When We Were Orphans Audiobook By Kazuo Ishiguro cover art

When We Were Orphans

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When We Were Orphans

By: Kazuo Ishiguro
Narrated by: Michael Maloney
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England, 1930s: Christopher Banks has become the country's most celebrated detective, his cases the talk of London society. Yet one unsolved crime has always haunted him: the mysterious disappearance of his parents, in old Shanghai, when he was a small boy.

Moving between London and Shanghai of the interwar years, When We Were Orphans is a remarkable story of memory, intrigue and the need to return.

©2014 Kazuo Ishiguro (P)2014 Faber & Faber Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense
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If you could sum up When We Were Orphans in three words, what would they be?

Nostalgic, journey, contentment.

What did you like best about this story?

The depth in the Narrator. The narrative, shows that he is merely, human. confused, most and sometimes wrong.

What does Michael Maloney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His use of accents and dialects develops the other characters but mostly his voice as Christopher shows a vulnerability and arrogance, which helps in developing his character.

If you could take any character from When We Were Orphans out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Jenny, the other orphan, who plays a minor yet vital role.

Any additional comments?

This book is a must read or listen. It is exquisitely written. Kazou Ishiguro is becoming one of my favourite authors.

Nostalgic and alluring!

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This is a book, an experience even, where vivid moments of childhood, love, career, and family connect over time, illustrating life’s turning points, choices both good and bad.
The descriptions of wartime unpleasantness were more long-winded than necessary, but they were I suppose a valid part of the whole.
Read superbly with feeling.

Connected moments over time

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A story I got totally lost in. If ever becomming a film I hope it will respect the authors amazing art of story telling.

Loved it so much.

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Ishiguro is a genius. I realised this was one of few of his works I hadn't already read and decided to listen to it through audible.
I've been traveling into work with my mind immersed in 1940s Shanghai, following our protagonist, Christopher, as he searches for his missing parents. What a way to breathe colour into your commute!
Ishiguro's characters are complex, human, and flawed. I've been both entertained and educated as I learnt about the opium trade in the far East.
Well worth the time.

Fascinating historical fiction

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The performer made the story come to life. I will definitely look for him when I choose other books.

performance!

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I liked the story of the protagonist growing up in Shanghai and England. I did not like the story of him looking for his parents in Shanghai. It was so illogical that I finally decided that it had to be some type of dream. It wasn't.

Fever Dream

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The book appears initially mundane but skillfully comes together. The early seemingly mundane elements all have a ultimately play a part in the story. Then it stays with the reader long after the end.

A Pleasant Surprise that Lingers

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Story is quite boring and characters are dull. I have no idea why this book is written.

Boring

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