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The Hearing Trumpet

By: Leonora Carrington
Narrated by: Siân Phillips
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Publisher's summary

Surreal and splendidly unconventional, The Hearing Trumpet is an apocalyptic fairy-tale quest about an occult old ladies' home and the spry nonagenarian who ends up there. After coming into possession of a hearing trumpet, 92-year-old Marian Leatherby discovers her son's plans to send her to a nursing home. But this is no ordinary place.... Here there are strange rituals, orgiastic nuns, levitating abbesses, animalistic humans, humanistic animals, a search for the Holy Grail, and a plan to escape to Lapland and knit a tent....

Surrealist painter Leonora Carrington's novel is an exhilarating journey brimming with laugh-out-loud humor and absurd lunacy.

©1976 Leonora Carrington (P)2017 Naxos AudioBooks
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What listeners say about The Hearing Trumpet

Average customer ratings
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Odd and Marvelous - One in a Million

I can honestly say that this is one of the oddest books I've ever read but in a very good way. The narrator was outstanding. I hope anyone who glances at this review will take a chance on this book. You will not read another one like it.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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fantastical ride

I can't say that I followed a plot so much as that I simply enjoyed the ride. From bearded ladies to the Spanish Revolution to werewolves saving the grail. The narration was absolutely perfect.

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

Old woman's daydream?

Brilliantly performed. The voice actress kept me engaged. The story itself started very much normal than took a drastic dip into fantasy out of nowhere. Interesting to say the least.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A unique story by a unique mind.

I so much enjoyed this light-hearted, often comical, well-written and skillful story. So entertainingly laying bear the foibles of humanity from the perspective of a ninety-something adventuress.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating

A wonderful surrealistic fairy tale with wise old women at its center. A great listen.

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Delightful

First off the narrator was excellent. I hope she does more books. Her voice was just perfect!!

The storyline and writing was wonderful! What an interesting view of what growing old must be like. I really enjoyed this book. Nice job!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best book I've listened to in a while

I can not believe that I have lived this long without reading this book. I was blown away by it, start to finish.

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

AGEISM

“The Hearing Trumpet” is said to have been written in the 1950s or early 60s. The author, Leonora Carrington, is believed to be in her late 50s when the book is written. Her age is relevant because the book is about old age and how those who make it to old age are treated in the modern world. One presumes Carrington’s story is full of symbolism, but it hides the fundamental importance of aging and how fearful one is to become old, ignored, and essentially discarded by society. Maybe fantasy is all that is left to the aged. Carrington lives into her 90s. One wonders how she adjusted to her infirmities. 

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

Creative

Great performance by the narrator. Writing is creative, colorful, and oftentimes brilliantly witty. In spite of all these positives, I had to force myself through the last three hours, which were, for me, tedious beyond belief. I’m sure there are those who will be fascinated by the fairy tale quality of the book, but it didn’t work for me.

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

an odd story that holds the interest

This is a very hard story to follow. It is fascinating, Not sure what the plot is.

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