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The Lives of Stella Bain

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The Lives of Stella Bain

By: Anita Shreve
Narrated by: Penelope Rawlins
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When an American woman, Stella Bain, is found suffering from severe shell shock in a London garden, surgeon August Bridge and his wife selflessly agree to take her in. However, Bridge quickly develops a clinical interest in his houseguest.

Stella had been working as a nurse's aide near the front, but she can't remember anything prior to four months earlier when she was found wounded on a French battlefield.

©2013 Anita Shreve (P)2013 W F Howes Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction
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Critic reviews

"Poised and absolutely steady-handed, this is a gripping piece of deconstruction" ( Sunday Times on Testimony)
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A good narrator means a good listen, with no mis-pronouncations! An interesting story, telling what happens when you lose your memory, the fear is felt frequently by Stella till she finally finds herself again.

Penelope Rawlings is an excellent narrator

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Such a shame about the dreadful narration which spoiled the story for me. I’ve read most of Anita Shreve’s novels in the past which I thoroughly enjoyed but this novel dragged a bit and was simplistic and unconvincing

Mediocre

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Loved it. But what a shame about most of the male voices. Dreadful. I almost gave up listening.

Great story

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I have read all of Anita Shreve's books but this was the first time on an audio book. I am not sure if it was the narration or the writing but it was not a huge success.

Would you recommend The Lives of Stella Bain to your friends? Why or why not?

Probably not. There seem to be a lot of books being written about the First World War at present, no doubt because of the centenary, and Anita Shreve has written a number of historical books, concentrating mostly on the American north-east. This also moved back to the US but the first part of the book concerned the memory loss of the protagonist in Northern France. The story was not entirely convincing and almost formulaic in structure.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Penelope Rawlins?

Yes but preferably one where there were no British characters.

Could you see The Lives of Stella Bain being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

No a bit too thin and interiorised to make into a film or TV series

Any additional comments?

It won't make me give up on Anita Shreve.

Not Anita Shreve's best

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Another brilliant story from Anita Shreve. I wasn’t aware unti well into this story that it was a sequel to ‘All he ever wanted’. It was fascinating seeing the world through the female protagonist.

The Lives of Stella Bain

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