Italian Shoes Audiobook By Henning Mankell cover art

Italian Shoes

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Italian Shoes

By: Henning Mankell
Narrated by: Henry Strozier
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With more than 30 million copies of his works published, in 37 languages, award-winning author Henning Mankell may be Sweden's most accomplished novelist. Here he crafts the icy, atmospheric tale of Fredrik Welin, a disgraced surgeon living in exile on a small island. When Fredrik receives a surprise visit from a lover he abandoned decades earlier, he begins the difficult road to redemption.©2006 Henning Mankell (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"Mankell continues to write literary fiction in addition to his popular crime series starring Swedish policeman Kurt Wallander. This time he tells the story of a lonely old man living alone on an isolated island. Why is former surgeon Fredrik Welin hiding on his grandparents' island? Can anything break him loose from his self-imposed exile? These two questions guide this short, beautiful, and ultimately life-affirming novel, as first one woman and then another enter Fredrik's island prison." ( Booklist)

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Beautiful Storytelling • Unique Narrative • Poignant Redemption • Engrossing Plot • Credible Voice Performance
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Sometimes I felt the book dragged but a lot of the time it was moving, exasperating and provocative. I’m glad to have read it; I believe it will stay with me

Makes you think

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I love his writing, the joy, tragedy, and especially character development. Very real, endearing and I want to visit the island and lay flowers on the dogs grave.

Beautiful

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I felt like I traveled right beside the characters through their travels and ups and downs of life and countryside.

A beautiful story about life’s journeys

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So insightful into the Nordic personality -- more said unspoken than spoken. A great book full of tragedy, loss, redemption, and love. Mankell's versatility shines here and it made me want to go live on an island in the Swedish archipelago! Good narration, too.

Wonderful

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is the fifth book I've experienced by Henning Mankell, the first audiobook. The story is unique and subtle and poignant, strange as only real life can be. Henry Strozier has a voice that perfectly suits the main character. The story begins slowly and flatly to express the emptiness and desolation of this man's life, yet moves forward with the events that pull him back into the land of the living. I both laughed and cried while listening to Italian Shoes. I will listen to this again one day, with great pleasure.

What did you like best about this story?

The subtlety of this unique first-person story.

Which character – as performed by Henry Strozier – was your favorite?

The main character, this damaged, vulnerable and greatly flawed man.

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

The party for the dying Harriett. Beautiful.

Wonderful story with perfect choice of narrator

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As I said, better than many of his very good detective stories. An excellent novel. Enjoy.

A great novel. Better than a lot of the detective ones and they are good.

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Henning Mankell. Excellent writer of the human condition.
The written word is flowing. No big excitement, no juicy tidbits. The man is older and not really been very nice through his life.
The reader is excellent, He is the man! Most of the story consists of the thoughts and memories and feelings portrayed through certain experiences. Mankell's books are mostly dusk. Not dark but not joyful. His characters have flaws. There are people out there, living this life. Drawn in, it is hard to stop reading, but there is nothing exciting, just a normal life!

A man's life

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The author digs into an emotionally unavailable man with a real assault from the women in his life. There are many tender moments and violent ones as well ,where the characters reach out for understanding in the face of the irrational - both within themselves and in those around them.
A very sad beautiful story.

Portrait of reconciliation in isolation

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But still a good story with an eccentric main character. Loved the background setting on a lonely island on a lonely, frozen coast. I was sad to reach the end.

I missed Wallender

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A quietly engrossing character development of a man we might know. Mankell describes the hurts of his characters, bound by problems, insecurities. He opens a window into our minds, and exposes our means of coping with life. The narrator does a fine job. A great read. My first taste of Henning Mankell, and I'll look for more.

Italian shoes: a study in introspection

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