Rough Music cover art

Rough Music

A gripping and evocative story of a Cornish holiday, and the dark secrets of family life

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Rough Music

By: Patrick Gale
Narrated by: Patrick Gale
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About this listen

 Truly compelling and rich with emotional insight , Patrick Gale's Cornish novel, ROUGH MUSIC is a beautiful story of a marriage and the secrets a family holds.

'Sparkling with emotional intelligence. A gripping portrait of a marriage and the quiet, devastating fall-out of family life' Independent

Julian is a contented if naïve only child, and a holiday on the coast of North Cornwall should be perfect, especially when distant American cousins join the party. But their arrival brings upheaval and unexpected turmoil.

It is only as a seemingly well-adjusted adult that Julian is able to reflect on the realities of his parents' marriage, and to recognise that the happy, cheerful boyhood he thought was his is infused with secrets, loss and the memory of betrayals that have shaped his life.

(P)2017 Patrick Gale©2000 Patrick Gale Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction

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Critic reviews

Sparkling with emotional intelligence. A gripping portrait of a marriage and quiet, devastating fall-out of family life
A subtle, highly evocative tale of memory and desire
Like the sea he describes so well, Patrick Gale's clear, unforced prose sucks one in effortlessly (Elizabeth Buchan)
A painfully acute but never reproachful examination of a past that will not vanish
A real craftsman, a master storyteller (Independent on Sunday)
All stars
Most relevant
Many life lessons to be learnt here in this story. Enjoyed this very much. Alzheimers well represented here and the impact this has on everyone as well as a child's perspective of life. Very well written.

Great story of love, life and innocence.

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It’s another great telling of ordinary people. Feels so relatable.
Although the accents aren’t perfect etc because it’s the author reading it to us, I found that all the more compelling.
Where do these ideas come from?
I’ve read 3 or 4 others by Patrick Gayle and I can tell it’s his voice with each one, however amazed by the differences between them.
Loved it. Thank you

Another great story

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A good book but spoiled by the author narrating it. His voice is not right for narration and spills all of them!

Great book, awful narration

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