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Shirley

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Shirley

By: Ronnie Scott
Narrated by: Elle Mickel
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About this listen

It's been twenty years since her mother was photographed, blood-soaked, outside the family home. A famous TV food personality, she fled the country. Since that time, the girl has grown up. She's bought an apartment, learned her own cooking style, fallen in love. She lives a quiet life, working as a copywriter for a health insurance company. She's found happiness, finally.

But strange things are in the air. Her easy-going boyfriend has started sleeping with men. Her mother is selling the infamous family home. And a glamorous, pregnant neighbour has moved into the apartment downstairs, calling into question everything the girl believes about her own desires.

How are we supposed to understand our past when all we have is our present? Do people still love us if they'd rather be anywhere but with us? And in a world of conspiracies, dubious loyalties, and mercenary impulses, how do we work out who is worthy of our devotion and who is just a fan?

Equal parts funny and contemplative, Shirley charts a search for meaning in a world where the fracturing of ambitions - work and purpose, real estate and home, family and love - has left us uncertain how to recognise ourselves.

©2023 Ronnie Scott (P)2023 Penguin Random House Australia Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction
All stars
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I can't listen to it anymore. I'm trying not to hear the narrator's interpretation but it is overwhelming. And really irritating. I might try reading it, as it seems an interesting story.

Awful narration

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Nothing happens but the voicing is interesting. The reader is not great and I personally hate it when readers “put on voices” or read with an attitude. I finished it - I guess that says something.

Compelling but badly read

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Book club agreed not enough character development. No plot. Was waiting for something to happen, and nothing did. We can’t work out the name of the main character! Disappointed.

Don’t bother

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Well worth listening to. Whilst I’m not completely sure how I feel about all the themes of this book. It’s very evocative of the period we’ve all just been through. And it kept me coming back

There’s definitely something to this.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.