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Somewhere Towards the End
- Narrated by: Claire Bloom
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
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Somewhere Towards the End
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Summary
National Book Critics Circle Award, Autobiography, 2010
What is it like to be old? Diana Athill, born in 1917, made her reputation as a writer with the candour of her memoirs.
In Somewhere Towards the End she reflects frankly on the losses and occasionally the gains that old age brings, and on the wisdom and fortitude required to face death. This is a lively narrative of events, lovers and friendships: the people and experiences that have taight her to regret very little, to resist despondency and to question the beliefs and customs of her own generation.
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What listeners say about Somewhere Towards the End
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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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
- Createmate
- 02-04-19
The End - A refreshing listen
Death has not been part of polite conversation in the UK for...ever?
I've always wanted to ask people of a certain age about their lives, their hopes, dreams, failures and how they feel waking up every day knowing, this could be my last day.
Thank you Diana Athill for providing me with some sense of one person's view as they neared the end of their life; fortunately a long one. I appreciated the 'warts and all' candour of her writing which blended humour and melancholy in equal parts.
I didn't learn anything I hadn't already surmised about the view (I'm mid 50's) of increasing in age and reflecting on one's own mortality, but it was well worth the listen to confirm my own suspicions and conclusions.
And her philosophy for life is just as good for us all as it was for her irrelevant of personal circumstances, "enjoy yourself as much as you can without doing any damage to other people.”
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Alice
- 21-10-10
Wise and Wonderful, a rare treat before bedtime
I am but 23 years of age, not old, not yet concerning myself much with the matter of my own mortality and able for the large part to put 'the end' to the back of my mind but this book was more pleasurable to listen to, and more relevant than any I have recently consumed directed at my own demographic. I love Diana Athill and the way she reflects upon life and how she and others of her acquaintance choose to live. This book is not only warm and gently amusing, but enlightening and my week has been the richer for it.
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3 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
- Private
- 16-02-22
Brilliant narration, unique insight into late years
I learned a lot, I thought a lot, I enjoyed it a lot. Abd the thought that a lover and also a mother can cannibalise a woman’s life shocked and educated me in equal measure.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mrs P.
- 27-05-24
Too much information
Why would this insufferable woman publish this. Great that writing it was some kind of catharsis. At 85 I have neither the time or patience to read about her doings and was not pleased to hear her disparaging views and descriptions of others..
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Alison St Pierre
- 18-09-12
An interesting perspective of ageing and death.
A far too rare insight into ageing and death. Honest and informative in parts. Too much information about her friends operations and illnesses and rambles far too much towards the end. Refreshing to hear of the advantages of later life and great to hear much older people have healthy active sex lives.
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3 people 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
- E M Bradley
- 12-03-17
Beautifully read
The author has an amazing talent for saying things just how they are. The story of her life is not only interesting, honest and frank. Though slightly repetitive at times her unique style of life broadens the mind. I would recommend this book to both male and female adults from young to old and believe that every one who does read it will face the future in a different and more positive light.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- MB
- 11-02-19
Ultimately dull
Had high hopes but it rather put me off her. I found it dull and even dozed off in parts. Unless you are a stalwart fan, try another biography
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