Disappointing

Possibly the most boring book I have ever read.
Nothing happens and none of the characters are even remotely engaging.
If I could have these hours back to listen to something else I would be most grateful.

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Masterful

Sabastian Faulks at his best. His exploration of the human mind and condition was always fascinating, this time he all too accurately exposes humanity racing towards the cliff edge and self destruction.

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Thoroughly absorbing comment on modern society

I was so intrigued by way it made you think about modern society, parenting roles, bankers, fundamentalism and the recruitment of jihadists and more,that I had to listen to it twice. Very thought provoking and interesting; you don't have to agree with what you think the author may be implying but a revue of the values we live by is always useful.

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This is a complete change from the previous books

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

Most of my friends read instead of Audio, but I would certainly recommend this one.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Week in December?

I reckon the last few chapters when one did not know if the bombs were going to be used

What about Colin Mace’s performance did you like?

It held my interest right to the end

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The diverse characters who were brought into the story in just one week

Any additional comments?

Yes it would be really good If I could download the two books I have purchased since!!

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More masterful storytelling by Mr Faulks

Any additional comments?

A very enjoyable & entertaining listen. Sebastian Faulk's technique is flawless and I was kept totally enthralled throughout. Highly recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

Chapters

Any additional comments?

I buy audible books to listen and sometimes to listen and read alongside 'real' books, With some books, I find the experience enhanced if I read along with the narrator. I like the tactile sensation of books - and I tend to keep those that I particularly enjoy.I find it quite irritating when the chapter headings and subheadings in the narration are different than those in the book. They are is this novel. Why? Don't understand? This is particularly true where the audible chapters are 60 minutes duration. Time consuming to sync ..

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Another great book from Sebastian Faulks

I cannot understand why Sebastian Faulks books get so low ratings here.
A Week in December is another brilliant listen,up there with Birdsong and Charlotte Gray.

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An enjoyable listen

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I enjoyed listening to this audiobook because the storyline was entertaining and kept me interested throughout. The story is based around different people who all come from different backgrounds, cultures, ages and all have different beliefs. I have to say that I enjoyed following the exploits of all characters, except one!

Every time it came round to listening to this one character and his life, I would completely switch off. The aforementioned character is a director of a hedge fund, and all the chapters that followed him I found to be extremely mediocre and laborious to listen to. I have no knowledge or any interest in finance or banking. But each time his chapter would come round I would find myself instantly switching off and becoming completely uninterested. I found it very detailed and involved, way too logistical for a laid back sebastian faults novel!

If it was not for this minor hiccup I would gladly have rated this audiobook 5 stars. Please don't be put off by it, I would still recommend giving it a listen: just be prepared. Conversely, this could be just a personal bug bear I have around discussing finance and banking, business etc etc. After all, ones man compost heap is another man's treasure and all that......!

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Very good

An excellent story that keeps you griped all the way through. Faulks is so observant! The narration is also good.

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Not one of the author's best books

I've read most of Sebastian Faulk's books and am impressed by his versatility across a range of genres. He has written some splendid and moving books, but "A Week in December" is not one of them. Despite an excellent reader, who helps the listener differentiate among the large number of characters, I was confused for the first few chapters as to who was whom as so many were introduced at the start of the book. The book is largely a dystopic commentary on modern urban life in Britain. There are over-long polemics about the genesis of the banking crisis and much about the rise of Islamic extremism. Through the voice of a character who is a writer and critic Faulks airs some of his criticisms of other writers, albeit disguised for those of us not in the know.
The book is made up of several stories running in parallel that hardly impinge on one another and so the expectation is that by the end some connections will be formed. My main disappointment is how the book ends.

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9 people found this helpful