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Title: A Change for the Better
Author: Susan Hill
Narrator: Maggie Ollerenshaw
Format: Unabridged
Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
Language: English
Release date: 03-16-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
Publisher's Summary:
In the Prince of Wales Hotel and the shabby terraces and tearooms of Westbourne, retired lives run their course - all, in their different ways, anticipating crisis.
Members Reviews:
A book of considerable perception on power relations within relationships and the long suffering downtrodden
This book was unusual and on the surface unremarkable, however, upon reflection, between each sitting, the characters become considerable and beautifully drawn. Social niceties of this bygone era are held up to a mirror and shown to be quite ridiculous. However, at the heart of this book is a study of the power relations that go on within families. Parent and child, husband and wife. It illustrates a social shift, between the old and new generations where etiquette and respect are viewed as outdated and irrelevant but where there is also a subtle hint at the danger to society of the new order of things. I really enjoyed this book and feel sad for the protagonists' futures. Thank you Susan Hill
Not Ms Hill's usual standard
There is an interesting theme in this story but is somehow buried in the irritating repetition of every character's FULL name and the extremely annoying narration. Ms Ollerenshaw seemed to have only one endlessly repeated pattern of speech - the rising inflective at the end of every phrase. Even Alan Bennett knows to limit this if you want your audience to keep listening! Please Ms Hill, what we are all waiting for is the next Simon Serralier.
Nothing but grumbles
What would have made A Change for the Better better?
Some light moments
Would you ever listen to anything by Susan Hill again?
Sadly no
What aspect of Maggie Ollerenshaws performance might you have changed?
Too much gruff voiced male characters
Too much whinging with the female characters
What character would you cut from A Change for the Better?
Spurious additions that did not do much for the theme
Any additional comments?
I did listen to the end
but was heartily glad when it finished