A book of its time

The book was published in 1957 when there was a very real threat of nuclear war: this explains in large part why it seems so innocent and world-weary. If you accept this and do not try to put it into a modern context, then the blandness of the story is understandable and (more to the point) it becomes well worth listening to because Shute is, above all, a masterly storyteller.

The characters are well-drawn if a little caricatured in their stiff upper lip simplicity. Nonetheless, it is impossible not to feel for them and to feel a sense of real sadness as the inevitability of the ending approaches.

It is well and sensitively read and, even if this sort of book is not to everybody's taste, it is well worth listening to.

Can we have more Shute, please?

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4 people found this helpful

Good and different

Took me a little while to get into but once I did it was very good.

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1 person found this helpful

an excellent book, marred only by its own age

The trouble with this book is that it's old. Even though we're now in the true atomic age, it's a relic from the past, and in today's society it has no hook or frame of relevance.

You'd think that the fear of nuclear war would make it more relevant, but character behaviour is so different to modern society it's practically alien.

So - that's the bad stuff. If you can remember anything prior to the Cold War, or have a historical interest in a good book this is a read you should get.

If you replace every other word in the book with "resigned" and then every word that's left with "inevitability" you get the idea. Everybody knows they're doomed, and you know it too - but the way characters accept their fate and deal with it is fascinating. The race at the end is proper gung-ho adventure in its own right, and the sub's last trip is highly charged for both the crew and reader.

People should read or listen to this book, but need to get into the late 1950's mindset before they do so.

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A Beach like any other?

This was my first audible book, and I could not have chosen better.

The words were brought to life by the excellent narration, which was exactly the right timbre. The relationships were portrayed very well, and even the sad moments, and of course there are many, as is usual with Shute, were memorable.

I canot wait for more of this authors work to be available.

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8 people found this helpful

intriguing book... facts and emotions intermingled

A book intermingled with naval facts and how people confront the end of one's life .

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What a timeless classic

How well narrated I really like the slowness and gaps in the speech when the story calls for it. I’ve read this before and now may watch the film but don’t want to spoil it. And I really can relate to Neils attractions to his Ferrari!
Just great!

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wonderful book/story. Real classic. Reader not goo

Loved the book/story, but thought narrator underwhelming. Shame!
Would have enjoyed a more lively effort by reader.

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A bleak and moving tale

Not one of my favourite Neville Shute, but well worth a listen.

An imagined apocalypse was never going to be an easy listen, and it was indeed a bleak story. But it was also very human as with all Shute. We got to know a small cast of characters and their thoughts as the end of the world approached. Very moving.


The narrator was great at the voices, but I found his narrative hard to listen to . He has a very clipped old-fashioned Radio 4 voice, which grated on me at first until I got used to it.

It’s a slow burner. I’m glad I listened but I don’t think it will be a repeat listen.

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Thought provoking

This was an excellent audiobook for walking with. I could hardly wait until the next installment on my daily walk. Story thought provoking and narrator did a sterling job. Very good buy.

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12 people found this helpful

Stupendous

What's a great novel brilliantly written and beautifully read it was also a bit scary knowing it could really happen

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