The Dream Lover cover art

The Dream Lover

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The Dream Lover

By: William Boyd
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

Funny, moving and sharply observed, these stories are confirmation of Boyd's status as one of English fiction's finest writers. Here are 24 gripping tales told in bold, distinct voices from Brazil to Africa and from Nice to Hollywood. This eclectic collection by the acclaimed author of Restless and Brazzaville Beach is a must for any lover of the short story.

©2017 William Boyd (P)2017 W.F. Howes Ltd Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Short Stories Fiction Africa

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All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book particularly its various different parts. Characters are intriguing. A very good performance.

Another Boyd , new to me.

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Short stories in which I became immersed. Beautifully crafted and characters stayed with me after finishing book.

Totally Absorbing

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Puzzling, funny, evocative, dark, light - Boyd never - ever - disappoints. Beautifully read by Peter Noble, a true treat to hear.

Story Teller Extraordinaire

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I really can’t believe this is written by the same person that wrote Any Human Heart and Brazzaville Beach. It’s insipid, poorly written nonsense that reads like it was written by some horny wannabe writer. The characters are shallow, the writing clumsy, and writer way too distracted by sex. I honestly tried to give the book the benefit of doubt (as I say, supposedly written by the same person as Brazzaville Beach, which I love)—I listened to a few stories, was bored and annoyed, but gave it more time. After a couple more stories, I was even more bored and annoyed. I jumped past a couple chapters to see if it was the same later in the book—it was, so I gave up and removed it from my phone. Waste of money, waste of time. I normally wouldn’t be so harsh in a review, but I feel entirely ripped off that I bought something sold on the back of two great novels only to find it’s not even remotely in the same vein and it reads like it was written by someone else entirely. I don’t know what happened. It makes me wonder if this was actually written by Boyd (could it have been ghost written or something?) If it *was* written by Boyd, I apologise for the vehemence of this review and wish him all the luck in returning to form.

I very much wish I could get a refund, but with Audible’s new refund policy, I can’t because I bought it in a sale, not with my credits. It would be nice if they’d return to letting people refund things they don’t like. I’d be less inclined to be so brutally honest if didn’t feel the need to warn others. I feel like I was tricked into buying something on false pretences which I then couldn’t even return; I hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

Terrible. Genuinely terrible. I deleted it.

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so boring, non sensical and no real story, Boyd trading on previous reputation to serve up some vomit and get paid, well never again for me.

Pure drivel

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