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Turtle Diary

Penguin Modern Classics

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Born to swim thousands of miles in the ocean, the giant sea turtles are now trapped in a tank of golden-green water at London Zoo. But not for much longer. Two lonely people, a bookseller and a children's illustrator, have begun thinking turtle thoughts. As they come together to hatch a plan to release the turtles into the sea, their diaries reveal how they find their own lives changing in imperceptible and quite unintended ways.

'Wonderful, life-saving ... places Russell Hoban among the greatest, timeless novelists' The Times

'Crackles with witty detail, mordant intelligence and self-deprecating irony' Time

'This lovely human fable seems to me one of the best things of its kind - a fine and touching achievement' John Fowles

© Russell Hoban 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction

Critic reviews

Russell Hoban is our Ur-novelist, a maverick voice that is like no other.
Worth rejoicing in ... a banquet of whimsical delights. Each Russell Hoban book is surprising ... but you also know what you're getting, which is curiosity, wonder and a world-encompassing empathy. (John Self)
This wonderful, life-saving fantasy places Russell Hoban where he has got to be - among the greatest, timeless novelists.
Crackles with witty detail, mordant intelligence and self-deprecating irony.
[Turtle Diary] has medicinal qualities. I only need to think about it and I'm in a better mood. (Max Porter)
A story about the recovery of life ... Like other cult writers - Salinger for instance, or Vonnegut - Hoban writes about ordinary people making life-affirming gestures in a world that threatens to dissolve in madness.
This lovely human fable seems to me one of the best things of its kind - a fine and touching achievement. (John Fowles)
Tragicomic pleasure ... Metaphysical speculation undercut by dry humour is the signature style of Russell Hoban. (Richard Preston)
All stars
Most relevant
Something about, or perhaps without, this story connected with me. I was compelled to listen without any of the usual ‘to do while listening’ tasks in my head or occupying my hands. All was put aside to enter completely this world of thoughts, words, pictures and coincidences. Lives. I don’t know what I wanted to happen or what I expected to happen, but what did happen was revealed carefully, piece by piece with great care, precision and patience, and all in the proper order. Time, in my world, passed and at one point I noticed that I had slipped completely into the story and the lives. Submerged. A totally immersive experience in greens, blues and gold. Thank you Russell Hoban and the voices in your head, and to the voices now in my head too. A depth of knowledge and wisdom I had not expected to find in a random audible purchase to use a credit which was about to expire. Thank you. I feel that there might be hope again one day.

Unexpectedly and strangely wonderful

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Absolutely wonderful. The novel’s dual narration is brought to life by Harry and Lucy who read the two believable and well-drawn characters that relate the adventure of the turtle release. Of course, it’s not just about the turtles and every short chapter contains a gem of a comment on life, love, loneliness and more. Loved it.

Highly recommended

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This is not a 'big' story, nor is it overly twee. It's beautifully observed and gentle.

Gentle and perfectly crafted

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