The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
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The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Buy Now for £12.99
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Narrated by:
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Peter Kenny
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By:
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Claire North
About this listen
Harry August is on his deathbed. Again. No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes. Until now. As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside.
'I nearly missed you, Doctor August,' she says. 'I need to send a message.' This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow.
©2014 Claire North (P)2014 Hachette Audio UKListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"A truly extraordinary novel: an impeccable portrait of a friendship tortured by time in which masterful character and fantastic narrative come together to tremendous effect" ( TOR.COM)
"A brave, genre-defying novel, which is mind-blowing in its originality and bold concept . . . Stunning!" ( NOVELICIOUS)
"Part unique and intriguing mystery, part philosophical look at life, memory and time travel this story kept me totally gripped from the opening words to the mind-blowing finale" ( BITE THE BOOK)
" The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is an extraordinary novel, as the publicity has promised" ( The Speculative Scotsman)
The character development is well thought out and develops throughout the story. Harry has a photographic memory that survives each time he is "reincarnated", he forgets nothing. Memories and past-life stories are revealed one by one such as relationships, experiences, the horrors of war and being tortured (more than once). Other characters are introduced throughout and they all have a purpose or some kind of impact on him, all forming his character and developing the main story line nicely.
The core of the story is his relationship with his best friend and ultimately nemesis. This is well played out and provides a satisfactory ending to this particular story.
A great listen that kept me hooked throughout
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What made the experience of listening to The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August the most enjoyable?
Peter Kenny's narration gave the tale an evocative, grounded very English feel- the more grounded the narration, the more you accept the fantastical things that happen.It's told in such a matter of fact way, you buy into the central conceit very early on, and run with it.Who was your favorite character and why?
Harry himself is fascinating- his many lives, the variations on a theme are beautifully explored. You accept the idea of someone repeatedly passing through the same events, ludicrous though it is, and feel for him.What does Peter Kenny bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Peter Kenny is always a hallmark of quality in audiobooks: his cool, urbane tones can render even a poor book entertaining. I've come to identify him with Iain M. Banks work, and so I entered this book with expectations. Those weren't dashed- this is a fantastic tale.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Harry's discovery of the fate of his wife buts like a knife, even though you and he both know this is transitory, that time will reset, the heartbreak he feels is genuine.Any additional comments?
Peter Kenny's narration, and Claire North's writing combine seamlessly- the only comparison is Will Patton and James Lee Burke, where you feel it actually couldn't be better done except by the author themselves.Groundhog Life
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Would you listen to The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August again? Why?
... but I'm so glad I did.I would listen to it again, but not for a while - it's quite edgy and disturbing in places, and I need some time to recover! I loved the concept of the book, and the narration was excellent.
What other book might you compare The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August to, and why?
I wouldn't. Not sure I've ever read anything quite like it. I'm a great sci-fi/fantasy reader, but this was a fresh concept and story line.What does Peter Kenny bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
I would have skip read some of the more graphic content, but he kept me in the moment, often actually seeming to slow down. Not comfortable, but really added to the depth of Harry's experiences.Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I did - as I said, it's quite edgy at times, and I felt anxiety, grief, curiosity, anticipation...all the things that the story demanded.Any additional comments?
I listen to lots of audiobooks (long commute) but am rarely compelled to write reviews. But sometimes a book is that good.I loved the exploration of the relationships Harry has with all the people in his lives. The scientific content, the seamless, almost effortless way very complex time-travel shifts took place, the narrator... all of it. One of the cleverest books I've read in a good long while.
Not sure why or when I put this on my wish list...
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I think that sums it up (must give 15 words)!
Good story. Terrible narration.
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Excellent
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