I Am an Island cover art

I Am an Island

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I Am an Island

By: Tamsin Calidas
Narrated by: Tamsin Calidas
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

When Tamsin Calidas first arrives on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides, it feels like coming home. Disenchanted by London, she and her husband left the city and high-flying careers to move the 500 miles north, despite having absolutely no experience of crofting or of island life. It was idyllic, for a while. But as the months wear on, the children she'd longed for fail to materialise and her marriage breaks down, Tamsin finds herself in ever-increasing isolation.

Injured, ill, without money or friend, she is pared right back, stripped to becoming simply a raw element of the often harsh landscape. But with that immersion in her surroundings comes the possibility of rebirth and renewal. Tamsin begins the slow journey back from the brink.

Startling, raw and extremely moving, I Am an Island is a story about the incredible ability of the natural world to provide when everything else has fallen away - a stunning audiobook about solitude, friendship, resilience and self-discovery.

©2020 Tamsin Calidas (P)2020 Penguin Audio Marriage Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring

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Critic reviews

"Completely astonishing...the fragility of life transcended and restored by the triumphant pull of a determination to survive." (Juliet Nicolson)
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An incredibly sad tale of a bullying community within a the breathtaking beauty of the natural world, told in a poetic, ethereal andromantic style.
I listened in horror of the bullying of the islanders in this unnamed community. Why does she stay I asked my self so many times? I really did not get the sense of love that Calidas speaks of, only hatred jealously and distrussed. Was it really so bad, was everyone on this island like this?? It seems so hard to believe. Crystal her only friend seemed absent much of the time. I suggest the deep depression that engulfs her, fuelled her feelings. The brutality of some creating a sense that everyone was against her. Those people will know who they are and what they did. I hope they read this and learn and feel some of her pain. However, I fear that this story may turn others against her who feel they did not get a fair hearing because there are no voices of support.
Calidas says things are changing, people are becoming more open. I truly hope this is the case. Despite its beauty, this doesn't feel like a place I would want to visit. I learned from the story, it made me think but I cannot say I enjoyed it.

A sad tale of bullying, depression, and nature

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Quite a heart rending story of one woman’s long battle to become accepted on a remote Scottish island. Intriguing, so sad in places, beautifully observing of the detail of nature; uplifting in places too. I enjoyed listening! Thanks Tamsin.

Very detailed and full account

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Loved It. Loved It. Deep and Honest. A wonderfull reminder of our Human resiliance .

Thank You. Thank You.

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Beautifully written, well read and would make a great novel. Think Wuthers x Lord of Flies, with numerous drunk and angry Scottish blokes leaping up in each chapter. Protagonist is (of course) utterly charming.

By half way through I had SO many questions, why was she living on leaves? Would no one even give her a packet of cereal ? My belief in the abysmal way she was treated for being a female without a traditional Scots skin, was faltering as her introspection just grew and grew, effectively blotting out the magnificence of the journey.

Found myself skipping past significant events (i.e attempted suicide - sorry, spoiler) and just willing her to live, but please just get on the boat, leave the island in peace, go back home. Assuming she did, sadly I found I didn't care enough to find out.

Read first installment of chapter 3 (the self indulgent naked extreme swimming one) , before checking to see how much more there was to plough through. Too much. Gave up.

I really DO hope she's happy now, or if not, pray I don't stumble across another book dissecting feelings. Sometimes what is outside of the box is more interesting than its contents.

Confusing

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I loved it , the author 's every experience and scenery is richly and beautifully described.

Unique

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Beautifully written and the narration is spoken with a tenderness that befits the content. I recommend for sure.

Beautiful

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A beautifully written, read, descriptive story spoke to
me on so many levels. A must read, highly recommend this.

Beautiful book

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Raw, hurtful and honest.
At times it’s a hard read. Brutally honest with some of the cruelty from people. Overall hopeful

Raw

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Interesting story. Towny southerner protagonist. Git of a husband. Horrible locals. Way way too many adjectives...

Less is more

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A beautifully descriptive, raw and realistic account, of incomers to rural island life, and how it ultimately contributes to picking apart a relationship.

With True grit and determination Tamsin not only goes on to survives island crafting life solo, but finds the time to write her memoirs.

Island life, what could possibly go wrong

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