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King Solomon's Carpet cover art

King Solomon's Carpet

By: Barbara Vine
Narrated by: Michael Pennington
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Summary

Eccentric Jarvis lives in a crumbling schoolhouse overlooking the tube line, compiling his obsessive history of the Underground. A group of misfits are also drawn towards his strange house: Alice, who has run away from her husband and baby; Tom, the busker who rescues her; truant Jasper, who finds his terrifying thrills on the tube; and enigmatic Axel, whose deadly secret casts a shadow over all their lives. Damaged, dispossessed, outcasts, they are brought together in violent and unforeseen ways by London's dark and dangerous underground system.

©1991 Kingsmarkham Enterprises Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about King Solomon's Carpet

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So different and absolutely gripping

What made the experience of listening to King Solomon's Carpet the most enjoyable?

I think Michael Pennington did a brilliant job. I would listen to him again.

What did you like best about this story?

I read the book years ago and loved it. The way the characters are drawn is so real and true to life, albeit they are a motley lot and you can't imagine it could actually happen. They are all flawed and you don't really feel much sympathy for any of them, they are not likeable, but somehow that makes the whole thing work. A very different story from your everyday read but very well written and read. Even though I remembered most of the story, I couldn't stop listening and found the audio version gave me more than I got from reading the book the first time, although I will probably read it again in the future and I will certainly listen again.

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

He brought the characters to life in a way that you don't necessary get from reading the book. He makes them believable.

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

When the young man falls from the tube, the occasions when Alice thinks about her baby, when Jed thinks he will have to have his pet hawk put to sleep and when Cecelia died with her friend by her side.

Any additional comments?

A gripping book whether you read or listen with unsympathetic characters but that works for all that. Quite dark so don't read or listen if you want something uplifting! One of the best books/audios I've ever read/listened to. Brilliant and thoroughly recommended.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

King Solomon's Carpet

This novel, which I honestly believe that I have read/listened to at least five years is truly excellent. It tells the story and lives of a group of disparate people living in a converted school in West Hampstead.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

a yawnfest

only got half way before giving up out of boredom .far too much rather boring train trivia in a rather boring voice

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Interminably dull

Possibly one of the fullest audio books I have ever listened to and quite annoying.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I loved this story; the intriguing characters, some pleasant and some very unpleasant! It grabbed my interest from the first chapter until the last. I thoroughly recommend it.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I knew this book well already

But on audible it was a deeply impressive presentation perfectly narrated bu Michael Pennington. It was pure listening pleasure- a multi stranded story with as always plenty to learn and enjoy along the journey.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Truly excellent, gripping Barbara Vine

Fascinating story, interesting and believable characters. Narration was superb too. Enjoyed this as much as 'A Fatal Inversion' and 'Asta's Book'.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Facts regarding the London Underground

Not her best - none of the characters are particularly likeable - but I enjoyed it, nonetheless, for the fascinating facts it contains, regarding the London Underground. Worth it, just for that.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love Derailed and Strings Broken

Fantastic low key narrator, whom I will certainly check out for other books read by him! (did check him out only find hardly any novels read by him).

The premise and blurb cannot prepare the reader for the cacophony of failure and disappointment experienced by the MCs as they go about their spiralling lives just like the crumbling red brick old school building at the centre of the tale. So well written, so well woven, I could hardly envision what could come next.

Such an unconventional story about souls desperate for convention. Thank you Audible for the charming freebee.

ENJOYED IT

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Don’t waste your time!

I really enjoyed ‘The Brimstone Wedding’ so I thought I’d give this a go, but alas, I had to give up on it. I was tolerating the gaggle of dull, unsympathetic characters because I found the description of the London Underground and the stations interesting, but even that couldn’t save me from the worn out trope of pathetic young woman inexplicably falling for the mysterious bad boy(man). So at 4 hours 40 minutes to go I threw in the towel!

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