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Birmingham Friends cover art

Birmingham Friends

By: Annie Murray
Narrated by: Annie Aldington
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Summary

Anna Craven grew up captivated by stories of her mother's childhood in Birmingham and of Kate's friend, Olivia. Theirs was a magical friendship and Anna always regretted that, with Olivia's tragic death during the war, she would never meet the woman her mother loved so deeply. But when Kate dies, she leaves her daughter one final story: the whole truth of her life with Olivia Kemp. Anna is shocked to discover how little she really knew about the mother with whom she once felt so close. With Kate's words of caution ringing in her ears, she goes in search of the one woman, very much alive, who can answer the urgent questions she now has.
©1996 Annie Murray (P)2005 Soundings

What listeners say about Birmingham Friends

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Vivid depiction

An engrossing story that conjours the characters and places depicted beautifully.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

different

took a while to get going but understood why as story got going. overall I enjoyed it

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

Disappointing

Would you listen to Birmingham Friends again? Why?

No

Did Annie Aldington do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

No. I was disappointed with Annie's narration. Her portrayal of dialects local to the setting were very poor - including the main voice which sounded more like Essex - or London, rather than Birmingham. Sometimes the correct voices seemed to be totally forgotten, and in places the sense of particular sentences was misread.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Sadly, the story became tedious. A better narration might have helped. So sorry Annie. I hate to be so critical,

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Abruptly clips end of sentance

Overall thought it was great but on several occasions, the narrator is abruptly cut short and the next paragraph starts - bit odd and doesn’t flow well when this happens, it’s like it hasn’t been edited properly.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Disappointing narrative

I have read several of the Annie Murray books about the Bournville girls etc., and have really enjoyed reading them and was happy to find this story, which is a different premise, but sounded really interesting and downloaded it in anticipation..... But what a disappointment. The Narrator was very poor in my opinion and I haven't managed to get past the first listen, which lasted for a good forty minutes and I have not been able to face listening to it again as I find even the thought of it makes me weirdly frustrated and peeved, a strange reaction I know, but such a shame for a good author to have her work represented in this way in my opinion.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing

Would you try another book written by Annie Murray or narrated by Annie Aldington?

Annie Murray is a brilliant writer, usually. Have listened to many stories read by Annie Aldington, she is a wonderful story teller

What was most disappointing about Annie Murray’s story?

It was so disjointed, and the characters were totally weird

Did Annie Aldington do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Annie Aldington is very clever with the voices

What character would you cut from Birmingham Friends?

Olivier. I know she is the main character, but she was horrible.

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