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Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with one hell of a hangover, a raging headache... and a pair of horns growing from his temples. Once, Ig lived the life of the blessed. Ig had it all, and more - he had the love of Merrin Williams, a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic. Then beautiful, vivacious Merrin was gone - raped and murdered, under inexplicable circumstances - with Ig the only suspect.
Good Morning, Mr Mandela is the journey of an awkward young typist, later chosen to become the president's most loyal servant, spending most of her adult life travelling with, and caring for the man she would come to call Khulu, or 'grandfather'. Here Zelda pays tribute to Nelson Mandela as she knew him. A man who forgave and respected all, but who was also frank, teasing, and direct. Now she shares his inspiring gifts with the world.
Teenager Jacob Hunt has Asperger's syndrome. A forensic science wizard, he shows up at crime scenes and gives law enforcement officials his advice. But when his tutor is found dead, he becomes a suspect. Suddenly, his Asperger’s traits - not looking people in the eye, tics and twitches - look more like guilt in the view of police. And Jacob's mother must ask herself the hardest question in the world: is her child capable of murder?
He is Dexter Mayhew, tall, dark, and (she can't deny it) handsome. She is Emma Morley, bottled red hair, wilfully badly dressed, all principles and no action. Could this be the dawn of the rest of their lives? Or are Dex and Em living proof that - despite an unlikely beginning - men and women really can be just good friends?
I hate every wave of the ocean', the seasick Charles Darwin wrote to his family during his five-year voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle. It was this world-wide journey, however, that launched the scientists career.
Kevin Khatchadourian killed several of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a teacher, shortly before his 16th birthday. He is visited in prison by his mother, Eva, who narrates in a series of letters to her estranged husband, Franklin, the story of Kevin's upbringing. A successsful career woman, Eva is reluctant to forgo her independence and the life she shares with Franklin to become a mother.
Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with one hell of a hangover, a raging headache... and a pair of horns growing from his temples. Once, Ig lived the life of the blessed. Ig had it all, and more - he had the love of Merrin Williams, a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic. Then beautiful, vivacious Merrin was gone - raped and murdered, under inexplicable circumstances - with Ig the only suspect.
Good Morning, Mr Mandela is the journey of an awkward young typist, later chosen to become the president's most loyal servant, spending most of her adult life travelling with, and caring for the man she would come to call Khulu, or 'grandfather'. Here Zelda pays tribute to Nelson Mandela as she knew him. A man who forgave and respected all, but who was also frank, teasing, and direct. Now she shares his inspiring gifts with the world.
Teenager Jacob Hunt has Asperger's syndrome. A forensic science wizard, he shows up at crime scenes and gives law enforcement officials his advice. But when his tutor is found dead, he becomes a suspect. Suddenly, his Asperger’s traits - not looking people in the eye, tics and twitches - look more like guilt in the view of police. And Jacob's mother must ask herself the hardest question in the world: is her child capable of murder?
He is Dexter Mayhew, tall, dark, and (she can't deny it) handsome. She is Emma Morley, bottled red hair, wilfully badly dressed, all principles and no action. Could this be the dawn of the rest of their lives? Or are Dex and Em living proof that - despite an unlikely beginning - men and women really can be just good friends?
I hate every wave of the ocean', the seasick Charles Darwin wrote to his family during his five-year voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle. It was this world-wide journey, however, that launched the scientists career.
Kevin Khatchadourian killed several of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a teacher, shortly before his 16th birthday. He is visited in prison by his mother, Eva, who narrates in a series of letters to her estranged husband, Franklin, the story of Kevin's upbringing. A successsful career woman, Eva is reluctant to forgo her independence and the life she shares with Franklin to become a mother.
'Dear Mama, I am having a lovely time here. We play football every day here. The beds have no springs....' So begins the first letter that nine-year-old Roald Dahl penned to his mother, Sofie Magdalene, under the watchful eye of his boarding school headmaster. For most of his life, Roald Dahl would continue to write weekly letters to his mother, chronicling his adventures, frustrations and opinions, from the delights of childhood to the excitements of flying as a World War II fighter pilot....
Charlie meets everyone - but only once. You might meet him in a hospital, in a war zone, or at the scene of traffic accident. Then again, you might meet him at the North Pole - Charlie gets everywhere. Sometimes he is sent as a courtesy, sometimes as a warning. Either way, this is going to be the most important meeting of your life. The End of the Day is the stunning new story from Richard and Judy Book Club author Claire North: the voice behind the word-of-mouth best-seller The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August.
Penguin presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, narrated by Dominic Hoffman.
Effia and Esi: two sisters with two very different destinies. One sold into slavery, one a slave trader's wife. The consequences of their fate reverberate through the generations that follow.
From Frank Brady, who wrote one of the best-selling books on Bobby Fischer of all time and who was himself a friend of Fischer’s, comes an impressively researched biography that for the first time completely captures the remarkable arc of Bobby Fischer’s life. When Bobby Fischer passed away in January 2008, he left behind a confounding legacy. Everyone knew the basics of his life—he began as a brilliant youngster, then became the pride of American chess, then took a sharp turn, struggling with paranoia and mental illness. But nobody truly understood him.
Blessing and her brother Ezikiel adore their larger-than-life father, their glamorous mother, and their comfortable life in Lagos. But all that changes when their father leaves them for another woman: Their mother is fired from her job at the Royal Imperial Hotel - only married women can work there - and soon they have to quit their air-conditioned apartment to go and live with their grandparents in a compound in the Niger Delta. Adapting to life with a poor countryside family is a shock beyond measure.
How would you spend your birthday if you knew it would be your last? 18-year-old Leonard Peacock knows exactly what he'll do. He'll say goodbye. Not to his mum - who he calls Linda because it annoys her - who's moved out and left him to fend for himself. Nor to his former best friend, whose torments have driven him to consider committing the unthinkable. But to his four friends: a Humphrey-Bogart-obsessed neighbour, a teenage violin virtuoso, a pastor's daughter and a teacher. He wants to thank them, and say goodbye.
My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. My murderer was a man from our neighborhood. My mother liked his border flowers, and my father talked to him once about fertilizer. This is Susie Salmon. Watching from heaven, Susie sees her happy suburban family devastated by her death, isolated even from one another as they each try to cope with their terrible loss alone.
Women are standing up and #shoutingback. In a culture that's driven by social media, for the first time women are using this online space (@EverydaySexism www.everydaysexism.com) to come together, share their stories, and encourage a new generation to recognise the problems that women face. This book is a call to arms in a new wave of feminism and it proves sexism is endemic - socially, politically, and economically. But women won't stand for it.
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet unassuming, Katie is determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community. But even as Katie starts to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts her….
Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he's been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to jazz age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen a lot and now craves an ordinary life. Always changing his identity to stay alive, Tom has the perfect cover - working as a history teacher at a London comprehensive. Here he can teach the kids about wars and witch hunts as if he'd never witnessed them firsthand.
The Wasp Factory is a bizarre, imaginative, disturbing, and darkly comic look into the mind of a child psychopath - one of the most infamous of contemporary Scottish novels.
Maud is forgetful. She makes a cup of tea and doesn’t remember to drink it. She sometimes thinks her daughter Helen is a total stranger. But there’s one thing Maud is sure of: Her friend Elizabeth is missing. The note in her pocket tells her so. And no matter who tells her to stop going on about it, Maud will get to the bottom of it.
Pat Peoples knows that life doesn’t always go according to plan, but he’s determined to get his back on track. After a stint in a psychiatric hospital, Pat is staying with his parents and trying to live according to his new philosophy: get fit, be nice and always look for the silver lining.
Most importantly, Pat is determined to be reconciled with his wife Nikki. Pat’s parents just want to protect him so he can get back on his feet, but when Pat befriends the mysterious Tiffany, the secrets they’ve been keeping from him threaten to come out.
”Utterly original and a real word-of-mouth classic” (Easy Living)
”A delightful debut . . . a smart, touching, quirky read.” (Scotland on Sunday)
What made the experience of listening to The Silver Linings Playbook the most enjoyable?
I chose this book because I'd seen the film advertised. However, I hadn't seen a synopsis or looked into what the book was about. I was pleasantly surprised that it was incredibly complex and covered mental illness in such an honest and imposing way.
What did you like best about this story?
I loved the characters, especially the portrayal of Pat and Pat Snr. The issue of mental illness and how it affects those around the sufferers was stark and unapologetic.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
One part which stuck out for me was when Pat went to the beach and the situation turned sour when a seemingly innocent act is viewed through the eyes of a protective mum. The reactions of both Pat and Tiffany are moving.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I came to this having seen the film first. The film is excellent, and I am glad I saw it first because the book is *better*. The characters have a depth to them far surpassing that in the film, and the story deviates enough that most scenes do not have a film equivalent to spoil it. On the other hand, it was tough to get Jennifer Lawrence's face out of my mind while reading; but then, she made for an excellent Tiffany and there is no harm done.
I normally dislike reading the novel behind a film I loved; however, on this occasion the literature stands apart, and it is excellent.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, the narration was fantastic. I'd recommend this audiobook to a friend.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Great picture of mental health road to recovery...
Touching and vivid narrative.
Performing artist is a bit weird when doing all the different voices
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I really enjoyed the performance. The story was a bit disappointing. Would be a good read if you're into American football
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had seen the film several years ago and loved it but the book captures so much more of what they are both going through. I loved it. Thank you Matthew!
At first I found the main character a bit difficult to bond with which goes to show how well this has been written
I found myself wanting a silver lining finish as well as the story unfolded
A really good listen and I had not known it was also a film so have not seen it
Loved it! Tad repetitive at times... but the audio performance and story line make up for it!
Feel good read which portrays mental health amicably.
"The Stomach Master 6000..."
I really love the "The Silver Lining Playbook" movie, so after seeing it for a second time, I decided to listen to the audiobook. In my opinion, the movie and the book are two different stories, each very fine in its way. I found the book much more nuanced and deep then the movie, which is a rather good feel story. The novel is a kind of sad, but gives hope too.
Though I prefer audiobooks read by women, I really enjoyed Ray Porters performance. "E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!" ;)
Beautifully written and well executed by the narrator ... Would listen to it again and again - timeless.
The Silver Linings Playbook was an adorable and enjoyable surprise. Pat Peoples has just been let out of a mental institution and has one goal in life: to get back together with his wife Nikki. The only problem is that he’s got a restraining order. And he doesn’t remember why. All he knows is that he has to change in order to get her back. So he moves back in with his parents, reads all the books she loves, gets in shape, sees a therapist, and is totally oblivious to being a basket case. And then he meets a woman who is just as fucked up as he is.
Pat has absolutely no grasp of reality. But he’s got faith. Faith that there’s a silver lining, that if he works hard enough, he’ll get his happy ending. He’s charmingly naïve and utterly insane. Mix in some medication and a jazz phobia and you have a delicious cocktail of a book to be devoured sip by sip.
I’ve heard the novel described as one of those books that people who don’t usually read will also enjoy. I believe that’s true. The novel is entertaining, amusing and touching without being too light or clichéd. It’s the perfect easy read for a rainy day with no silver linings in sight. I listened to the audio narrated by Ray Porter, who did an excellent job. He read with emotion without overdoing it. And he has a nice, pleasant voice.
One of the most beautiful books about people, I felt so connected with Pat for being so real. I liked the movie but actually think they missed an opportunity to tell a new kind of love story.
Would you consider the audio edition of The Silver Linings Playbook to be better than the print version?
Yes totally, after a hard day in the office, catching up with the story an characters is something to look forward to. In fact I would sit in my car arriving home, knowing my wife was waiting for me, just to listen to a situation that I needed to hear what happened next.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Silver Linings Playbook?
Pat and Tiffany. My most favourite book of all time is Steven Kings the Stand. The characters are the reason. They stayed with me long after finishing the book. When I recommend The Stand I recall the characters like old friends. Pat, Tiffany and Cliff are in the same boat. And of course the EAGLES. Ever moment was the best.
What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The reader was good, like a movie with with an actor playing a major role and you couldn't imagine anyone else playing that part, I could not imagine anyone else reading it.
Who was the most memorable character of The Silver Linings Playbook and why?
Pat without question, Tiffany second, Cliff next followed by Nicky
Any additional comments?
You blokes out there this is not a romance book not a chick flick in audio, it is a great book that I would recommend and will recommend. Do yourself a favour give it a go. Watch the movie first if you will, however the movie, as they always are, is not as good as the book.
Oh my God, I never thought I could fall in love so much for a character and for a story. Pat Peoples is my all time favorite character in the whole world.
He's such a good, incredibly nice guy. He's trying so hard to be nice, (instead of right), and to do all the things he believes are going to lead him to his happy ending, always trying to see the silver linings...
Being mentally ill made him a lot better. One can wonder if all our concepts of being 'normal' and 'stable' are all that correct after reading The Silver Linings Playbook.
Pat Peoples, I've learned so much from you... I'm sure going to miss you, my friend!
The Audible edition is absolutely perfect. Ray Porter delivers it incredibly well, and even though I loved, absolutely loved the ending, I'm really sad it ended!
What made the experience of listening to The Silver Linings Playbook the most enjoyable?
Imaging the main character as Bradley Cooper was a delight through the whole story.
What did you like best about this story?
The ending. It all comes together and the journey you've taken with the characters makes what seemed to be a slow story all make sense.
Any additional comments?
I didn't love this book until the end. I hated it in the beginning. Somewhere in the middle I started to connect to the story and I'm glad I stuck with it. It was a great book to drive with - not so much a good one for the gym. This story will stay with me long after books I enjoyed so much more have been forgotten.
This is a feel good story, but with an indie not-everything-is-perfect touch to it which gives it more depth. It is as much a story on healing and dealing with life as it is about loneliness, friendship and all kinds of love (family, friendship and romantic). Two people more or less dented by life meet and become quite original friends. It's a lot like what Dr Seuss says:
"We are all a little weird and
Life’s a little weird,
And when we find someone whose
Weirdness is compatible with ours,
We join up with them and fall in
Mutual weirdness and call it love."
A nice gallery of characters, all humanly flawed in their own personal way. I love the quirk. The first person perspective of a main character who's quite messed up himself could have become disastrous in the hands of the wrong narrator, but it is spot on.
You get a big chunk of story, without unneccessary and flat plot, for the feel good genre and such a quick listen. If you're in the mood for an indie feel good, go for it!
At first I decided to read the book with the idea to see the movie afterwards. It turns out I still might see the movie, but just because I want to see Jennifer Lawrence's performance as Tiffany.
Before I started listening to this audiobook, I had read the review, which does not do justice to the book itself, so there are many things that could have been said in order to give readers a heads-up.
As a psychologist myself, I'd say this is a great book for psychology students since it is so full of dellusion, defense mechanisms and alternative realities (not as in a sci-fi movie, but as in a drama with so much psychological disfunction and denial of reality).
Ray Porter’s voice is nice to hear, but in some scenes I feel it a little flat, and he gives the female characters the same voice, but for the male characters he is flawless. He gives each of the males characters a voice and personality of his own.
Most characters of this book have so many unresolved issues that you can't help but wonder what "their silver linings" is going to be, which the author does not give away, so you can only but wonder.
This is a story of faith, self improvement and silver linings, but not the way you might think. Pat People's, out main character, is a guy with bipolar personality disordar and serious mental instability, who struggles to be a better person for his (believed) wife, Nikki. He does all this hard work to become a better person for her, to be someone who can be reunited with her and happy his own silver lining, while that is the wrong reason why one might change. However, he tries to see the positive side of every single thing, which can give the reader a beautiful life lesson.
I feel the story should be longer with real closure for the characters.