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Affinity

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Affinity

By: Sarah Waters
Narrated by: Juanita McMahon
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About this listen

Set in and around the women's prison at Milbank in the 1870's, Affinity is an eerie and utterly compelling ghost story, a complex and intriguing literary mystery, and a poignant love story with an unexpected twist in the tale.

Following the death of her father, Margaret Prior has decided to pursue some 'good work' with the lady criminals of one of London's most notorious gaols. Surrounded by prisoners, murderers, and common thieves, Margaret feels herself drawn to one of the prison's more unlikely inmates - the imprisoned spiritualist Selina Dawes.

Sympathetic to the plight of this innocent-seeming girl, Margaret sees herself dispensing guidance and perhaps friendship on her visits, little expecting to find herself dabbling in a twilight world of seances, shadows, unruly spirits, and unseemly passions.

©1999 Sarah Waters (P)1999 W F Howes Ltd Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Mystery

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Critic reviews

"Spooky, spellbinding, exquisitely written . . . I do believe Waters is on the way to becoming a major literary star" (Val Hennessy)
"Indeed, this is such a brilliant writer that her readers would believe anything she told them" (A. N. Wilson, Daily Mail)
"Refined, repressed and simmering . . . a delicious tale of Victorian spiritualism" (Mel Steel, Independent on Sunday)
All stars
Most relevant  
I really enjoyed this book, although the twist wasn't that unexpected, it still made me gasp. I loved the readingn, I thought it was well done and did the story justice.

So interesting and a great twist

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This novel is dense and full of the neurotic daydreams and fantasies of the troubled main characters.

It takes place in Autumn and Winter so best to read it when the nights are drawing in, wrapped up on the sofa!!!

Claustrophobic Spooky Thrills

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Found it slow and the old voices a little grating at first but glad I stuck with it. Couldn’t stop listening once engaged: locked in. 👏🏻

Slow burn but held you once captured!

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Affinity is on my Masters reading list, and I decided to get the audiobook and save myself some time trying to fit the reading into my day - really worth it. MacMahon has a real knack for finding each character's voice, and really brings Waters's words to life - going to have to take some time to process that ending though!

Heart - melting Twist!

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I found that despite my misgivings of the setting, it was a worthwhile read.
Nothing explicit, very romantic, but enjoyable

The in improbable made readable

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Would you try another book written by Sarah Waters or narrated by Juanita McMahon?

Probably not.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Not read a review first.

Have you listened to any of Juanita McMahon’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Haven't heard any of her other performances.

Was Affinity worth the listening time?

Just about.

Any additional comments?

I looked at a couple of Amazon reviews to see what others thought before spending a credit on a new (to me) author. Unfortunately the person gave away a massive plot spoiler which completely ruined the story for me.

Spoiled by an Amazon review

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If you like Victorian literature you will like this novel, her style reminded my quite of Charles Dickens, I don't personally like Victorian literature, but the beginning of the book was very gripping and I really liked the end, the middle however was really slow, like Dickens. If your likes are more modernist or postmodern this might not be a novel for you.

If you like Victorian literature

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Unusual story that keeps you guessing. I felt a bit let down by the end hence 4 stars. Very atmospheric.

Unusual Tale

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raced to the finish. loved it. waters brings to life Victorian women's prison. master storyteller. McMahon reads beautifully.

gripping story.

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Brilliant themes/ the psychic world / details but totally confused as to who was speaking and when - dates kept moving back and for wards.

Compelling but confusing

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