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Absolutely and Forever

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Absolutely and Forever

By: Rose Tremain
Narrated by: Jane McDowell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A piercing story of thwarted love and true friendship from one of our greatest living writers

Marianne Clifford, 15, only child of a peppery army colonel and his vain wife, Lal, falls helplessly and absolutely for Simon Hurst, 18, whose cleverness and physical beauty suggest that he will go forward into a successful and monied future, helped on by doting parents. But fate intervenes. Simon's plans are blown off course, and Marianne is forced to bury her dreams of a future together.

Narrating her own story, characterising herself as ignorant and unworthy, Marianne's telling use of irony and smart thinking gradually suggest to us that she has underestimated her own worth. We begin to believe that - in the end, supported by her courageous Scottish friend, Petronella - she will find the life she never stops craving. But what we can't envisage is that beneath his blithe exterior, Simon Hurst has been nursing a secret which will alter everything.

©2023 Rose Tremain (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking
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What listeners say about Absolutely and Forever

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Biba

Liked the way the characters behaved against type. Liked the 50s vibe. Liked the length. Very succinct. Liked women’s pov. No dislikes

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A poignant tale

Beautifully written as you would expect from this author. Each character is very real. But I need more. A longer, more complex story inhabited by the characters I feel I almost get to know. This is almost a tease of a book. Not quite enough depth . Not quite enough narrative.
However, performed to perfection.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Superb

Absolutely loved this wonderful evocative book, felt sad when it ended. Beautifully written as ever by Rose Tremain!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully narrated

What a twist at the end … loved all
Of it. First book of Rose Tremain and won’t be the last

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Original and charming

A quite unique writing style. Evocative of an era I can barely remember. Showing great insight into the plight of unrequited love. The narrator read beautifully and was perfect in the role. I was sad when it finished and wanted more. Always the sign of a good book.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The narration was very flat.

I think the reader may have been trying to represent the narrator/heroine’s style, but she sounded often like an AI voice. A shame, as it’s a rather beautiful book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great recall of the 1970s

I really loved the story until the end when the denouement was hard to believe

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Perfection

What a wonderful story … a true evocation of the sixties, first love, class etc.
such beautiful narration. I didn’t want it to end.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Love story

Listened in one sitting-took a few minutes to get used to the narrator but really enjoyed it-a love story by Rose Tremain ,possibly my favourite writer. Not her best ever book and definitely not her longest but a good listen.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful book and fantastic audio

Loved it, a beautiful story, sensitive and slowly unfolding. I absolutely loved the narrators voice, she is fab

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1 person found this helpful