thoroughly explore. It is not a light read, often intense. However, it’s very satisfying.

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1 person 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

Buckle up, this one isn't for the faint-hearted.

As a sufferer of mental and physical abuse, I've rarely read a book that defines these actions correctly. I flinched at times as memories flooded back. I wouldn't have chosen 'I Looked Away' if I had read the synopsis. Corry has you hanging by a thread as each chapter ends, flipping the tale from Jo to Ellie, leaving you wondering how this twisty story can end.

Hats off to you for taking on such heartbreaking subjects. PTSD isn't an easy subject to explain, yet Corry helps her readers understand the complexity of this condition.

I recommend this book, especially if you're in a 'book slump'. It's gripping from the get-go.

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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

Brilliant

Really enjoyed this book. It had some important issues and a fantastic story. I will definitely be buying more of the Author's work

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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

Enjoyable listen

Really enjoyed this story, and narration, just looking now for another listen by this author.

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