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Still Life
- Narrated by: Sarah Winman
- Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
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Still Life
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Summary
The instant Sunday Times best seller
Winner of Dymocks Book of the Year
A Guardian Best Book of 2021
A BBC Between Two Covers Book Club pick
Winner of the InWords Literary Award
From the author of When God was a Rabbit and Tin Man, Still Life is a big-hearted story of the families we forge and the friendships that make us.
1944, Italy. As bombs fall around them, two strangers meet in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa and share an extraordinary evening.
Ulysses Temper is a young British soldier, Evelyn Skinner a 64-year-old art historian living life on her own terms. She has come to salvage paintings from the wreckage of war and relive memories of her youth when her heart was stolen by an Italian maid in a particular room with a view. Ulysses’s chance encounter with Evelyn will transform his life – and all those who love him back home in London – forever.
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Critic reviews
"Sheer joy." (Graham Norton, author of Home Stretch)
"A bear-hug of a book." (Rachel Joyce, author of Miss Benson’s Beetle)
"Utterly beautiful...filled with hope." (Joanna Cannon)
What listeners say about Still Life
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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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- George F.
- 09-04-22
Read it, don’t listen to it
After listening for a number of hours I got the feeling that the characters felt a bit harsh in this performance and I wasn’t loving the book as much as I’d been advised that I would. It felt a bit negative, a lot of characters talking through their teeth when the sentence is followed by ‘she laughed’ or something that implies a bit more lightheartedness or humour.
So I switched to reading it and it makes a big difference. Moments that were quite nice in the audio are actually beautiful in the book. I think Sarah does a great job but this a book that brings all emotions and in my opinion requires the fluidity of our imagination which is restricted by it being read to us. When listening I quite enjoyed it, when reading I’ve smiled, cried and laughed. Amazing book.
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6 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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Story5 out of 5 stars
- NicJ
- 22-11-21
Exceptional
Still Life by Sarah Winman is exceptional.
Ulysses encounters Evelyn in Florence in the last days of his WWII. Evelyn is an art restorer, poet and so enigmatic she may well be a spy. Opening his eyes to another world Ulysses never fully settles when he returns to the East End and his colourful ensemble of family and friends.
When the opportunity presents itself to return to Italy, so begins the next stage of his life as Ulysses, Alys, Cressie and Claude embark on a journey across a continent and transpose a world.
The characters are utterly fantastic and their dialogue is razor sharp and often both touching and hilarious. I loved Cressie and Claude is a lovely touch. Perhaps a little too long (I’m not sure we needed the final reminiscing back to EM Forster) but a highly recommended 4.5*
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author. Probably the best narration I have ever listened to.
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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
- Nicole L Wakeling
- 28-08-22
Absolutely enchanting
Our book club gave it a unanimous 10/10 which is unheard of. Sarah’s performance was captivating, the descriptions rich, I felt like the characters were my family and I was so sad to
finish it that I will be buying the actual book so I can read it all over again. Thank you Sarah Winman for this absolute gem of a story; uplifting, heartwarming, inclusive and magical. Genius!!!! ♥️♥️♥️
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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
- Sarah Taylor
- 01-07-21
Incredible
I absolutely loved this story, the characters are so vivid and so real, I laughed and cried with them throughout and definitely did not want this to end. I will buy the book and cherish it. A beautifully written story of life and people and hope.
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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
- Charley Pierpoint
- 10-08-22
A. Fabulous story
This is one you will read and recommend to everyone you know. Just a lovely story with characters that are really brought to life. Thankfully, not really about artworks, so persevere beyond the first couple of chapters.
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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
- Mg
- 30-05-22
Fantastic
Thé book was marvellous snd thé reading fantastic. I normally hate funny accents but the voices were perfect, especially Cressy
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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
- DMU
- 02-06-22
A gentle exploration of what it is to love.
This book is one of my favourites of the year, thus far. It is warm and gentle. Exploring friendships, family in all its guises and romantic relationships against a backdrop of community, post war England and Italy and art history. I have read the book in hard copy and heard the writer read the book and both were exquisite experiences.
I loved how Sarah Winman brought the characters to life and the fact that I cared so much about all of them, including Florence, not just the location of part of the book but a character in its own right.
Claude’s pronouncements may have seemed far fetched but I was swept away with the narrative and happy go along with his safe words at opportune times.
I would definitely recommend this book
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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
- Karen
- 15-05-22
the best download in years
This is a beautiful novel. I cannot recommend it enough. All things in life, the good, the bad..are all 'still life'. The chance encounters, the connections we make, the small acts of kindness we offer or are offered by others, all have a significance and beauty. This book is life enhancing, showing that above all love and connection are what matters. Life is rich
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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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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Susan L.
- 07-08-21
Brilliant evocation of love, loss and Florence
I found this book incredibly absorbing, thought provoking and deeply moving. Having it read by the author enormously enhanced my pleasure. I highly recommend it.
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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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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 21-08-21
A must read
A great recommendation from Joanna Cannon. Such a beautiful story. Italy is now on my bucket list!
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1 person found this helpful