Mesmerising

Beautifully read by Jeremy Irons. A spell binding story which gripped me from beginning to end. I adored this book.

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4 people found this helpful

Jeremy Irons makes a first class narrator

Would you listen to Damage again? Why?

Yes. It's so twisted, in a good way, I'm sure ill catch even more second time around

What other book might you compare Damage to, and why?

9 1/2 weeks is the only comparison I can think of, and that is meant with respect.

What about Jeremy Irons’s performance did you like?

Absolutely everything. He has the grit, darkness and depth to carry off so many characters. I had a clear mental picture of every individual. Very spicy.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I'm not normally into romance stories but this one was so bent and twisted, it was captivating to the end. I only chose it because Irons was the narrator, but hell I'm glad I did. Smut written with class. Fantastic!

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5 people found this helpful

Damage

A compelling and interesting listen. Would definately recommend if you love an impossible love story.

The father in this family is the main character played by Irons. I suppose most would call it a mid life crisis culminating in a tragic accident that robs Irons character of all he holds dear. A compelling read.

I loved it and will revisit it in the future.



Narration, I must say is I personally loved Jeremy Irons narration and from now on will be seeking out more books narrated by him.

5*

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1 person found this helpful

Damage

Excellent book, though disturbing. Jeremy Irons voice is unique and added to the books contents.

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Second thoughts

Only after listening the second time did I hear a fuller picture. Firstly of a pathetic old man but now, not so much but yearning.

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Two words: Jeremy Irons

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A powerful love story, read brilliantly by Jeremy Irons.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Damage?

To reveal the most memorable moment in the book would reveal the most shocking thing in it, so I won't.

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

I could listen to Jeremy Irons read a telephone directory and it would give me pleasure. He doesn't just read a book, he brings it to life and he voices the characters extraordinarily well.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Already a film.

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2 people found this helpful

A riveting study of Jouissance

I wonder if Peter Schaffer's Equus formed part of the inspiration for this story. Both feature psychiatrists who themselves accept more ordinary sex/spiritual lives, and wonder whether it would not be better to experience Jouissance in the way that Alan did, while paying a price for living with such intensity. Indeed at several times in the book, Anna says "Always, forever." quoting Alan in Equus.

In any case, this is a beautifully written book, with perfect narration by Jeremy Irons. I listened to it in one continuous session, riveted by his delivery and by the story.

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Brutal

The story is superficially one of a public figure surrendering to sexual weakness and although, as the reader, one senses throughout the natural consequences of his fall, the impact is yet brutal and shocking in its unfolding. Written in short punchy chapters, the affair is well paced while remaining deliciously viseral and unapologetically raw.

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Beautiful and Disturbing

Having previously seen the film starring Jeremy Irons, Miranda Richardson, Juliette Binoche and Rupert Graves, which I'd thought was excellent, I was pleased to find the audio book was narrated by Jeremy Irons. It helped me to connect the two with the same voice, and I thought the style of narration was very good - even though I already attached Irons' voice to one character, I found his reading made it easy for me to be drawn into the different characters and absorb myself in the story. The story itself beautifully balances the everyday and the grotesque so that it is relatable enough and shocking enough to be located just far enough away from the self to feel OK, to evoke strong feelings without being too traumatising. The characters are well written so that it's possible to empathise with all of them, even if their actions may be hard to reconcile. The sex scenes are visceral without being gratuitous, and overall there's a sense with the book that it gives exactly as much detail as is needed to properly tell the story.

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Well read

I enjoyed the story, but I enjoyed the narration more really. Jeremy Irons is fantastic to listen to what ever he reads. The story was good, but its not my favourite listen overall.

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