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Title: A Week in December

Author: Sebastian Faulks

Narrator: Colin Mace

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-10-10

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A Week in December takes place over the course of a single week. It brings together an intriguing cast of characters, each apparently in his or her own world but - as gradually becomes clear - intricately related.

As the story builds to its climax, Faulks pulls together powerful ideas about family, money, religion and the way we live today.

Members Reviews:

Really gripping story

I am really enjoying this audiobook. The story is fascinating - we are introduced to several seemingly unconnected characters - and gradually they all fit in to the narrative as it slowly unfolds. Faulks' writing is first rate - his description of how the hedge funds make their money is an education in itself. The great strength of this recording however is the sterling work done by the narrator - Colin Mace. He has to cope with a different voice for each character, and does so brilliantly. I strongly recommend this book.

Not convincing

I'm disappointed to be writing this review, I like Sebastian Faulks (or at least, I did) especially Birdsong and Engleby. But A Week in December is full of difficult to believe characters and pompous moralising, especially on the subject of state education, which Faulks, having being educated at a posh public schools seems to know very little about. Ditto, football. The passages involving the Polish centre forward training at his new premiership team are patronising and excruciating. After having recently read 'The Big Short', a much better book on the financial crash, then even the descriptions of the Hedge Fund manager and his machinations felt shallow and unconvincing.

Not one of the author's best books

I've read most of Sebastian Faulk's books and am impressed by his versatility across a range of genres. He has written some splendid and moving books, but "A Week in December" is not one of them. Despite an excellent reader, who helps the listener differentiate among the large number of characters, I was confused for the first few chapters as to who was whom as so many were introduced at the start of the book. The book is largely a dystopic commentary on modern urban life in Britain. There are over-long polemics about the genesis of the banking crisis and much about the rise of Islamic extremism. Through the voice of a character who is a writer and critic Faulks airs some of his criticisms of other writers, albeit disguised for those of us not in the know.

The book is made up of several stories running in parallel that hardly impinge on one another and so the expectation is that by the end some connections will be formed. My main disappointment is how the book ends.

More masterful storytelling by Mr Faulks

Any additional comments?

A very enjoyable & entertaining listen. Sebastian Faulk's technique is flawless and I was kept totally enthralled throughout. Highly recommended.

Interesting story

This book was an interesting and often enjoyable book to listen to, although I did find the large cast somewhat confusing. It had pace and I liked the juxtaposition of different story lines that sometimes overlapped to give a snap shot of a crucial week in London.