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Preparation for the Next Life

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Preparation for the Next Life

By: Atticus Lish
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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Zou Lei, orphan of the desert, migrates to work in America and finds herself slaving in New York's kitchens. She falls in love with a young man whose heart has been broken in another desert. A new life may be possible if together they can survive homelessness, lockup, and the young man's nightmares, which may be more prophecy than madness.

©2014 Atticus Lish (P)2015 Audible Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mental Health Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Psychology Psychology & Mental Health War & Military Women's Fiction Health Heartfelt Military
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Editor reviews

Editors Select, April 2015 - Winner of the 2015 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, Atticus Lish's Preparation for the Next Life is not only striking in its tightly crafted, yet incredibly detailed prose, but in its heart-breaking portrayal of people both physically and emotionally displaced. To say I fell for this book - an unlikely love story between an undocumented Chinese Muslim immigrant and a recently returned Iraq War veteran - would be an understatement. This book carried me away like no other book this year. The characters are so vivid; their physicality and voices so distinct, I couldn't help sharing in their lostness. Beautifully narrated with heartfelt sincerity by Robertson Dean, this book demands your attention and deserves it. —Doug, Audible Editor

Critic reviews

  • Winner of the 2015 PEN/Faulkner Award
“Dizzying in its ambition and exhilarating in its triumph." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Preparation for the Next Life isn’t just the best novel I’ve read this year, it may be the best novel I’ve read, ever. I’ve seen the book appearing on quite a few 'best of' lists recently—well deserved. And I am now a believer: this book should be in the conversation for a national prize." (Publishers Weekly, Best of 2014)
"Perhaps the finest and most unsentimental love story of the new decade." (The New York Times)
All stars
Most relevant
I found this book very powerful. The attention to detail is incredible and the story it self sad but worth a read. To be honest though, I found the narrator a bit dull and his accents were at times unfortunate or didnt's seem to fit the character. I also think that becasue it jumps around a lot I wish that I would have read it in print to be able to go back and read again what happened which is more difficult with an audiobook.

A bleak but powerful story

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Maybe shouldn't have listened through this one just before my son & his wife heads for a spell of work in New York. Frightening account of an illegal immigrant and a war shocked US soldier, their tough love, their survival struggle in precarious underworld lives, the claws of the concrete city around them.
Descriptions are vivid lists, long observations of dirt and destitution. They fight, will they win? It's like reading Grand Theft Auto from a book, it is very real. I couldn't stop listening but I'm glad it's over.

Bleak story of striving against a bad hand

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I thought the idea behind the book is very valuable and had all the right elements of a great story but then I felt those elements were not connected to create a cohesive novel. In my view the author focused too much on the external environment to the detriment of creating a deeper connection between the characters and the reader. And finally, this is personal, but I am not a fan of the excessive use of very short sentences prevalent in the book.

Failed to connect the elements

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Any additional comments?

I found the story jumped about quite a bit which made it difficult for me to listen to. This is only my opinion, this book has had raving reviews. However I urge you to try it, I'm sure you would enjoy it more than me. I just prefer to be honest and not just chase 'likes' on my reviews to give you the clearest picture possible before purchasing.

:)

Not too impressed

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