Poor Things Audiobook By Alasdair Gray cover art

Poor Things

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Poor Things

By: Alasdair Gray
Narrated by: Russ Bain, Kathryn Drysdale
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About this listen

Winner of the Whitbread Novel Award and the Guardian Fiction Prize

A life without freedom to choose is not worth having.

Godwin Baxter's scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is realized when he finds the drowned body of the beautiful Bella, who he brings back to life in a Frankenstein-esque feat. But his dream is thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless's jealous love for his creation...

But what does Bella think?

This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the listeners from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.

'A magnificently brisk, funny, dirty, brainy book' London Review of Books

'Visionary, ornate and outrageous' The Independent

'Witty and delightfully written' New York Times

'A brilliant marriage of technique, intelligence, and art.' Kirkus Reviews

©1992 Alasdair Gray (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd
Gothic Literary Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Tie-in Fiction Scary Funny Witty Mind-Bending
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What listeners say about Poor Things

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    4 out of 5 stars

Fiction or Nonfiction I must know!

I found this book because I don’t think I will get to see the movie. I have enjoyed the book. I want to know if it’s fiction or nonfiction but do not know. It takes twists I did not expect which is rare for me. I love that they have a female and male voice. It helps to know who is speaking. The book is no where near what I was expecting from the trailer to the movie. The book is way better than I feel the movie can be. Spoiler alert: it gives off “Fight Club” vibes that is funny in how they twisted it.

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7 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The narration was superb

I just didn’t care for the story line much. Although it highlighted the civilization and its mores , this story left me flat

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

Social commentary

I liked the social commentary on women, wives, nurses, classism, science & education vs money & politics.

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

different from movie, but that's OK

unpredictable with twists throughout the story...interesting...a good feminist work of fiction...has a specific audience I think

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Originality

I enjoyed the liberated thought and freedom physically and mentally that Bell demanded. The combination of women’s lib and love

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The strangeness of the story is great

Nothing to dislike at all completely enjoyably to listen to
The accents on the readers was perfect
Story much more I. Depth from movie
Loved all the new uses of words and the way all the work was worded
Amazing performance by the readers

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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No complaints

The complete work, capable and subtle narrator- I have been waiting for this! Now do LANARK!!

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

intelligent and imaginative

enjoyed the story, it made one feel engaged and empathetic towards the characters. performance was well done as you can imagine the females and males discussing the meaningful passages.

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

Not Particularly Great

I got through it but found this book disappointing. Perhaps a second read will bring more out. The movie must take a lot of liberties as the book is not too amusing. There is a dark side which is somewhat interesting. Your mileage may vary.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fun

Structurally different from the movie, this is a fun listen. The narrative devices are not new, but effective for this story.

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3 people found this helpful