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Absolutely and Forever

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Absolutely and Forever

By: Rose Tremain
Narrated by: Jane McDowell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A piercing story of thwarted love and true friendship from one of our greatest living writers

Marianne Clifford, 15, only child of a peppery army colonel and his vain wife, Lal, falls helplessly and absolutely for Simon Hurst, 18, whose cleverness and physical beauty suggest that he will go forward into a successful and monied future, helped on by doting parents. But fate intervenes. Simon's plans are blown off course, and Marianne is forced to bury her dreams of a future together.

Narrating her own story, characterising herself as ignorant and unworthy, Marianne's telling use of irony and smart thinking gradually suggest to us that she has underestimated her own worth. We begin to believe that - in the end, supported by her courageous Scottish friend, Petronella - she will find the life she never stops craving. But what we can't envisage is that beneath his blithe exterior, Simon Hurst has been nursing a secret which will alter everything.

©2023 Rose Tremain (P)2023 Penguin Audio Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant  
Liked the way the characters behaved against type. Liked the 50s vibe. Liked the length. Very succinct. Liked women’s pov. No dislikes

Biba

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Beautifully written as you would expect from this author. Each character is very real. But I need more. A longer, more complex story inhabited by the characters I feel I almost get to know. This is almost a tease of a book. Not quite enough depth . Not quite enough narrative.
However, performed to perfection.

A poignant tale

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Compulsive listening. I had to get to the end even though I hated the protagonist and really didn’t want to hear any more whinging from her! Something Muriel Sparkish about it. Excellently narrated.

Compulsive

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Absolutely loved this wonderful evocative book, felt sad when it ended. Beautifully written as ever by Rose Tremain!

Superb

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What a twist at the end … loved all
Of it. First book of Rose Tremain and won’t be the last

Beautifully narrated

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A quite unique writing style. Evocative of an era I can barely remember. Showing great insight into the plight of unrequited love. The narrator read beautifully and was perfect in the role. I was sad when it finished and wanted more. Always the sign of a good book.

Original and charming

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I think the reader may have been trying to represent the narrator/heroine’s style, but she sounded often like an AI voice. A shame, as it’s a rather beautiful book.

The narration was very flat.

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I really loved the story until the end when the denouement was hard to believe

Great recall of the 1970s

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What a wonderful story … a true evocation of the sixties, first love, class etc.
such beautiful narration. I didn’t want it to end.

Perfection

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Listened in one sitting-took a few minutes to get used to the narrator but really enjoyed it-a love story by Rose Tremain ,possibly my favourite writer. Not her best ever book and definitely not her longest but a good listen.

Love story

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