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Birdsong

By: Sebastian Faulks
Narrated by: Samuel West
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Summary

A Radio 4 Book Club Selection.

Set before and during the Great War, Birdsong captures the drama of that era on both a national and a personal scale. It is the story of Stephen, a young Englishman, who arrives in Amiens in 1910. His life goes through a series of traumatic experiences, from the clandestine love affair that tears apart the family with whom he lives to the unprecedented experience of the war itself.

©1993 Sebastian Faulks (P)2005 Penguin Audio
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What listeners say about Birdsong

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

If only it wasnt abridged

This is one of my favourite books of all time. A wonderful novel. After I finished this book for the first time, i ached for the characters i missed them so much. This would have been a five, but it is only an abridged version. Read the book and just get this to remind you how great this story is.................

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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

Intricately woven story

A number of narratives in one, interwoven lives, years apart and yet so closely related. Absolutely brilliant detail describing war, love, life and loss…would highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Quite dull

I'm aware of all the wonderful reviews this book has received but I found it quite dull at parts. It was touching but too depressing. The end was great though. This is the first audiobook I have listened to and I found it quite difficult.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful book

This is a beautiful book. The story is simple but haunting while the writers skill and devotion to his craft is evident in every sentence and phrase. I did not think this was 'my kind of book' - I was wrong.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Excellent book and narration

Such a visceral story that is so well written and narrated. You can feel the claustrophobia of the tunnels engulf you

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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

Birdsong

loved this book it was wonderful. beautifully read and the best book I have ever read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A moving and Passionate book

Very well narrated. You will feel tears of joy, sadness and horror through this very well written book. I really enjoyed the way the author described feelings. Very moving. Metaphorically speaking: It felt to me like the forbidden love was being punished by the war that followed. Or perhaps the separation of that Love caused the war.
My only regret is that I did not purchased the unabridged version elsewhere. Audibly only had the abridge version.

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

the wonderful birdsong

have read the book and it's a wonderful story. narrator OK maybe too harsh.

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

Great war descriptions

Preferred reading the sections about the war, the romance story is not for me. Liked the time span generational setting of the book.

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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

The reader has nice French pronunciation.

Really great story recalling the pointlessness of the"Great" war. I did like the reader's style.

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