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Part of the Furniture
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 29
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
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Summary
Juno Marlowe hurries away from the thundering planes overhead, having just said goodbye to the two men she has always loved. She finds herself rescued by a stranger, frail and older than his years, who offers the protection of his house and a little more.
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What listeners say about Part of the Furniture
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- DartmoorDiva
- 01-12-13
Enjoyable, but rather far-fetched
Would you listen to Part of the Furniture again? Why?
I thought I'd read all Mary Welsey's novels, but seemed to have missed this one. Although her atmospheric scene setting and quirky characters are all there as you would expect, I found the storyline extremely far-fetched and often found myself thinking "No, surely not...!" It was extremely well read by Samuel West and the whole book was a pleasant distraction, but certainly not one of her better novels in my view.
Would you recommend Part of the Furniture to your friends? Why or why not?
Yes
Which character – as performed by Samuel West – was your favourite?
Mr Copplestone senior, whose name I have forgotten...
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Denise Angela Robinson
- 16-09-14
Wonderful old fashioned story
Would you listen to Part of the Furniture again? Why?
I'd listen to the whole book again, I couldn't put it down!
What other book might you compare Part of the Furniture to, and why?
I've just finished The Camomile Lawn by the same author, which I enjoyed immensely!
Have you listened to any of Samuel West’s other performances? How does this one compare?
This was my first Samuel West story & I was not disappointed!
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me laugh in places & sad in others.
Any additional comments?
A must read for anyone loving an old fashioned tale.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- A. James
- 13-07-14
Very enjoyable!
Would you consider the audio edition of Part of the Furniture to be better than the print version?
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, I have not read the print version but think I might.
What did you like best about this story?
The story was well put together, during the 2nd world war when all sorts of weird (and under normal circumstances - impossible) things happened to people.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
I enjoyed the birth of Juno's twins ...... and the drama caused throughout by peoples assumptions!
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Several parts were moving. But Juno's complete happiness and her discovery of this transformation was lovely.
Any additional comments?
This was very easy to listen to. I do like Mary Wesley, so am pleased to have listened to this.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mosses farmhouse
- 16-08-20
Excellent book ... unusual and interesting
A well written tale. My favourite of Mary Wesley's books; the main character Juno is beautifully penned. The audible narration is excellent.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gabrielle Harvey-Jones
- 29-03-20
Loved it!
Years ago I read each of Mary Wesley’s books as they came out, but I seem to have managed to forget this one, entirely! I loved her sure, delicate hand, guiding me carefully through this charming tale! Samual West was the perfect narrator! Can’t understand people complaining about it being ‘far fetched’ - of course it was - but utterly entrancing all the same!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. Judith Warburton-Avis
- 13-04-13
Part Of The Furniture
Always one of my favorite books, to hear it read so brilliantly, was nothing less than joyous and I shall listen to it many times and never tire of it. Thank you Audible for making it possible
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ilana
- 13-09-12
A great author paired with a fantastic narrator
Seventeen year-old Juno Marlowe is heartbroken after having seen off her two best friends, bound for their army service during WWII at a London train station. Adding to her sorrow and confusion is the recent memory of a threesome which she hadn't planned for and didn't necessarily consent to, but before she has a chance to sort out her thoughts and feelings, she's grabbed by a kindly stranger who pulls her into his house for protection as an air raid is underway. The man is obviously in poor health, and even as he has innocently asked Juno to lie by his side, soon passes away, but not before having first written a letter to his father about the young girl. All these events are covered very quickly at the start of the story however, and the rest unfolds when Juno has made her way to the father's farm out in the English countryside. It's a wartime tale about the sorrow of loss and the hope new beginnings bring, with wonderfully colourful characters, and best of all, Wesley's gorgeous prose. I wish I could do this book justice, because it is one that definitely deserves to be read an enjoyed by many. Wesley herself is an interesting character, as it seems she only took up writing in her 70th year after the passing of her husband, and went on to become a bestseling British author in the last 20 years of her life. Definitely an author I'll be reading a lot more from. Read with warmth and compassion by Samuel West, who could possibly be the love of my life, or at the very least, my very favourite narrator.
3 people found this helpful