Great story, great reader

This is a gripping, moving, thought provoking and deeply enjoyable novel written by a master story teller and read by a superb and sympathetic actor. Bravo!

14 people found this helpful

Round the Bend is classic Shute, but not the best

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend any of Nevil Shute's books.

What did you like best about this story?

Shute brings air travel and distant places in the 1940's-50's to life and makes it interesting!

Have you listened to any of John Telfer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first. He was well suited to the book. I'd listen to him again.

Who was the most memorable character of Round the Bend and why?

I'd say the narrator, which may seem odd to some. Yet it was Shute himself in many ways, exploring his beliefs through the guy telling the story.

Any additional comments?

I find Shute to be one of the best writers and much overlooked. His blending of engineering, flying, fascination with many places and his ability to tell a story are superb. He champions the "little guy or girl" who just gets on with life, not complaining or seekking glory, but just living decently, if not always wisely. He is self deprecating when writing about himself, and his characters come through with true likeableness even if you wouldn't believe as they do. Shute considered this his best novel. Though I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my husband, and will read it again, I don't agree with the author. Trustee From the Toolroom and A Town Like Alice are his best. This is why I gave it 4 stars.

11 people found this helpful

Zen and the Art of Airplane Maintenance?

Actually a spiritual book in all the ways that count, but told in highly digestible story form. It is an thoughtful, believable portrait of the development and life of a "holy" person, viewed through the eyes of his contemporary.

7 people found this helpful

Nevil is the Best!

Where does Round the Bend rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book ranks very high on my list as just a very good story

What was one of the most memorable moments of Round the Bend?

Well when Tom returns to the UK and manages to buy a larger plane each time-that is impressive! While Connie is so religous about his maintenance...

Have you listened to any of John Telfer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but this one is excellent

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Round the Bend

Any additional comments?

this is a story which grips and fascinates, from a master story teller!
Everyone should be reading Nevil Shute if they want a good satisfying-and long-read!

7 people found this helpful

An unanticipated gem

Perhaps this book resonated with me because I've recently been to several of the countries of the setting - or perhaps because of the glimpse of history it offers, or maybe it was Shute's philosophy - but whatever it was, it grabbed me. A glimpse of the Asian world of post WWII, the growth a start-up aviation business the start of the middle East oil boom, the western world-view of Asia in 1945, and Neville Shute's philosophy of the the holy character of excellence in one's work, all meld together and produce an unusual, original story with memorable characters. It was an unexpected delight.

I had just read A Town Like Alice, also by Neville Shute, and wanted to explore some more of his work. Round the Bend is quite different, but both are excellent, satisfying stories.

4 people found this helpful

One of Nevil Shute's best stories

Any additional comments?

Disclaimer: this is being written by an avid Nevil Shute fan. That being said, this is Shute at his best. If you've never heard of him, or only read A Town Like Alice, then give this one a try. You just might be fortunate enough to become a Nevil Shute fan too!! The reader is also excellent.

4 people found this helpful

an interesting story

I read Shute's beautiful book A Town Like Alice in 2018 and quickly fell in love. And although this book is wonderful, I didn't love it quite as much as the first. But Shute's prose is cool, simple and spare. He exposes his characters in a way that is quiet, subtle and slightly voyeuristic. I came away from both books feeling like I knew the people on their pages.

Round the Bend was written in 1951. It is the fictional autobiography of an airline entrepreneur named Tom Cutter. Tom begins his business in England when he purchases one small plane. He soon moves to Bahrain (then an English protectorate) where he builds an airfreight empire. Tom Cutter's life revolves around his business. He seems to do nothing else. He has no lover, no friends, no hobbies. He puts all of his money into the business and hires all the best people. Many of his pilots and crew chiefs are not white Europeans, and because of that the book is richer. It allows us to see glimpses of life for people of different races and religions in the same time, place and business. He has no interests other than his business, and he achieves success by pluck, unremitting hard work, sinking every penny back into the business, and hiring the best people as mechanics, engineers, and pilots, even if they aren't white Europeans.

Tom's friend and chief engineer is the quirkiest character in the book, and perhaps the true subject of the book. He is the impetus for the title of the book. He has gone "round the bend," and is in some sort of religious fervor. He is preachy and judgmental of his co-workers, and yet he is charismatic and interesting, which draws people to him. In the Mideast he attracts Muslims, in India he brings in Hindus, and Buddhists come to him in the far East. He seems a bit like a cult leader.

Tom is either barely aware or doesn't care. His focus is single-minded. He cares only about his aircraft. Unfortunately though, his friend is diagnosed with leukemia and dies. And this is when Tom seems to connect with the way his friend is viewed. A holy man, revered by a huge number of people. Tom is surprised, maybe even shocked, despite the fact that his friend has been gathering followers for quite some time.

Tom's naive surprise is the best part of the book for this reader because it demonstrates the change in his thinking. And by the end of the book the reader has also been transported to a place different than she was before beginning the book. Both reader and narrator are changed. That is the power of books.

2 people found this helpful

What a pleasure

to have listened to this marvelous book, narrated expertly. My favourite audiobook is probably Shanteram and I'd put this one second.

2 people found this helpful

Beautifully read

This has always been one of my favourite Nevil Shute novels and it was beautifully brought to life by John Telfer. Perfect accents throughout and a lovely mellow reading voice. He brought something extra to the book and I enjoyed it in a new way. Off to see what else he has narrated.

1 person found this helpful

Moving, spiritual, perhaps wise

I very much appreciated the story, narrator and the thoughtfulness this audiobook has inspired in me.

1 person found this helpful