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Little Prisons

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Little Prisons

By: Ilona Bannister
Narrated by: Alix Dunmore
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About this listen

 An emotionally powerful novel about four women and the incredible strength it takes to live a life made invisible by others.

When you can't get out, let kindness in.

In a non-descript building in a gentrifying corner of London, Penny is doing daily battle with her mind. She is convinced that the world beyond her door is too dangerous for her, though her heart knows it isn't. Penny's neighbour, Carla, an American expat and single mother of two teens, has lived in a coercive relationship for many years, too worn down by her controlling husband to escape her situation. Mable, Penny's upstairs neighbour, an elderly Jamaican pensioner and devout Jehovah's Witness, has sacrificed everything for her faith, including her relationship with her family. And Woman, the housekeeper and nanny on the second floor, has been trafficked. When she is not cleaning and cooking, she works in the laundrette the landlord owns on the ground floor, a hidden slave in full view of the public.

Through grocery deliveries, glimpses through windows, and overheard conversations in the stairwell, the women come to know each other. Their small acts of compassion help them each find a way to mend the broken paths in their lives.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2022 Ilona Bannister City Life Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Urban Women's Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

A powerful and compassionately told story of loss, grief, love and motherhood
Incredibly raw and unflinching . . . it will stop you in your tracks
All stars
Most relevant
Reallt great book and well narrated. A different story which is well put together. Really makes you think and wonder what goes on around us. Would definitely recommend.

Excellent and thought provoking

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There was something so beautifully human about this book. Faultless and warm narration. Utterly charming but not at all saccharin or “happy ending” driven. I was struck by the connections between the women, how that’s what keeps the world turning and all us women sane. Loved it.

A village…

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I have devoured this audiobook over some long drives this summer holiday. A completely captivating and clever story of intertwined lives that is thought provoking as much as it is heart wrenching. I read Ilona’s first book ‘When I Ran Away’ which I also loved, but this is even better in my view. Amazingly researched and written. I’ll be recommending to everyone!

Totally captivating

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Cleverly written from the POV of several characters. Everyone has an issue: mental illness, domestic violence, trafficking, religious conflict. The story starts just before and finishes during the coronavirus pandemic. I liked that this is familiar. I'm fortunate to not be in a situation like any of these characters. Although I am aware of these struggles, they are told in much more detail than I have known before. The author must have done a lot of research.

The narrator was brilliant! Great accents and voices. If I hadn't been listening to this, I would've given up near the beginning of the book.

great narration: depressing story

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