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Sacred Country

By: Rose Tremain
Narrated by: Harrison Knights
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Summary

We're all something else inside....

1952. Standing in a cold Suffolk field with her family, six-year-old Mary Ward has a revelation: I am not Mary. That is a mistake. I am not a girl. I'm a boy.

So begins Mary's heroic struggle to change gender. Moving from the claustrophobic rural community of the 1950s to London in the swinging '60s and beyond to the glitter of America in the '70s, Sacred Country is the story of a journey to find a place of safety and fulfilment in a savage and confusing world.

©2011 Rose Tremain (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+
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What listeners say about Sacred Country

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An important book about mental health

This was interesting and relevant, but not necessarily an enjoyable read. I didn’t like this as much as some of the writer’s other novels. I wasn’t too keen on the narration.

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

Brilliant

this was one of the best audio books I have listened to. A story about ordinary people living ordinary lives brought together in a way that kept me interested and engaged throughout.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant Book

This book is a must for everyone to read, it is about a transgender girl , but the whole book is excellent. Everyone involved is interesting, The story sweeps you along and is recommended. It will change your views about people born in the wrong body. Harrison Knights is absolutely brilliant at reading the book.

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

Beautiful story

This story was well read and Harrison Knights does a beautiful rendition of Walter’s song. Wish he hadn’t attempted the South African accent though...

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

Sacred country

The introduction to this book was too longwinded and unnecessary and nearly put me off continuing with the book. The reader was rather miserable and droney undermining the adventurous emotional dilemma of the characters. The story was brave and considered.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator’s voice hard to listen to

Story is quite good, but narration not the best. I got used to it in the end

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rather Long

The story itself is good. But I felt that the telling of it was just too long and drawn out. Far too much waffle, that made it quite hard to keep going with listening to it. I did finish it but I was willing it to end sooner. Which is a shame as I feel if it was compressed somewhat, it would be a great book.

perform wise, I enjoyed it.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

OK

It's not as engaging as her historical novels and I found it hard to like any of the characters. It's a poignant story and not an uplifting one. The narrator's efforts to rerecord lines haven't been edited out.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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An interesting listen

Listening to this book, you would think it was hundreds of years ago. The story of a young boy, trapped in a girls body. It charts his life, plus his family and friends. It’s very slow going, but with huge issues.
It gave me a new found sympathy of what transgender people have to deal with.
But it made me very sad about all the mental health issues everyone had.
Definitely worth a listen, for a glimpse back in time, with very dysfunctional families

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1 person found this helpful

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

Surprisingly uplifting tour de force

Having expected a rather colourless tale of gender reassignment, I was delighted to be presented with a wide-ranging, nay, rollicking romp through the first 30-odd years of the current queen’s reign. Startlingly enjoyable!🐝

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4 people found this helpful