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The Stranding

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About this listen

Her world fell to pieces.

From the bones she built a new life.

A heartbreaking novel of love, loss and hope about a woman who hides from the end of the world in the belly of a whale.

Ruth lives in the heart of the city. Working, drinking, falling in love: the rhythm of her vivid and complicated life is set against a background hum of darkening news reports from which she deliberately turns away.

When a new romance becomes claustrophobic, Ruth chooses to leave behind the failing relationship, but also her beloved friends and family, and travels to the other side of the world in pursuit of her dream life working with whales in New Zealand.

But when Ruth arrives, the news cycle she has been ignoring for so long is now the new reality. Far from home and with no real hope of survival, she finds herself climbing into the mouth of a beached whale alongside a stranger. When she emerges, it is to a landscape that bears no relation to the world they knew before.

When all has been razed to the ground, what does it mean to build a life?

The Stranding is a story about the hope that can remain even when the world is changed beyond recognition.

©2021 Kate Sawyer (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Dystopian Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Women's Fiction Thought-Provoking Heartfelt
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Great story about the end of human existence on earth brilliantly told with insight, compassion and hope.

Really compelling heart wrenching tale

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A remarkable novel. The range of issues touched upon is quite astounding. The lens moves seamlessly from interpersonal relationships, consent and malignant control in relationships to current environmental problems and an apocalyptic view of the future that awaits humanity.
The story skips back and forward in time, but at no point is it disorientating. This, for me, to is testament to the brilliance of the author in weaving these threads to form a beautiful yarn.

Brilliant!

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Simply wonderful writing. Loved the double time lines and perspective of time. Highly recommended

Captivating, beautiful, funny, inspiring!

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A nice story which has a feeling of hope throughout ,it’s an enjoyable easy listen

Nice story

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An absolute gem of a book which I’d almost describe as Bridget Jones meets Station Eleven. Narration by the author was wonderful, I was very impressed by the Kiwi accents! Would recommend this to pretty much anyone

A new favourite

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