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  • The Quarry

  • By: Iain Banks
  • Narrated by: Peter Kenny
  • Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (140 ratings)
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The Quarry cover art

The Quarry

By: Iain Banks
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
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Summary

Kit doesn't know who his mother is. What he does know, however, is that his father, Guy, is dying of cancer. Feeling his death is imminent, Guy gathers around him his oldest friends - or at least the friends with the most to lose by his death. Paul - the rising star in the Labour party who dreads the day a tape they all made at university might come to light; Alison and Robbie, corporate bunnies whose relationship is daily more fractious; Pris and Haze, once an item, now estranged, and finally Hol - friend, mentor, former lover and the only one who seemed to care.

But what will happen to Kit when Guy is gone? And why isn't Kit's mother in the picture? As the friends reunite for Guy's last days, old jealousies, affairs and lies come to light as Kit watches on.

©2013 Iain Banks (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Eerily compelling." (William Leith)

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What listeners say about The Quarry

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent narration of Iain's last book

What made the experience of listening to The Quarry the most enjoyable?

the narration and the steely response to cancer with a touch of rage into the night with humour and understanding

Who was your favorite character and why?

the son

What does Peter Kenny bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

brings out the individual characters of the protagonist and the friends and especially his father

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

just thanks to all involved especially Iain Banks and Peter Kenny

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not the great Mr Banks' best

This is really not in the same league of many other Banks books, such as The Wasp Factory or The Crow Road to name but two. There is very little in the way of plot and I really took a dislike to most of the argumentative characters, the exception being Kit who is an interesting creation whom I think could have been used to much greater effect.

This is generally a very pedestrian read pulled up only by Peter Kenny's narration which keeps things moving, although there isn't a lot of movement to be had.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ok but characters you grow to hate

Started well but the let down is the story I am afraid to say, charterers I eventually either hated or didn't care about. Disappointing but good narration and some redeeming features, I.e. kit in particular

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Iain Banks last novel

Would you listen to The Quarry again? Why?

Iain Bank wrote this book then announced he too had cancer and died shortly before this book was rushed through and published.
This will not be the first or last. He is a great storyteller and writer. One of the 20th century greats.

What did you like best about this story?

He has a great way of bringing together his characters.

Which character – as performed by Peter Kenny – was your favourite?

Kit - he is intelligent so insightful.

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

all of it

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gives understanding of disability.

If you could sum up The Quarry in three words, what would they be?

Understanding of illnesses.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kit. Thinking about what was going on in the story and Kit being such a young boy who was the main carer of Guy, his father, made me feel that as a young man he was able to pass on a lot.

Have you listened to any of Peter Kenny’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Not sure I've listened to any before but my memory is terrible so maybe I have. It was very expressive and I got a lot out of his voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Would have liked to do that but because of family commitments I wasn't able to.

Any additional comments?

I'm very glad that I heard about the book which was obviously hyped a lot in Scotland with Iain Banks being Scots and then dying, so I'm glad that I got a hold of it and listened to it. I knew Iain Banks was a top author and this book was another top story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent listen for a sunny day

I could listen to Peter Kenny read almost anything, I love his way. Combined with another great observation of the human condition from Iain Banks the experience is great.

I lay in the garden for two days in listening heaven with breaks for people, drinks and food, what more could you ask for.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Goodbye Mr Banks.

Like many, I mourn the loss of one of our greatest writers; Iain Banks. So, I’m biased, I admit it. Despite my bias, this is a great novel. For the Banksians out there, the story is written from the perspective of a teenage boy; like Wasp Factory. The flow is quick with political undertones like Crow Road. It’s dark too, like Complicity and The Bridge. It also has that dark humour that’s hidden inside the modern dysfunctional family, Garbadale, Stonemouth and Business. In summary, a great finale – you need to listen to this.

One final note, Peter Kenny, he's a perfect choice to narrate Banks' work. He provides the icing on the cake.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Once again Peter Kenny’s reading is amazing.

This is a shorter Ian Bank’s novel and not my favourite. It is intricate and believable, though the story is a bit miserable. I don’t mean the health issue of the 2nd main character, but the darker perspective of humanity displayed in this group of people. It seems to end abruptly.

I slowly warmed to the lead character, that was well written and excellently spoken. A very believable young man who is on the autistic spectrum.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Poor

Just about the most uninteresting book I’ve listened to….. if it was possible I’d ask for my money back (first time ever!)
Waste of time

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you liked the book, you will love this.

A wonderfully narrated piece of work by Peter Kenny in bringing the characters in my favourite Banks novel to life. Brought so much deeper when you realise what the author was going through while writing it. It’s almost like a book-end in the sense that his first and last published novel’s focused so intently on the dynamics in the relationship between a father and son.

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