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The Martins

By: David Foenkinos, Sam Taylor - translator
Narrated by: Charles Johnston
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Summary

A disillusioned Parisian writer finds inspiration in the ordinary lives of his neighbors, the Martins.

Is it true that every life is the stuff of novels? Or are some people just too ordinary?

This is the question a struggling Parisian writer asks when he challenges himself to write about the first person he sees when he steps outside his apartment. Secretly hoping to meet the beautiful woman who occasionally smokes on his street, he instead sets eyes on octogenarian Madeleine. She’s happy to become the subject of his project, but first she needs to put her shopping away….

Wondering if his project is doomed to be hopelessly banal, he soon finds himself tangled in the lives of Madeleine’s family. Though calm on the surface, the Martins have secrets, troubles, and woes, and the writer discovers that the most compelling story is that of an ordinary life.
©2022 Gallic Books (P)2022 Gallic Books
Fiction Literary Fiction
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Critic reviews

"A wonderful surprise." (L'Express)

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Listener received this title free

Different and interesting

This was an interesting listen

The structure of the book is unusual being a book about a book. I found the characters entertaining and their lives of interest.

The narrator was easy to listen to and clear

There was a good pace to the book (I like the short chapters to keep it moving)

I would recommend

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