Moving performances

Very moving performances of this wonderfully written book - Thank you. I feel sad to have finished it!

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Loved it

I’ve never read Maggie OFarrell before but I definitely am again. This was a great story with brilliant narration I cannot recommend highly enough

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Good book but needs editing

Good narrators and interesting story, but over long in the middle. Unusually for this author I felt there was quite a bit of padding that didn't add to the book, but in fact detracted from overall enjoyment. If I'd been reading rather than listening I would have skipped a couple of entire chapters in the middle.

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Interesting structure. Nice prose. Dull plot and characters.

I enjoyed the structure of this novel, which is formed of interlinking, over lapping narratives told from different perspectives. On a few occasions a new character is introduced who, while not part of the broader story, either throws light on on some aspect of it or turns out to be influential in some way. I'm not sure if I have come across that before and I thought it was cleverly done.
The writing is good enough to keep you listening with some rather nice prose. However, for me, the plot and characters weren't interesting or subtle enough to make me recommend this read to others. I'll probably not be put off reading more from this author though.

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Wonderful storytelling and characters!

Loved this multi- layered, different time horizon story. The characters and the voices vividly bringing to life Daniel and Claudette. Another cracker from Maggie O'Farrell.

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7 people found this helpful

I love her books but this was a disappointment. Narration very good

I found this book a bit slow-going and couldn't really get into the characters the way I have with previous Maggie O'Farrell books. I wonder if the fact I read them and listened to this one made any difference, but I'd be surprised if it did because the narration was really good and believable.

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5 people found this helpful

So so good

I really enjoyed this book. Different voices were used for different characters. I thought the audiobook bought the story to life. Great author as well. Must listen

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3 people found this helpful

Pulls you in....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book was recommended to me - I don't think I would have picked it otherwise. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I shall be reading other books by this author.

What other book might you compare This Must Be the Place to, and why?

The story generally reminded me of the books by Anita Shreve - with lots of description and study about what the characters are feeling.

What does Thomas Judd and Penelope Rawlins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The narration really added to the experience. I find more and more I enjoy listening to books rather than reading them - it feels so much more immersive. You get all the advantages of a book (you use your imagination to conjure up the characters in your head), but the dialogue parts are much easier with narration. Plus you can listen while you get chores done!!!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There is a very sweet sub story line running through this book about Daniel's mother. I found it really touching. There were some intensely sad parts that were incredibly emotional, but so well written.

Any additional comments?

Some of the stories feel a bit disjointed - but hang in there because everything comes together. A wonderful book about false starts, premature finishes and everything that precedes and follows.

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Very hard to get into

I really had to preserve with this book. Lots of different stories interlinked. very sudden ending.

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Great story

Enjoyed this book. Happy ending (sort of). Great narration well written listened to it within a week.

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