Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Boy Swallows Universe

  • By: Trent Dalton
  • Narrated by: Stig Wemyss
  • Length: 16 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (213 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Boy Swallows Universe

By: Trent Dalton
Narrated by: Stig Wemyss
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Australia, 1983

Life is pretty tough right now for twelve-year-old Eli – what with his mute brother, a convicted murderer for a babysitter, a drug-dealing stepfather, an incarcerated mother and a long-lost father – surely it can’t get any worse?

Think again. He’s about to fall in love, break into prison and cross paths with one of the most notorious criminals Brisbane has ever seen.

A coming-of-age story like no other, Boy Swallows Universe is the most exhilarating novel you’ll listen to all year.

©2019 Trent Dalton (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

USA Noir cover art
The One I Left Behind cover art
Peace, Love, and Petrol Bombs cover art
So Late in the Day cover art
The Covenant of Water cover art
Watership Down cover art
The Power of One cover art
Scion of Ikshvaku cover art
The Murmur of Bees cover art
Where the Lost Wander cover art
What the Wind Knows cover art
This Tender Land cover art

Critic reviews

"Electric." (The Times)

"Thrilling." (New York Times)

"Extraordinary." (Joanna Cannon)

What listeners say about Boy Swallows Universe

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    155
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    154
  • 4 Stars
    29
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    140
  • 4 Stars
    37
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding.

Great read, highly reccomended. Very well written, well performed, very engaging and easy to get through.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Captivating

I was swept along by the language, the story and the reader’s interpretation…a rollercoaster of emotions.. I laughed and cried ..I didn’t want it to finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Slow start but excellent ending

It took a while to get going and perhaps could have edited early on but the ending was worthwhile.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful story

The descriptive writing in every paragraph is next level - its a joy to read or hear.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great point of view

Loved the vocabulary used, the immersion into the Australian setting and desperation of the characters. Layered, magical realism and mystery. Deeper story than I originally thought

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

an extraordinary story

An extraordinary story and journey, described in vivid and colourful detail. enjoyed the performance by the narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Aussie story

Brutal at times, but beautifully written. The narrator really captures the scene and Aussie accents

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story

love love loved it!
great characters and language.
felt like I was in Brisbane!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stick with this heartfelt story

Sometimes I found the violence difficult to listen to but I stuck with it and am so glad - wonderful imaginative and real all at once.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful read

Great story and very well performed. Look forward to watching the TV adaptation on Netflix.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!