The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life cover art

The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

No one is perfectly happy, but when are we happy enough? Laura is a happily married mother of two until an ex-lover contacts her. Suddenly passion and excitement are rekindled, but how much happiness has she a right to expect, and what about the pain she would cause to achieve it? Unknown to Laura, several others in her Sussex village are also living with their own unresolved crises, where every decision they take has an impact on those around them.

©2009 William Nicholson (P)2011 W F Howes Ltd Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Happiness
All stars
Most relevant
... it reveals the secret intensity of everyday life. Climbs into the characters' minds to reveal the intensity of their experiences which in themselves are not remarkable, but in the experience of the characters they are vital, totally captivating. It reminds you that in their heads, everyone has as much going on as you do in yours. It reminds you that ordinary, everyday life is enthralling. I loved this book and didn't want it to end. In a way, it's a lesson in mindfulness without the boring theorising.

Does what it says on the cover...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
There's nothing earth-shattering in this, by way of story-line etc, but that's the point - it's about how all-consuming everyday life can become, and how it's easy to lose sight of oneself (especially around middle age!)

An enjoyable listen, and good for reflection on one's own life and ambitions. Well crafted, with a remarkably perceptive eye for everyday detail.

Makes everyday life interesting...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It's a very good novel, but my problem was with the narration. The narrator has a pleasant voice, and when she's just telling the story , it's fine. But she tries to change her voice to fit each character, and with most of the male characters, it doesn't work. The women's and children's voices are okay, but the men's sound exaggerated, distorted, or odd. The vicar sounds like a sterotyped parody of a vicar, and the Scottish school teacher sounds like he's permanently trying to seduce somebody (except when he just sounds as if he's spitting.) I found this very off-putting.

The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I started listening to the book but found the sentences a little clipped and there did not seem to be a good flow. I also felt that the voices of the reader did not seem to match the characters. I was interested in the story so I went and bought the book. I found the book most enjoyable. It is well written. There are a number of characters involved in different relationships and this is all handled very well. I periodically came back to listen to the audible book but did not change my mind. The book was better as a read than listening to it. My award of 4 stars is for the book as a book not as an audible book.

Good book disappointing reader

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I wasn't sure what to expect but the stories drew me in and helped me get through dreary January evenings. Narrator did well with the demands of the various accents. Gave me a lot to think about!

Enjoyable and thought provoking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews