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Midwinter Break
- Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
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Midwinter Break
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Summary
An intense exploration of love and uncertainty when a long-married couple, Gerry and Stella, take a midwinter break in Amsterdam to refresh the senses, do some sightseeing and generally take stock of their lives. Their relationship seems easy, familiar - but over its course we discover the deep uncertainties between them.
Gerry, once an architect, is forgetful and set in his ways. Stella is tired of his lifestyle and angry at his constant undermining of her religious faith. Things are not helped by memories that resurface of a troubled time in their native Ireland. As their vacation comes to an end, we understand how far apart they are - and can only watch as they struggle to save themselves.
Bernard MacLaverty is a master storyteller, and this is the essential MacLaverty novel: compassionate observation, elegant writing and a heartrending story. It is also a profound examination of human love and how we live together - a chamber piece of resonance and power.
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What listeners say about Midwinter Break
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-07-24
Fascinating
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. The multifaceted, complex and very human characters were so well written that I felt I knew them quite intimately. Beautifully narration added to the gentle yet powerful prose.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 24-04-18
Literature at its finest
When I read for my degree in English it was to enjoy works like this - really beautifully crafted works of literary fiction. They are few and far between nowadays but the likes of Maclaverty, Boyd, Le Carre, Ishiguro, Faulks, Barry and McEwan keep the flame alive. This is a subtle and complex analysis of a long marriage in crisis. It is heartfelt and true and I loved it. The reading is exquisite.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Pen Name
- 12-11-22
This is an odd one
THe writing is sublime. And the narration/performance equally so.
First class.
But the story itself just isn't strong enough to hang it all on, which left me a bit perplexed
A very weak story with beautiful writing and a mesmerising narration, but I was left wondering if I'd missed something.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Caroline
- 03-09-17
Good but not great
There was a lot I really liked about this book. As a portrait of a long-standing marriage it was very convincing. The little habits a couple develop and the fact that you can enjoy certain things about a partner whilst feeling discontented really rang true. For me the thing that let it down were that the main aspects of the characters and the reason for the conflict between them - Gerry's alcoholism and Stella's Catholicism - seemed a bit stereotypical for an Irish couple and so made them seem less believable and a bit shallow.
It was very well narrated though.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Morag
- 19-08-18
Master of the story
I have read this book, twice, and wanted to hear it being read in case I missed anything in my understanding of it.
It is even better listening to it. I am around the same age as Stella and Gerry and visit Amsterdam often so perhaps that is why it resonates with me, also I’m from Glasgow!
A great story, well told, made me laugh and cry.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- M
- 02-02-19
slow moving masterpiece
it took me a while to get into this but once I did, I was hooked. I love the mindfulness - the attention to detail, something which is at odds with the world in which we live. This is a story for those who love a slow build up and are willing to put in the time - it's worth it as the pay off is great.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Roisin Deighan
- 09-06-18
Gentle and well observed story
It is a fairly low key story of a retired couple who have slowly drifted apart.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- peter
- 08-11-17
Best listen of 2017
This is a beautiful book. The writing is elegant, direct and vivid. The two characters are, like most of us full of faults but full of goodness. The story is both small and personal, and political in the sense that it is love story set against the background and aftermath of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, though virtually all the action takes place in Holland.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- eileen taylor
- 14-09-17
A beautiful book
Wise and thought provoking. Beautifully written and beautifully read. Skillful and perceptive descriptions of emotions and of place.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs M Green
- 25-04-18
beautiful writing - great audio voice
If you could sum up Midwinter Break in three words, what would they be?
writer with insight
What did you like best about this story?
genuine and authentic
What does Stephen Hogan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
lyrical expression so delightful
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
the very end
Any additional comments?
so much enjoyed this book had to listen to it twice - a very insightful reflection of human life - a joy to hear so well read
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1 person found this helpful