Listen free for 30 days
-
White Gardenia
- Narrated by: Deidre Rubenstein
- Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
White Gardenia
Buy Now for £32.09
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Critic reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about White Gardenia
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Christineb
- 22-12-22
Poorly written novel
Firstly the excessive graphic descriptive detail was totally unnecessary The overly romanticism of Russian aristocrat who oozed class and blue blood Totally ridiculous marriage storyline I found myself so agitated The narration when accented was good but over cooked at times Not for me
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Lily
- 14-07-20
Very loooong
Too long and way too dramatic, every situation,even simple ones, is dressed up in gaspingly high drama. 100 words when 5 would do. I found it exhausting.
I also found it odd that it was so loaded towards the refugees discomforts but never one comment of gratitude towards their rescuers or to Australia for taking in the refugees - I’ve never been to Australia but any country that rescues other human beings deserves applause and gratitude for its consideration & care, it’s gift of such opportunity & freedom.
But it lacked generosity of thought towards those kind people, expressed no gratitude -it just didn’t figure. I found that made it a strangely self-centred novel.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- MarieLouise
- 09-07-10
Great portrayal of Oz post-war emigrant view
Love this author but found her Russian heroine harder to identify with than her other book's main characters -- put it down to the character's Russian emotionalism - she seemed to cry at the drop of a hat. Absolutely loved her description of post-war immigration to Australia... as someone who emigrated in early '70's to Oz, four or five decades on from the story, found that little had changed in the welcome anyone from 'outside' Australia received. But like the main character, found so so much to love about the country.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Paddington
- 30-08-11
Fascinating novel
This is my third Belinda Alexandra book and I was not disappointed. This story is a marvellous blend of Russian Chinese history ending up with the characters as post war refugees in Australia. It is set in the time period of pre WW2 through to post WW2.
As with Alexandra’s other novels it is well researched and beautifully written. Again we see a central female character who experiences dreadful events and disappointments based on historical facts and real life stories but who comes through with great strength of character. I could not put it down and was sorry when it finished. Highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- karen
- 15-08-18
Random music breaks very annoying
Random music breaks were horribly distracting and took away greatly from the story. Not sure what they marked but were very annoying. Readers/listeners just want story to flow. Story was ok, but breaks greatly ruined it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- marina lerner
- 06-01-17
horrible music accompaniment
music accompaniment completely out of place, unpleasant and disruptive. at the end you cannot hear the narrator because music is too loud.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jan Buckley
- 26-02-11
Very Enjoyable
This is the first Belinda Alexander book that I have read. The story is great and I could not put it down.
The narrater was very good. I was very sorry to get to the end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- MrsAllister
- 04-07-16
Thoroughly enjoyed **CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Would you listen to White Gardenia again? Why?
I probably wouldn't listen to White Gardenia again. The story was so heavy with details, it's difficult to forget the plot line and the things that happened.
What was one of the most memorable moments of White Gardenia?
There were several memorable moments, but the most memorable was actually when her husband left her, the SECOND time. I was actually blown away!! When it was about to happen, I remember thinking, 'he didn't leave her again...noooooo.' And then he did!!!!
Which scene was your favorite?
My favorite scene was when Anya and Demitri learned to dance together. It was beautifully written, and I actually looked up on YouTube to see the actual dance since I couldn't picture it completely in my head.
Who was the most memorable character of White Gardenia and why?
I don't if there was a more memorable character than Anya herself.
Any additional comments?
I would definitely recommend this book. It doesn't always go in the direction you think it's going to, which is what one wants out of a book. I would say to be prepared to go on Anya's emotional roller coaster. She experiences many tragic and terrible things, and doesn't learn to cope with them in a healthy way, which explains her odd behavior in certain situations.
~Review written by Ray's Wife :)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- KandJ
- 24-04-16
Good story, annoying recording breaks
I enjoyed the story, and hearing more about the Australian-Russian connection. Unfortunately the recording is broken into hour long 'chapters' instead of the written chapter breaks. Each hour long 'chapter' has a musical fade out which disrupts the narration and flow of the book, very poorly done and creates a break in the flow.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Martha
- 15-02-23
Amazing Journey
I especially enjoyed the amazing vocal acting in this blended story of romance, suspense, humor, personal loss and redemption. What a cast of characters elicited by one voice!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- gloria
- 24-12-22
Ok but abrupt end
The book is just like a narrative of Russian emigre. Plot is not as complicated as the Tuscan Rose
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Astrid Dahl
- 04-11-22
Very enjoyable!
I loved the characters the author drew and they became entirely believable! The story was long, intense and gripped my attention all the way through! I highly recommend this novel!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Barbara E Broussard
- 17-07-18
Couldn't Finish It
I loved Belinda Alexandra's Tucsan Rose, so I thought I would like White Gardenia also. I was totally wrong. I liked Tuscan Rose for it's historical interest, creative plot, and the strength of the main character.
I'm about 1/3 of the way through White Gardenia and I'm calling it quits. I have an extreme dislike for romance novels and that's exactly what this feels like. So far the plot has been predictable. The main character is whinny and naive and I really could care less if she lives or dies. The book would have been much more interesting if it had followed the Mother's life instead.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!