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Still Life

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Still Life

By: Sarah Winman
Narrated by: Sarah Winman
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About this listen

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF DYMOCKS BOOK OF THE YEAR
A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2021
A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK
WINNER OF THE INWORDS LITERARY AWARD

‘Sheer joy' Graham Norton

‘Utterly beautiful … filled with hope’ Joanna Cannon, author of Three Things About Elsie

’A gorgeous, generous story of kind hearts and kindred spirits’ Daily Mirror

From the author of When God was a Rabbit and Tin Man, Still Life is a big-hearted story of the families we forge and the friendships that make us.

1944, Italy. As bombs fall around them, two strangers meet in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa and share an extraordinary evening.

Ulysses Temper is a young British soldier, Evelyn Skinner a 64-year-old art historian living life on her own terms. She has come to salvage paintings from the wreckage of war and relive memories of her youth when her heart was stolen by an Italian maid in a particular room with a view. Ulysses’ chance encounter with Evelyn will transform his life – and all those who love him back home in London – forever.

Uplifting, sweeping and full of unforgettable characters, Still Life is a novel about beauty, love, family and friendship.

‘THE most beautiful book … it will stay with me a long time’ Sara Cox, BBC Two’s Between the Covers

‘Extraordinary . . . my book of the year’ Liz Nugent, author of Our Little Cruelties

‘Moving, wise, poetic and funny’ Daily Mail

‘Winman’s pages teem with boisterous, exuberant life’ Sunday Times

Sunday Times bestseller 09/06/2021

©2021 Sarah Winman (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited 20th Century Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Italy Heartfelt Feel-Good Tear-jerking War

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All stars
Most relevant  
After listening for a number of hours I got the feeling that the characters felt a bit harsh in this performance and I wasn’t loving the book as much as I’d been advised that I would. It felt a bit negative, a lot of characters talking through their teeth when the sentence is followed by ‘she laughed’ or something that implies a bit more lightheartedness or humour.
So I switched to reading it and it makes a big difference. Moments that were quite nice in the audio are actually beautiful in the book. I think Sarah does a great job but this a book that brings all emotions and in my opinion requires the fluidity of our imagination which is restricted by it being read to us. When listening I quite enjoyed it, when reading I’ve smiled, cried and laughed. Amazing book.

Read it, don’t listen to it

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Still Life by Sarah Winman is exceptional.

Ulysses encounters Evelyn in Florence in the last days of his WWII. Evelyn is an art restorer, poet and so enigmatic she may well be a spy. Opening his eyes to another world Ulysses never fully settles when he returns to the East End and his colourful ensemble of family and friends.

When the opportunity presents itself to return to Italy, so begins the next stage of his life as Ulysses, Alys, Cressie and Claude embark on a journey across a continent and transpose a world.

The characters are utterly fantastic and their dialogue is razor sharp and often both touching and hilarious. I loved Cressie and Claude is a lovely touch. Perhaps a little too long (I’m not sure we needed the final reminiscing back to EM Forster) but a highly recommended 4.5*

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author. Probably the best narration I have ever listened to.

Exceptional

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This is one you will read and recommend to everyone you know. Just a lovely story with characters that are really brought to life. Thankfully, not really about artworks, so persevere beyond the first couple of chapters.

A. Fabulous story

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Our book club gave it a unanimous 10/10 which is unheard of. Sarah’s performance was captivating, the descriptions rich, I felt like the characters were my family and I was so sad to
finish it that I will be buying the actual book so I can read it all over again. Thank you Sarah Winman for this absolute gem of a story; uplifting, heartwarming, inclusive and magical. Genius!!!! ♥️♥️♥️

Absolutely enchanting

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This book is one of my favourites of the year, thus far. It is warm and gentle. Exploring friendships, family in all its guises and romantic relationships against a backdrop of community, post war England and Italy and art history. I have read the book in hard copy and heard the writer read the book and both were exquisite experiences.

I loved how Sarah Winman brought the characters to life and the fact that I cared so much about all of them, including Florence, not just the location of part of the book but a character in its own right.

Claude’s pronouncements may have seemed far fetched but I was swept away with the narrative and happy go along with his safe words at opportune times.

I would definitely recommend this book

A gentle exploration of what it is to love.

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I absolutely loved this story, the characters are so vivid and so real, I laughed and cried with them throughout and definitely did not want this to end. I will buy the book and cherish it. A beautifully written story of life and people and hope.

Incredible

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Thé book was marvellous snd thé reading fantastic. I normally hate funny accents but the voices were perfect, especially Cressy

Fantastic

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This is a beautiful novel. I cannot recommend it enough. All things in life, the good, the bad..are all 'still life'. The chance encounters, the connections we make, the small acts of kindness we offer or are offered by others, all have a significance and beauty. This book is life enhancing, showing that above all love and connection are what matters. Life is rich

the best download in years

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I found this book incredibly absorbing, thought provoking and deeply moving. Having it read by the author enormously enhanced my pleasure. I highly recommend it.

Brilliant evocation of love, loss and Florence

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A great recommendation from Joanna Cannon. Such a beautiful story. Italy is now on my bucket list!

A must read

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