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  • Busy Being Free

  • A Lifelong Romantic Is Seduced by Solitude
  • By: Emma Forrest
  • Narrated by: Indira Varma
  • Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (29 ratings)

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Busy Being Free cover art

Busy Being Free

By: Emma Forrest
Narrated by: Indira Varma
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Summary

What happens when your story doesn't end the way you thought it would?

When you realise - after getting married and having a baby - that you chose wrong?

When the life you dreamt of becomes something you must walk away from?

And when you then find yourself not lonely, but elated - elated to be alone with yourself?

©2022 Emma Forrest (P)2022 Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Critic reviews

"A staggering piece of writing." (Nigella Lawson)

"It's woken me up." (Minnie Driver, author of Managing Expectations)

"The most delicious memoir that kept me in bed all day." (Sophie Heawood, author of The Hungover Games)  

What listeners say about Busy Being Free

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Great listen

Not the sort of book I would normally pick to listen to on here (middle aged divorced man with interests in sport and comedy) but after reading a review in the paper decided to give it a go. Made for a lovely listen and consumed the entire book on one Saturday. Great work Emma.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not what I expected

A bit more visceral than expected, and not my experience personally. Glad to have purchased though as it’s been on my “you might also like” wherever I go!

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I did not want it to end

I am so grateful that Emma Forrest has shared her story, her honesty is refreshing and liberating. Indira Varma reads it beautifully and sensitively (and she is really good at accents)

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Waste of my free credit!

I listened to this book for an hour. Firstly was confused by the irrelevant constant name dropping of music artists & bands? The story appears to be about an independent woman who is free & easy with sex then uses her femininity to lure in her man. Then in a total contradiction the story turns to the authors opinion & assumed reader’s opinion of Donald Trump & his alleged criticism of women exactly like her. That was my cue to turn off this bore of a book. I’m not sure what the story was about as it flipped around. Trying to tell the reader that life in a pokey flat in north London was better than a life in LA was laughable. Gutted I wasted a credit on this but glad I didn’t waste further time listening.

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STUNNING! One of the best books I’ve ever read.

I must have over 300 books in my audible library, and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. I had no expectations and knew nothing about the author, as her story unfolds, the crushing honesty, beautiful writing and wicked humour captivated me like no book before. I can honestly say I’ve read nothing like it. Hugely relatable, The author make me cry and laugh with her stories. Don’t hesitate to listen

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  • Jason D.
  • 15-05-23

Freedom 90

Music clothes motherhood divorce. How one feels young and then old. And the talismans of our past. So fun and wonderful!

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  • Victoria C.
  • 27-08-22

heartwarming

this memoir is a quirky ,intelligent and at times hilarious insight into the the sexuality of womankind

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