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Falling Slowly

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About this listen

 Beatrice considers herself to be delicate and sensitive, idle and confused. Forced into early retirement, she has an unashamed and romantic desire to be rescued by the ideal man. But Beatrice's only family is her orderly sister, Miriam.©1999 Anita Brookner (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction
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Eleanor Bron is superb like listening to the Author herself
Anita Brookner’s finest ever book

Wonderful analysis of loneliness

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Anita Brookner is the best British contemporary author there is. This one is very like lots of the others of her work that I’ve read, but different in many details and contemplations. Here the thoughts on mid to later age are not welcome or comfortable but are so important and central to who we are as individuals. It seems that she is able to convey simply and effectively the universality of being at the very centre of British life, being the ordinary, middle class, middle aged, middle way of a person who is so very isolated and alone.

It has been picked up by other reviewers just how terrifyingly frank Anita Brookner is in all of her work and, here again - whilst there are a couple of narrative tricks that play out - it is the accuracy and quality of the interior monologue that makes the book so enjoyable a read.

Taking a step away from life and reading this one whilst on a late half term break in Mallorca allows, inevitably, the spotlight to scan backwards toward home and the day to day certitudes that underpin life. Taken away, looked at, evaluated as a result of examination it is hard not be be damning initially, but in the narrative as in life there is redemption. A religious book? Well, maybe not but a religiosity seemed to me to be a present in this tale where I was not aware of it before in Brookner’s writing.

A turning above and beyond, I wonder? Maybe not, but who else turns the inside out with such a sure hand - relaxation comes from quiet contemplation and the conclusion that life is worth the whole. A true friend and companion who deserves to be turned to regularly.

All Souls

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A portrait of a sad and passive lady. Credible .Afraid to engage with life. Found her endless justification for inaction hard to bear. She should have had therapy.
Well read by Eleanor Bron.

Most annying heroine!

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I've loved reading so many of Anita Brookner's novels, but this was unrelentingly dour and annoying. But perhaps it was the mood I was in, or perhaps because I was listening rather than reading. I won't ever find out because I will not be revisiting this particular story.

Depressing and annoying

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