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The Beautiful Visit
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Transcription
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In 1940, 18-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathisers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat.
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Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
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Summary
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- Debra K
- 11-09-17
Never judge a book by its summary.
What did you like best about The Beautiful Visit? What did you like least?
I liked best the sense of adventure at the start and the protagonist honesty, up to a point. I liked least the microscopic and cringe worthy self consciousness and the mostly dull story.
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
If it started where it ended.
What about Juliet Stevenson’s performance did you like?
She kept interested and consistent throughout.
Do you think The Beautiful Visit needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No, most of the characters have been exhausted and a follow up book may do the same to the next lot of characters.
Any additional comments?
I was expecting a kind of Brideshead Revisited type story where the house and the characters would be strong and charismatic, with depth and make me care about what happened to them.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 17-11-18
Wonderfully written and narrated. <br />
loved the book from start to finish. wonderfull character's and storyline. would recommed to all fans of EJH.
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- Mary Ellen
- 06-01-16
I loved this
If you could sum up The Beautiful Visit in three words, what would they be?
Well, first of all I refuse to "sum up" this book in three words. That really is ridiculous. Any work deserves more respect than that.
This is really what I call a "vertical" novel. There is relatively little horizontal or chronological "action" that propels the plot. It's not that kind of book. The development goes downwards, (or upwards, depending on your perspective) deeper into the people and places that inhabit the story. Think Graham Greene. Think Gaskell.
What did you like best about this story?
Howard is fantastic with character and place. I love her people. I care about them and even the enigmatic, keep me interested.
Have you listened to any of Juliet Stevenson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Well, she is, hands down, THE BEST. I would listen to anything she cared to read.
Any additional comments?
I don't think this is for everyone. Certainly not for those who must have something "happen" every moment. There are relatively few "dramatic" instances. Like Gaskell, she often examines quiet lives/
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
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- Jane
- 15-08-16
Profound
This is not for people who love action packed narrative, but if you enjoy deepening your knowledge and understanding of the human condition, come to this book. The narrator is The Best. No contest.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall
- Carl Smith
- 11-09-09
depressing and boring
I've always liked this narrator, which is why I gave this a try. Mistake. I listened to over half of it expecting something to catch on but finally skipped to the end to see if there was any kind of ending. I just don't get what the author was aiming for. The central character's life is so joyless and hopeless. Her way of resolving this is to take a big risk on something and then the book ends. All I could think is, I hope that works out for her.
11 of 15 people found this review helpful
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- Mitzi
- 11-04-18
A Book I Have Already Forgotten
The story has a decent plot. But:
1) The plot is a bit too much all over the place;
2) Major flaw: As one of the characters tells the protagonist, “You are the girl for whom everything is new.” And it is so. The protagonist is clueless and, worst of all, incapable of learning anything. She has zero personality. I don’t mind unlikable characters in literature at all: but she is not meant by the author to be unlikable, she just is because not a well-written character.
3) Maximal flaw: This book is utterly, completely, insufferably lacking in humor. Not even a sardonic note, an ironic tinge, a vaguely funny observation.
Juliet Stevenson, who has an excellent voice, uses the same dramatic tone throughout making the all thing quite irritating.
I am not saying one shouldn’t read this book. It’s ok. It is not horrid, it is not “offensive” to one’s intelligence. But it will leave no trace. I finished it a week ago, and I have already forgotten everything about it.
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- K Martin
- 03-03-18
Brilliant reader
I like listening to anything Juliet Stevenson reads. This is EJH’s first novel. You can see what she is trying to do. I want to read more.
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- Christine
- 21-08-17
Shifted on the inside
If you could sum up The Beautiful Visit in three words, what would they be?
Elegant, Decent, Poetic.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Beautiful Visit?
When she demonstrated the art of being herself finally.
What about Juliet Stevenson’s performance did you like?
Her pure ability to be there and yet be able to allow a reader to disappear from her presence simply because her performance is the transportation right into the atmosphere of another world.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Absolutely, it's worthy of the journey.
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- debra boudrieau
- 20-07-17
Juliet Stevenson saves this story...
Is there anything you would change about this book?
The main character is so lifeless and a too much of a malcontent. If my favorite narrator had not been reading it I would have stopped. All the life in this book comes from Ms. Stevenson's incredible talent.
Has The Beautiful Visit turned you off from other books in this genre?
No.
What about Juliet Stevenson’s performance did you like?
She is simply marvelous. I will listen to anything she reads.
Any additional comments?
I have all of the Austen's Ms. Stevenson has read...but please...where is Pride and Prejudice???