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Killing Time

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Killing Time

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Alan Bennett
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We have a choir and on special occasions a glass of dry sherry. It's less of a home and more of a club and very much a community.

Presided over by the lofty Mrs McBryde, Hill Topp House is a superior council home for the elderly. Among the unforgettable cast of staff and residents there's Mr Peckover the deluded archaeologist, Phyllis the knitter, Mr Cresswell the ex-cruise ship hairdresser, the enterprising Mrs Foss and Mr Jimson the chiropodist. Covid is the cause of fatalities and the source of darkly comic confusion, but it's also the key to liberation. As staff are hospitalised, protocol breaks down. Miss Rathbone reveals a lifelong secret, and the surviving residents seize their moment, arthritis allowing, to scamper freely in the warmth of the summer sun.

'Violet? She'll be having a little lie-down,' said Mrs McBryde. 'She likes to give her pacemaker a rest. I'll rout her out.'

©2024 Alan Bennett (P)2024 Faber & Faber Literature & Fiction Funny Heartfelt Witty
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I really enjoyed this story. Given the subject matter this story would have been miserable, but Alan Bennett has a unique style that is always entertaining.

Another great listen from Alan Bennett

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For all lovers of his genius - you will not be disappointed by Killing Time, Bennett’s examination of Life in a care home and Covid.

Classic Bennett

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I’m sure the story has either been released before or else has been used a part of the previous work by Alan Bennett. His voice is still nice and listened to. It’s not as clear as before, Mind he in his 90s so what do you expect? As astute and depressed as much of his recent work.

Bennet past his prime

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I love AB’s writing, plays, books, interviews, in fact everything about him draws me like a magnate but this was a disappointment. His voice was sometimes indistinct to the point of having to guess what the words were. Towards the end he sounded as though he was falling asleep, dragging out the words in a semi-whisper and I think it would have been better to read the book off the page, and imagine his voice in one’s head. On the plus side there were funny moments of pure AB here and there which I enjoyed but over all not one of his best.

Disappointing narration on a gloomy subject

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I'm an hour into the story and it's perfect Bennett - character motives and foibles all beautifully observed and there are wonderful laugh out loud moments. Fantastic that at 90 he's still narrating his own books, it's a joy to listen to him.

Beautifully observed Bennett

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