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Water

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Water

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Niamh Cusack
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The first thing Vanessa Carvin does when she arrives on the island is change her name. To the locals, she is Willow Hale, a solitary outsider escaping Dublin to live a hermetic existence in a small cottage, not a notorious woman on the run from her past.

But scandals follow like hunting dogs. And she has some questions of her own to answer. If her ex-husband is really the monster everyone says he is, then how complicit was she in his crimes?

Escaping her old life might seem like a good idea but the choices she has made throughout her marriage have consequences. Here, on the island, Vanessa must reflect on what she did - and did not do. Only then can she discover whether she is worthy of finding peace at all.

©2023 John Boyne (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Literary Fiction Psychological Small Town & Rural

What listeners say about Water

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heart felt story

this book is like a very true account of a woman who dispute all showed resiliency and strength

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water

A fascinating story with wonderful Irish characters and an insight into how it is to be the innocent partner of a criminal

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Looking forward to the next one…

Another real goodie from one of my favourites! I wish it was longer! Narrator was wonderful too

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Great story well written with a wonderful narrator - thoroughly enjoyed it - some writers paint pictures with their story telling and this book did that and was complimented by the narration

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wonderful book by a wonderful writer

so perfect in its characterisations, prose, length and relevance. I loved this book, as I have loved so many by John Boyne

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Totally brilliant!

Oh my heart! Such a profound story - a roller coaster of emotions, so beautifully told. Mothers, daughters, men - battling the human condition, with a very satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend.

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Courage

The retreat to understand what it takes to be courageous with oneself - so important and this process the author takes us on is very personal. As always the narrator of his books is excellent which only enriches the experience more deeply. A beautiful narration of an internal journey.

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Poignant tale by Boyne

Excellent strong story and well read. The emotional journey of a wife and a mother after the discovery of her foul husband’s deeds

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Fabulous Well Written Story

I loved this fast paced book that kept me on the edge of my barstool at the oldest pub in the island. This was an amazing story that pulled at the heart strings one minute, would get me angry and frustrated the next then smiling. I am sure this woman is not alone in her behaviour and thought process. Thank you for Water now can’t wait until the next one.

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A fluid narrative

This was a great first person viewpoint narrative of Vanessa Carvin / Willow Hale who is escaping. Escaping life in Dublin. Escaping her past. Escaping the person she was and on a quest to find her new self. It is a refreshing narrative brilliantly written by Boyne and narrated in this audio version. The element of water is cleverly woven throughout this text. I quite look forward to reading Earth.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.