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The Road Home

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The Road Home

By: Rose Tremain
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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About this listen

 Shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Author of the Year, 2009.
Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, 2008.

Lev is on his way from Eastern Europe to Britain, seeking work. But Lev has an outsider's vision of the place we call home. Lev begins with no job, little money, and few words of English. He has only his memories, his hopes, and a certain skill preparing food.

Behind him loom the figures of his dead wife, his beloved daughter, and his outrageous friend. In front of Lev lies the strangeness of the British: their hostile streets, their clannish pubs, their obsession with celebrity, their lonely flats.

London holds the alluring possibilities of friendship, sex, money, and a new career. But, more than this, the sense of belonging.

©2007 Rose Tremain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking England
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I love this book. The characters are so real that I feel quite sad to think they aren't really out there somewhere continuing with their lives! I don't think I will ever look at foreign workers again without wondering what personal stories have brought them to this country. I finished listening to this book a couple of days ago and keep thinking about it. Proof surely, that this is an excellent novel.

The Road Home

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I am a fan of Rose Tremain and this wonderful book was made even better by the performance of Stephen Pacey as the narrator.

exceptional

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This is a just-about-bearable listen, the unfolding of Lev's journey should keep you interested enough to continue but as the spool of the tale unwinds, you will encounter such bizarre character shapes and conversational set-pieces so at odds with anything resembling reality, that it starts to jar the narrative flow. Such a hotch-potch and baffling set of characters who behave in ways unlike how they have been presented There's many Idiot Abroad situations, bafflingly juxtaposed with decisions so at odds with the character traits the author has supplied us with.
A glaring example happens when Lev suddenly develops an ability to negotiate a higher rate of pay. Given his previous obsequious behaviours this was thoroughly unbelievable and felt like a rushed way into the happy ending.
Thus because of the lack of character depth and understanding, the book comes across, in the end, as a hastily researched churn-out piece. Another couple of months fleshing out believable characters would have resulted in a much richer and more meaningful book.

A churned out piece

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This is a story all about characters and circumstances. You really get to know the characters, and care about what happens to them. The narration is first class - so many accents to navigate and each so believable as a character.

It is easy to get into quickly and keeps a good pace throughout.

I would listen again.

Caution: it has very explicit language, particularly relating to sex.

An engaging story, expertly narrated

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Narration brought this story to life, giving insight to economic migration. The sometimes heartbreaking story of Lev is unfolded to inspire the listener to persevere and believe in his dream.

Enlightening

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