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  • The Rules of Seeing

  • By: Joe Heap
  • Narrated by: Cariad Lloyd
  • Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (54 ratings)
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The Rules of Seeing cover art

The Rules of Seeing

By: Joe Heap
Narrated by: Cariad Lloyd
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Summary

What you see depends on what you’re looking for....

Rule of Seeing no. 399.

Learning to see is often a thankless task. Then, sometimes, the world opens up and you understand nothing will ever look the same again.

Nova can do many things. She can speak five languages. She can tell when someone is lying from the sound of their voice. She can even make an excellent sandwich with peaches, pepperoni and pickles...although she can’t convince anyone to try it.

But there’s one thing Nova can’t do. She can’t see. Until an operation restores her sight, and everything changes.

Nova meets Kate when both women need each other the most. And as Kate comes into focus, Nova learns that the world isn’t as bright as she first thought it would be. She can sense that Kate’s problems are the ones you can’t see, and from an unspoken connection, an unlikely friendship blossoms.

It’s time for Nova to open her eyes and see the world differently, in the very best way.

©2018 Joe Heap (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

Critic reviews

"An astonishing debut." (Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things)

"This has made me see the world in a different way...I loved it." (Dawn O'Porter)

"Truly original...it kept me guessing until the nail-biting end. A stunning and memorable page-turner." (Sarah J. Harris, author of The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder)

What listeners say about The Rules of Seeing

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well written, funny sad and surprising.

I loved the characters and the change of narrator. Many cliffhangers kept me engaged whilst reading as I cared for Kate and Nova.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A nice story

I did enjoy this, but early on the narration was a bit all over the place, it was hard to tell which character was speaking. Also, I kept thinking I’d missed bits of the story as it suddenly seemed to jump. One min Nova had decided to go blind again, and the next she could see again, and there didn’t seem to be any explanation as to why/how she could suddenly see again.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A fascinating idea

Thus could have been really good, but after about halfway it degenerated into rather unbelievable. There were more and more parts where I simply didn’t believe that is what would have happened. Shame really because I wanted to like it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I am totally blind

I wouldn’t have read this book if it hadn’t been recommended to me by a very special person, who had read it and loved it. I like the pace, flow, narrator and storyline. There is a part of it where the blind lady touches another ladies face, which is not what blind people do! This was the only small part of it which I cringed at, as felt it was inaccurate. I would recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers, or believes in karma! you’re curious about what it’s like to be blind, it gives a good generalist view.I have been totally blind,partially sighted and fully sighted. I was born fully sighted and lost my vision altogether when I was 19. I know what it is to have all different levels of vision and would not change my circumstances for the same reason as the main character in this book. Enjoy the unique exploration of the subjects, whilst being satisfied by a book you cannot put down.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating escapism

An incredible book. hooled me in and became addictive in its sensitivity and story line. The perfect read!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As good as Eleanor Oliphant

Totally loved this book from beginning to end. Beautifully written with interesting characters who develop as the book goes on. Will definitely read more from Joe Heap.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Inconsistent, simplistic, unfocused unidirectional

This book desperately needed an editor a critical editor that has read some books or understand what the plot of a book should be about.
The so-called reviewers on the cover of this book are just the mercenary advertisement for a product that will make the writer cringe in the future.
What this book is not about is a vision of any kind, the main character has a list over three hundred and ninety rules for seeing we get to know maybe ten; also we are told at infinitum that vision is a language (the main character is a translator, so apparently everything is a language ).
The only surprise is that the thriller is no thrilling, the relationships are at best absurd at worst the most boring sexual couples ever, and the bony boiler of the story is so pathetic and poorly described it was hard to believe no one told the writer he/she had to start again. Just one example the knife he uses is a serrated bread knife; I will never look at toast the same way, the horror, the horror.
A waste of time and money, the worst book I read this year. .


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3 people found this helpful