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A Closed Eye

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A Closed Eye

By: Anita Brookner
Narrated by: Prunella Scales
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About this listen

Born to elegant but frivolous parents, Harriet grows up ignored and unguided, and retains a curious innocence that neither her marriage to Freddie Lytton, nor her friendship with the beautiful Tessa can dispel. Freddie is far older than she is - a companion rather than a lover - and slightly disapproving of Tessa and her irresponsible, attractive husband, Jack. Yet all four are bound together: by their backgrounds, their children, by Harriet’s unspoken feelings for Jack and by the tragedy that lies in wait for all of them.

©1991 Anita Brookner (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Contemporary Fiction Fiction Marriage
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What listeners say about A Closed Eye

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Thoroughly enjoyed this

I hadn't read any Anita Brooker before so this was a wonderful surprise. It is such a well observed study of the struggles of a particular type of life. The writer shows so much understanding of human psychology. I found the characters and their motivations utterly believable. Prunella Scales as narrator is superb.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great writing, great performance

This book is quite bleak at times, but it is addictive in that one has to see what happens "in the end".
The heroine is an "anti-heroine" and frustrating in her lack of action.
Having said that, it is great for character-drawing.
Prunella Scales gave an amazing performace with the reading. That made the book interesting, when it could have become a bit droll in parts.

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

A subtle, unsettling and compelling book.

I bought this book on the off chance. I’d never read Brookner before but I’m now a fan. Her writing is bleak and poignant while also being really witty.. Her characters are all quietly struggling, forced to make compromises and frequently completely isolated from each other. They make their own private hell which they then unintentionally inflict on their children. Prunella Scales is a brilliant reader - she captures the strained, stiff upper lip tones of the characters as well as Brookner’s dry humour. Highly recommended!

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Too posh a reader

I didnt like any of it ...sorry ..It was very sad . Couldnt get interested in it

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    1 out of 5 stars
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The most depressing book

This is the most depressing book ever although made me look at my life I suppose, no real story tries to be very clever not sure it is

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

Like a poor effort to emulate Henry James

Tedious. Repetitious. So long-winded I scrolled through several chapters to discover the story . . . what there was of it. Pretentious voiced reader. Brookner always has some acute observations about human behaviour but finding them here was like finding the poverbial needle. What a disappointment after Hotel du Lac.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dreary, tedious, depressing

Gosh I regret getting this, I struggled through it, but goodness what a relief when I finished it. The story, characters, and writing are all tedious and depressing. The reading is fine, but having enjoyed Hotel du Lac, this was so disappointing.

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2 people found this helpful

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Irritation

I resent being obliged to write any review and shall leave audible as soon as I can

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1 person found this helpful