Engrossing, emotional

This is my first audiobook - and I'm sold! It's such a different experience from reading but really enjoyable. This book in particular works so well. The narrator really gets to grips with Edie's failing memory and growing confusion; and Jonah's personal traumas are just as vividly recreated. It's a novel with many layers and strong character voices that the narrator deftly brought to life. While there aren't always happy endings in this world of Edie and Jonah there is still love, laughter, and ultimately hope.

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don't be put off by some negative reviews.

The story is sometimes confusing because it jumps over time and continents and because both narrators are, in their own ways, unreliable. And that is the point of this beautiful, colourful and erratic tale. Whether you like the characters or not, their stories are thoroughly believable and engaging. There is some very talented writing as the author gives us a realistic glimpse into the inner dialogue of a woman with dementia, as her mind fractures. And there is gentle humour as she plays with an african man's view of the eccentricities of the English language. The narration is excellent too and seamless. I strongly recommend this.

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Enjoyable.

Adjoa Andoh is a very skilled voice actress however, I'm not a huge fan of readers who put on lots of different voices for different characters nor when an audio book has more than two readers. What I enjoyed the most was how the two, unlikely protagonists became entangled together and how their relationship develops. I found both characters intriguing and funny and could've happily listened to a lot more about them and their time shared together. The main issue I had with this book is how much the author dwelled on the characters pasts because I would switch off after a while during these parts and I'd rather the author had spent more time on the present but overall I thought it was a good story.

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1 person found this helpful

An engaging story.

Only thing that spoiled it was the Cockney accents of the Somerset people! Otherwise an absorbing read.

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fantastic

not my usual genre but a fantastic story well written and brilliantly read enthralling five-star

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3 people found this helpful

Thoughtful and Moving

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. An unusual story which offers great insight into two lives so different but so closely aligned. The narration was superb - I think the best I have experienced - and it is hard to believe it was only one person!

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Unlikely friendship

This is the time when I write a review that is different to the general consensus. I disagree with a lot of the negative comments and would recommend this book.

I greatly enjoyed the story and thought it was written with passion and understanding, it is an unlikely friendship and some of the early part of the story had me laughing out loud. As the book progressed there were some equally sad moments that made your heart sink and sadness wash over you.

I loved the way Jonah often did not understand English people with his African upbringing and values, he was desperately trying to understand the meaning of what people say and their actions. His sense of family community and looking after the elders was touching and real, a trait that is often sadly lacking nowaday.
No spoilers but when Edie was in hospital and he described the scene on the ward with the nurses and doctors attending her, Jonah felt that no one truly cared about Edie as they were all wrapped up with their own lives, I found this quite haunting but could empathise with his views.

Jonahs story was very sad and the desperation of these refugees for a better future anywhere rather than where they are is described very well.

Edies story is equally well told, despite the reviews to the contrary.

I am a fan of Adjoa Andoh, but I felt it was not her best performance.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

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5 people found this helpful

Two stories in one book

It was a rather interesting listen. Particularly that it contains story about old age and memory loss plus a story about immigration. Main characters were very well made and narrator done amazing job.

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Jonah from Malawi

I struggled with the middle part of this book. I was committed to finishing it because of Jonah's storyline/plot and the impact of climate change , livelihood and poverty. Eti's story for me felt like a framework we were being given to tell Jonah's story. It was too much for me to have such strong characters and as such felt like Eti's story fell flat. Andoa Anjoh is a brilliant narratar. She didn't get the Chewa accent as Jonah at times sounded Nigerian and in some.parts Zimbabwean but she was good at bringing his character to life

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1 person found this helpful

Refreshing and captivating.

This book genuinely surprised me - I loved the narrative, both in terms of the language and the storytelling. It gave me lots of fuel for thought at the same time as being an enjoyable and entertaining story. Excellent narration as well.

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