One Big Damn Puzzler cover art

One Big Damn Puzzler

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One Big Damn Puzzler

By: John Harding
Narrated by: Peter Brooke
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About this listen

On a remote South Pacific island, the struggles of an elderly tribesman to translate Hamlet into local pidgin English are interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected visitor. William Hardt is an obsessive young American lawyer who has come to help. From that moment on, nothing will ever be the same - for what (and who) William finds on the island will challenge both his and our notions about love, life, and even death.

©2005 John Harding (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd Literature & Fiction

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Critic reviews

"Harding's humour is close to hysteria...the novel is that rare thing - painfully funny." ( Daily Mail)
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Story started slowly but I soon got into it. Laughed my rocks off at times and at others melancholy. A superb book, thoroughly recommended

Marvellous

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If you could sum up One Big Damn Puzzler in three words, what would they be?

fantastic, spiritual, groundbreaking

What did you like best about this story?

The cultural insight, getting a feel for the values of other tribes

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

Have not heared him before, but he's doing a great job

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end ... sobbing away

Loved every minute of it

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I’m not a big free reader or relistener of books but this is one where I feel as though I’ve lost a friend when it ended. I Highly recommended.

Loved

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Ok, so I read the reviews and thought I could do with a 'laugh out loud' story to listen to. Also, as a person with (I think) a good sense of humour, I usually have no trouble in 'getting' the joke and laughing along with the rest of them.

However, apart from the pigeon English of the natives, which I have to say was brilliantly portrayed by Peter Brooke, who narrated this story excellently, I was not all that amused really.

I feel sorry for sufferers of OCD, but it did get a bit tedious when I had to suffer the minute and repetitive description of the condition and its manifestations.

The story ended well for the main character, but tragically for the islanders. This does give a sad reflection on modern life which is always a good thing to confront and consider, but all in all, not a story I would want to listen to again in a year or so.

One Big Damn Puzzle?

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A clash of cultures story played out between a compassionate OCD American lawyer and the indigenous people of a Pacific island. Funny for the most part and uncomfortably thought provoking in places.

A well narrated bittersweet comedy

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I loved this book John Harding is a fantastic author looking forward to reading another of his books, the narration was great Peter Brook brought the book alive funny and poignant

Brilliant

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If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Readers who enjoy being immersed in a sense of ridiculousness.

What could John Harding have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not used, the impossible to understand, islander's accents

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Peter Brooke?

No opinion

What character would you cut from One Big Damn Puzzler?

All of them

Any additional comments?

I had to finish it but it was a hard slog.

Hated this lavatorial story

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I couldn't get past the narrator's voice - I found it really irritating so unfortunately I can't say if the story was any good or not!

I can't listen to this any more

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