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Sacred Country
- Narrated by: Harrison Knights
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: LGBTQ+, Literature & Fiction
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What listeners say about Sacred Country
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Bethany
- 26-11-21
Transphobic author writing about trans issues
This is a warning to anyone struggling with their gender identity to be careful with reading this book as it is written by a transphobe and I found this deeply upsetting. Please read what I've written below.
My mum recommended this book to me as I am someone who is struggling with my gender identity and she thought it was interesting. I listened almost to the end of the book and thought..I wonder whether Rose Tremain is trans, or if she spoke to many trans people when writing this book...a quick Google search brought up a 2018 interview with her, which I had to pay to read, so I'll put some quotes in hear so you don't have to bother:
The title quotes Rose Tremain as saying "Everyone is rushing to their own identity corner. It divides society.".. The article goes on to say: She can't explain why more children are identifying as transgender.."It's not something I ever thought I'd live to see... Possibly there is a certain contagion about it. It's quite an interesting thing to do: I'm not a girl after all, I'll try being a being a boy for a bit". But she worries about gender self identification. The idea of transgender inmates being put in women's prisons is "just plain scary. I think if it's putting other people in danger - which that is-then it's gone too far"...
She goes on to say a few more iffy things, you can go and have a full read of the article if you like. If you're the sort of person who agrees with what she's saying then sure, go ahead and read this book I'm sure you'll love it. But if you're actually experiencing these issues for yourself then you might find this book extremely upsetting, as I did.
Audible, please do not reject this review, it is extremely important for people who may be affected by this to understand the views of Rose Tremain so that they can make their own decision on whether or not this book is safe for them to read, as for some it may be damaging to our mental health.
16 people found this helpful
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- Sean Purcell
- 20-03-20
Surprisingly uplifting tour de force
Having expected a rather colourless tale of gender reassignment, I was delighted to be presented with a wide-ranging, nay, rollicking romp through the first 30-odd years of the current queen’s reign. Startlingly enjoyable!🐝
2 people found this helpful
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- kk
- 26-12-18
OK
It's not as engaging as her historical novels and I found it hard to like any of the characters. It's a poignant story and not an uplifting one. The narrator's efforts to rerecord lines haven't been edited out.
2 people found this helpful
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- Jodie
- 18-04-22
Rather Long
The story itself is good. But I felt that the telling of it was just too long and drawn out. Far too much waffle, that made it quite hard to keep going with listening to it. I did finish it but I was willing it to end sooner. Which is a shame as I feel if it was compressed somewhat, it would be a great book.
perform wise, I enjoyed it.
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- Tansy_Days
- 17-01-22
Narrator’s voice hard to listen to
Story is quite good, but narration not the best. I got used to it in the end
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- miss n l a brooks
- 13-05-21
An important book about mental health
This was interesting and relevant, but not necessarily an enjoyable read. I didn’t like this as much as some of the writer’s other novels. I wasn’t too keen on the narration.
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- Sheila
- 15-07-19
Sacred country
The introduction to this book was too longwinded and unnecessary and nearly put me off continuing with the book. The reader was rather miserable and droney undermining the adventurous emotional dilemma of the characters. The story was brave and considered.
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- WillPower
- 06-05-19
Dire narration
The narration is so slow and dull, I've given up with it, so I can't really rate the story
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- Chris
- 06-04-18
Brilliant Book
This book is a must for everyone to read, it is about a transgender girl , but the whole book is excellent. Everyone involved is interesting, The story sweeps you along and is recommended. It will change your views about people born in the wrong body. Harrison Knights is absolutely brilliant at reading the book.
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- william grumitt
- 23-03-18
Brilliant
this was one of the best audio books I have listened to. A story about ordinary people living ordinary lives brought together in a way that kept me interested and engaged throughout.