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The Wolf Border

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The Wolf Border

By: Sarah Hall
Narrated by: Louise Brealey
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About this listen

For almost a decade, Rachel Caine has turned her back on home, kept distant by family disputes and her work monitoring wolves on an Idaho reservation. But now, summoned by the eccentric earl of Annerdale and his controversial scheme to reintroduce the grey wolf to the English countryside, she is back in the peat and wet light of the Lake District.

The earl's project harks back to an ancient idyll of untamed British wilderness - though Rachel must contend with modern-day concessions to health and safety, public outrage, and political gain - and the return of the grey after hundreds of years coincides with her own regeneration: impending motherhood and reconciliation with her estranged family.

The Wolf Border investigates the fundamental nature of wilderness and wildness, both animal and human. It seeks to understand the most obsessive aspects of humanity: sex, love, and conflict; the desire to find answers to the question of our existence; those complex systems that govern the most superior creature on Earth.

©2014 Sarah Hall (P)2015 Audible, Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Wolf Heartfelt Wilderness

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Critic reviews

"What an achievement - so vivid, so visceral, so vital. I can see the wolves and the characters in the landscape like a movie in my head. Every time I picked it up, I struggled to put it down again. It’s a beautiful construction." (Val McDermid)
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What made the experience of listening to The Wolf Border the most enjoyable?

This is a fabulous book...the story of re- wilding the north reads like a fable, and the quiet, laconic hero, Rachel, grips the reader from the start

What did you like best about this story?

The language is precise, surprising and beautiful. I want to go to Cumbria now to see if it really is as spectacular as Hall represents it, but I feel sure it is. The characters too are intriguing - there is nothing mundane about about this beautiful novel and each character lives a full life, even those whose role is only fleeting. I found it magical.

Which character – as performed by Louise Brealey – was your favourite?

I thought she did a good job of each of them.... Varied accents, classes, ages.

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

The opening scene where the wolf tracks the child, and the closing scene where she tracks the wolf pack were utterly gripping...real edge of the seat, adrenalin pumping narrative. Unexpected in such a literary novel, and massively rewarding.

Any additional comments?

A remarkable, brilliant novel.

Fabulous book

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I do have doubts about re-wilding, but this is a good story with convincing characters and deeply explored emotions.

Remarkable and moving

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A fascinating, enjoyable read. Initially I felt the book lacked tension plot-wise, there was a sense that all the tension was before rather than the now of the present tense narration, and the book seemed be more concerned about resolution of previous issues BUT by the end, and I won't give this away, the tension really picks up to its dramatic conclusion, which was the whole point all along. Very exciting, heartbreaking and dramatic.

The book is full of the fecundity its nature the beautiful landscapes of Cumbria, quite beautifully and poignantly depicted. And the glorious wolves, loping through the undergrowth are echoed cleverly through the human relationships throughout the book

It is a book of the wilderness rewilding the natural world what wilderness really means to humans and other animals and how we as humans control it.

Great characterisation. Great narration.

Intriguing and Wild

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably not. It is by no means an outstanding book. The plot, particularly at the end is weak.

Would you recommend The Wolf Border to your friends? Why or why not?

Same as above

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

No. So I cannot compare.

Could you see The Wolf Border being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No. I do not think it is engaging enough or has a sufficiently developed plot to sustain a film or series.

Any additional comments?

Rework the ending.

Starts well, but runs out of steam

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A brilliant book, beautifully read. Very exciting indeed, at every level. It is profound in its meditation on life, love, damage, birth and rebirth.

Remarkable, original, gripping

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What did you like most about The Wolf Border?

The narration was excellent. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and it is great to have a narrator who is quite different.

What did you like best about this story?

The description of the fells and changing seasons is particularly good with a beautiful use of language

What about Louise Brealey’s performance did you like?

Louise has an expressive style of narration without "playing up" the parts too much.

Any additional comments?

The reviews of this book are interesting because the narrator disappoints some listeners but gets great reviews from others - I was certainly one of the latter. The audio sample is a good example of the rest of the book. Have a listen... if you like the feel of it, this may be the book for you!

The narration made a good story a great audiobook

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I enjoyed the story but really hate the bad south African accent..... please just get a south African to read their parts. it can't be difficult as there are so many of them all over the world.

awful South African accent

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Brilliant story beautifully read. Combines almost ethereal poetry with an observation of the complications of dis functional but loving family life.

Brilliant story beautifully read.

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I really enjoyed this. Connected with all the characters. Slightly slow start, but worth waiting. I highly recommend this book.

Good book

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A grown up intelligently written book. No silly love story, no cliches, not predictable or repetitive. An all round easy listen with a good ‘drama’ based narrative. Enjoyed it.

Nicely written.

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