Sealskin cover art

Sealskin

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Sealskin

By: Su Bristow
Narrated by: Angus King
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About this listen

What happens when magic collides with reality?

Donald is a young fisherman eking out a lonely living on the west coast of Scotland. One night he witnesses something miraculous...and makes a terrible mistake. His action changes lives - not only his own but those of his family and the entire tightly knit community in which they live. Can he ever atone for the wrong he has done, and can love grow when its foundation is violence?

Based on the legend of the selkies - seals who can transform into people - Sealskin is a magical story evoking the harsh beauty of the landscape; the resilience of its people, both human and animal; and the triumph of hope over fear and prejudice. With exquisite grace, Exeter Novel Prize winner Su Bristow transports us to a different world, subtly and beautifully exploring what it means to be an outsider and our innate capacity for forgiveness and acceptance. Rich with myth and magic, Sealskin is nonetheless a very human story, as relevant to our world as to the timeless place in which it is set. And it is, quite simply, unforgettable.

©2017 Su Bristow (P)2017 Audible, Ltd Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism Romance Romantic Suspense Sea Adventures Small Town & Rural Suspense Adventure Heartfelt

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All stars
Most relevant
Such an enjoyable listen, the narrator swept me up in the story and the characters were real and vivid. Great use of atmosphere to really give you a feel of the coast and cliffs they inhabit.

Loved it!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be a kind of love story which is not what I expected after listening to the first couple of chapters. I LOVED it. i like a book that envelops the listener/reader. This is one such book. I also feel the narrator was the best for giving individual characters personalities. For me the narrator made the story real.

A beautiful story

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Sealskin was not what I thought it would be. I expected a bit more excitement and interest, but it never really got going for me and was a bit dull. I nearly gave up, but persevered to the end as I wanted to see where it was going. Overall, it was well narrated and was a reasonable story based on the Selkie myth, but it didn't make me want to read on, so I can't give more than 3 unfortunately.

A bit dull for me.

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Brutal, Beautiful, Heartbreaking and uplifting. I love this book. everyone has to listen to it.

Beautiful

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What made the experience of listening to Sealskin the most enjoyable?

The beautiful writing, the scenery, the people, the story...

What did you like best about this story?

The skillful retelling and handling of an old and intriguing legend

Which character – as performed by Angus King – was your favourite?

Not sure what it has to do with Angus King (no offence he did a fabulous job of narration), but my favourite character is Auntie Annie

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did...I am now sleep deprived....but I am also very pleased that I did.

Any additional comments?

In the headline I mentioned the word "evocative" and that is the word that came to immediately to my mind when I came to write this review, for that is what this beautifully written book is, from the waves on the beach, to the seals on the rocks, to the man and his love and the community that surrounds them. In my heart I could feel the poignancy of the story, my spirit washed by the tides of loneliness, hardships and the struggle of the main characters with whom one easily found an empathy. If you can't smell the seaweed and feel the wind in your hair then you weren't paying attention. Highly recommended.

Beautifully written and evocative

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