A memorable family saga

Gradually one gets to know the three generations of a family as the story swings back and forth in time. You have to be on your toes to keep track of the era being described as there are no chapter headings to give you a clue. The character whose life is at the centre of the book is Alice and her important relationship with John. For anybody who has lost a loved one the final chapters are very poignant but do ring true.
A fine book describing family relationships with insight. Excellently narrated.

14 people found this helpful

Smoke and mirrors

Would you consider the audio edition of After You'd Gone to be better than the print version?

Yes, listening to the book brought over the pathos, the passion and the joy in the story. Our book group reviewed this book and several of us listened to it rather than read it - those who listened all agreed it was an excellent book, those who read were ambivalent, some not even finishing it, saying it was too sad and depressing. The mystery of what Alice saw in the washroom is only revealed in the last few pages - like smoke swirling around and images reflected in mirrors you can't see the whole picture until all the pieces suddenly fall into place and it all becomes clear.

What did you like best about this story?

The slow unravelling of Alice's story - in particular the visit to the shop when she is given a string of pearls as a gift. As the reader you know the motive but Alice does not and you wonder if Elspeth, her grandmother, realises and that makes her tell Alice to return them. The absolute desolation that engulfs her after the death of John is so real, so vivid. The characters are well drawn, right down to the elusive father-in-law who comes up trumps at the end of the book.

What about Lesley Mackie’s performance did you like?

The accents, the timbre and intonation - all excellent. I was never conscious of listening to someone reading a book aloud, it was just as if I were reading it.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't recall laughing much but I definitely cried in several places - the anguish felt by Alice and the despair were so well described. You knew what was coming and had to wait for her find out - that was so, so sad.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book, despite it being sad, so much that I have bought another to listen to. I have also recommended that those who read the paper book should try listening to it to see if it changes their opinion of the storyline.

7 people found this helpful

Disappointing

I bought this book because I loved Hamnet, but this is not really very good. It started off quite well but after halfway it lost credibility and didn't warrant 12 hours of listening.

2 people found this helpful

Listen to this gem

Beautifully written. Magnificently narrated. I hung on every word. Maggie is an absolute genius writer.

2 people found this helpful

So moving

An amazing story of love and loss. It will make you laugh and cry. Great narration.

2 people found this helpful

good story, annoyng characters,unvarying tone

Where does After You'd Gone rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the middle

What did you like best about this story?

gripping first three quarters

What three words best describe Lesley Mackie’s voice?

little variation, over insistent

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Alice knitting a pullover flor her dead boyfriend

Any additional comments?

the main protaganists, Alice and John, were unappealing: Alice, too strident and spoilt, John, too much of a doormat. Cleverly structured but an unconvincing finale

2 people found this helpful

Insightful and talented writing.

One of those rare books that leave you wanting more...more....more! Thank you to the author!

1 person found this helpful

Not the work of the mature storyteller she becomes

Wanted to love this… big MO’F fan but it was cliched, the dialogue was terrible and clunky, plot confusing as it jumps from multiple timelines and tenses and voices. I also found the narrator had only one voice, or shrieked. Definitely recommend other MO books but not this one.

1 person found this helpful

Performance many thousand stars

The voice actor was superb ! She took me along on an amazing journey. What a fantastic book in audio form because it jumps forwards and backwards through time it is important to concentrate.
Congratulations to all involved

1 person found this helpful

After Youd gone

This was at times a difficult story, with many layers. but i loved it.

1 person found this helpful