Thought provoking

Where does The Son-In-Law rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Different. More than a just a tale. As much time spent thinking about it as listening to it.

What did you like best about this story?

I thought the characterisation was good. Sympathy with characters was switchable. There really was no real hero or heroine. These were real people, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. My general sympathy was with the murderer and anti the mother-in-law but the author was able to switch this at times. .

Which scene did you most enjoy?

No. The book is a unit.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book is very moving. A father who has lost a wife and children. A mother [and father] who have lost their daughter and want, what they see as, the best for their grandchildren. Confused children who have lost their mother and father. All these a good people, there are no baddies. We may think that they (who?) are misguided.

Any additional comments?

The author presents a problem without an easy solution. Possibly without a solution and we must form our own. My only question of the book was the introduction of a romance factor which, I felt, added an unnecessary complication. Perhaps the author realised this and rather abandoned it and I felt it added nothing. The extra character was interesting but added nothing to the essence of the book. A thought provoking book, well constructed with sympathetic development of characters. Amazingly no evil characters we can blame, just ordinary people with an extraordinary problem

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6 people found this helpful

Phenomenal

This is the best book I've listened to or read this year. Beautifully observed and sensitivily written with performances that complemented the brilliant wtiting. It was heartbreaking and life affirming but never sentimental. This should be compulsory reading for anyone working with children caught up in the adult world of Court directed contact or working with those who have broken the law and caused harm and pain to others An exploration of loss and the toxicity of hate and our human need to be loved and to love. The characters were complex and flawed and very human. The ending was perhaps a little too tidy but didn't detract from what is a wonderful emotional tour de force.

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Charming and disarming

Thoroughly enjoyed the book from beginning to end. Having multiple narrators added a level that increased the enjoyment even more.

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The son in law

David Nellists narration was very good. Loved the story and had tears at the end.

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Beautiful story - so real and moving

I enjoyed the story and the narration was very good. Some very difficult topics covered genuinely and sensitively. Thoroughly recommend.

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A must listen

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I loved this book, ive listen to many and find it hard to find books that keep me wanting to listen but this is one of those.

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6 people found this helpful

very clever story

If you could sum up The Son-In-Law in three words, what would they be?

families are strange

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have

Any additional comments?

as the story progresses you keep changing who you sympathise with. such a clever book

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Beautiful endearing story

I really loved this story. The lives of each of the carachters wss flawed yet lovable. I didnt want it to end

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Vvivacious story

What did you like most about The Son-In-Law?

I liked the way the story progresses and unravel in a way you would never have guessed at the start of the story.

What other book might you compare The Son-In-Law to, and why?

I categorize this book along with "Chocolat", "No child of mine" in the section of realistic urging to view certain issues from another point of view.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

They could have been the characters in the book themselves.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The complete story moved me. Especially the parts in which Scarlet tells the story.

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Moving

I was pulled into this very moving story straight away easily relating to all its characters who take it in turns to narrate as it moves forward. It kept me hooked all along and often tight throated from empathy. And even if it is perhaps a little predictable the author manages to insightfully and adroitly portray the raw feelings of each of the characters and their inner conflicts. The only negative point for me was the one or two unnecessarily silly child narratives. But I certainly do reccomend it.

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