its a saga

i love period novels in particular sagas. this has everything. im halfway through and so far we've had rags to riches as well as family conflict. the signs are lookung good for the rest of the book ie i have unanswered questions and the plot could go several ways.
im torn, i cant put it down yet i dont wamt it to end lol

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It was ok

I finished it but it was a slog. Not as engaging as others in the same genre. And although I normally never mind bad accents - I have to agree with other reviews at times this was poor. The editing as well was really annoying.

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Good read

I read this book and it’s sequel many years ago and enjoyed listening to it again, but found the readers voice and pronunciation of some of the words most irritating. However, it did not stop me getting fully involved in the story.

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Great story

I’ve read this book and the sequels several times over the years, so when I spotted the audiobook in the plus catalogue I couldn’t wait to listen to it! Unfortunately the narrator’s attempt at a Yorkshire accent was more Scottish/Irish and very distracting.

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Such a brilliant book - Wish the Tv series was more like the book

Such a brilliant story - you really get into the characters - agree I wish the person reading the story used the correct language of the time ie two pence should be pronounced tuppence - but still really enjoyable book

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Still a good listen.

Always enjoy this book as I have it in paperback. If you can ignore the narraters attempt at a Yorkshire accent which made me wince, its worth a listen.

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Good story

Quite interesting tale but slow to get going just a great pity about the narrator very bad pronunciation of certain places and words

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Excellent 'story', but narration failed (accents!)

I love this book. I want everyone to enjoy it as much as I did! Please 'read' it though... I really don't like to criticise, but there are 2 issues with this narration:

1) Canadian actor narrating with an English accent. For a long time I couldn't understand what was wrong with her 'posh' English accent and then it hit me... English accent with 'Americanised' pronounciation of words. So, for example, the car brand "Jaguar" is pronounced "Jag Waaarrrr" and South African names like "Cronje" pronounced "Cron Jeee" and certain British place names murdered. Once I understood that it didn't bother me so much - you can't know what you don't know :-) However, just read it in your native Canadian accent, Justine, you have a lovely voice and the story would flow better. Or, just let a Brit do it.

2) Actor can't do any other 'non posh' accent except a generic 'Irish brogue' - this is ironic as the company, who produced the more recent 'All Creatures Great and Small' series are going to start filming Hardacre as a TV series... in Ireland ;-) But it did, sadly, spoil large chunks of dialogue... a strong quay-side Bridlington accent is a generic 'to be sure, to be sure' type of accent. Men sound like Teresa May, in that way that a young boy might sound, when their voice is about to break... it's very off-putting.

That all said, fortunately, the story is good enough to enjoy it. I still got a lot out of the story and also the second book, "Hardacres Luck", which I didn't know existed until Audible suggested it. The second book is very different, but I would say it will be worth a visit for those who were invested in the characters from "Hardacre".

To the critics who were a bit down on the book in their reviews I would say that you have to understand CL Skelton's style. He wrote screenplays and was encouraged by a friend to write a novel and that style is apparent. Which is why (I HOPE!) the TV series is a triumph and doesn't a) scrimp on or alter the story, and b) doesn't go all 'woke' and mildly preachy as the newer "All Creatures Great and Small" story has a tendency to do, as much as I really enjoyed that.

I'd love to hear this book read by Stephen Fry or Dawn French (apologies to anyone who might be rolling their eyes at the suggestions) as they can carry the tempo, comedy/tragedy, accent switches and pronounciation with aplomb! (By the way, I'm not having a go at Justine, I just think limitations should be managed better - as I said... lovely voice, just don't worry about trying to attempt accents you don't know).

Enjoy!

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Excruciating narration

The dreadful narration ruined a good story. I stayed with it to the end, but I would not listen to another book narrated by this person. Quite apart from the ridiculously inaccurate Yorkshire accent, there were mispronunciations all through.

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Excellent attention to detail

Very good book. I was impressed by the level of research that had clearly gone into the writing. Believable and authentic. Recommended!

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