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My Name Is Leon

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My Name Is Leon

By: Kit de Waal
Narrated by: Lenny Henry
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE IRISH NOVEL PRIZE

Penguin presents the audio edition of My Name is Leon, read by Sir Lenny Henry.

Now a major BBC film starring Sir Lenny Henry, Malachi Kirby, Monica Dolan, Olivia Williams and Christopher Eccleston.

It's 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. The Dukes of Hazzard is on TV. Curly Wurlys are in the shops. And trying to find a place in it all is nine-year-old Leon. He and his little brother Jake have gone to live with Maureen. They've lost one home, but have they found another?

Maureen feeds and looks after them. She has wild red hair and mutters swearwords under her breath when she thinks they can't hear. She claims everything will be okay. But will they ever see their mother again? Who are the couple who secretly visit Jake? Between the street violence and the street parties, Leon must find a way to reunite his family...

©2016 Kit de Waal (P)2016 Penguin Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Tear-jerking

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this was a lovely story that i would widely reccomend. it is emotive but its strength is not being realustic rather than sensationalist or syrupy sweet. whist it is set in the 80's i think the experience of children in care has not changed signifigantly. the themes of identdy, belonging and human relationships are all explored artfully making for a good if at times emotional listern. Lenny Henry is one of my favourire narrator's and he has done an excellent job here with his characterisations, a subtle proformance which enhances the story

excellent

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downloaded this book on the recommendation of YouTuber Lauren and the Books and was delighted with it.
It's sad and funny at the same time and gave me an insight into 80's Britain one I looked at through the TV as a child in Northern Ireland. Really made me think about a lot of things. This book is a must!

Get me more narrations by Lenny Henry!!

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This book is wonderful. Full of surprises. Lenny Henry was easily the right narrator. Fantastic

Fabulous book.

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So different, being told from a child's point of view. Such a clever book covering so many complex aspects of life. Absolutely loved the narrator and was sad when it finished. Would 100% recommend!

just brilliant in every way.

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an interesting story well written from the child's perspective. very well narrated by Lenny Henry.

excellent narration

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I really enjoyed this book - not my usual choice of genre, but glad I read it, especially as an audible book. Kit de Waal has done a great job of writing this book, but I think Lenny Henry in his narration brought the characters to life.

Excellent story telling by Lenny Henry

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Took me back to those days, everything about it resonated in terms of time, place, people, situations. It also became clear how little has changed since then in terms of racial intolerance and lack of support where it's needed among other things.

It was effortless to read and listen to, and a joy, despite the sadness, which was always there, but I could not love this book if I tried ... incredible close third person narration, giving the reader everything they need. I honestly will remember it forever.

Lennie Henry performed this book. In many guises. Brilliantly.

You love Leon from the start, in the tender scene between him and baby Jake. With his mother Carole so mentally unwell, bless her, he took on a huge responsibility that would challenge any adult, never mind a young boy of nine years old. He's my hero. It melts you, saddens you and inspires you. He was so grown up, he had to be, but there was always a little reminder that he is a child, one who was forced to overcome many obstacles in his young life.

I loved the attention to the smallest detail Leon noticed about everything and everyone around him even though his listening in gave him more trouble than he wanted. Everyone in this story has a purpose and place and no one stepped on the other's toes.

I love the way Kit de Waal brings the image of the Zebra, Earring, Tuftie in her writing, and Maureen (love her) and Sylvia (got to love her, eventually!) allowing us to see life in this traumatic situation from the child's viewpoint yet removed enough that we get to know the bigger picture, which Leon wouldn't have been able to do if the narrator was in first person. I had a feeling Mr Delvlin was a good guy and there was some awful history there.

This is a story of hope, courage, acceptance, love and more. It is a masterpiece in my eyes.

Loved every second of this, it will stay with me.

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Leon is a child trying his best to make sense of his reality while being let down by his mother who is incapable of looking after him and his baby brother. The writer manages to give us a look inside the child’s head, showing how he thinks and feels during a harrowing childhood. Very moving book.

Moving account of a child’s point of view while being fostered.

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I dont usually write reviews but this is one of the best books ive had on here,brilliant story that will have you laughing and crying.Lenny Henry is the best narrator ever ,such feeling in his voice .

fantastic !!

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The story is incredible and Lenny Henry is extraordinarily good. His character voices are all authentic, and none more so than the voice of Leon. The story is so compelling that, although I tried to ration it, I failed. I can’t recommend it highly enough, I feel forever changed for reading it.

Best audio book I’ve ever listened to

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