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Study for Obedience

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Study for Obedience

By: Sarah Bernstein
Narrated by: Sarah Bernstein
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About this listen

A powerful, compressed masterwork for fans of Shirley Jackson and Claire-Louise Bennett.

A woman moves from the place of her birth to a remote northern country to be housekeeper to her brother, whose wife has just left him. The youngest child of many siblings - more than she cares to remember - from earliest childhood she has attended to their every desire, smoothed away the slightest discomfort with perfect obedience, with the highest degree of devotion. The country, it transpires, is the country of their family's ancestors, an obscure though reviled people.

Soon after she arrives, a series of unfortunate events occurs - collective bovine hysteria; the demise of a ewe and her nearly-born lamb; a local dog's phantom pregnancy; the containment of domestic fowl; a potato blight. She notices that the local suspicion about incomers in general seems to be directed particularly in her case. What is clear is that she is being accused of wrongdoing, but in a language she cannot understand and so cannot address. And however diligently and silently she toils in service of the community, still she feels their hostility growing, pressing at the edges of her brother's property...

©2023 Sarah Bernstein (P)2023 Sarah Bernstein Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Psychological Small Town & Rural

Critic Reviews

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023

NAMED AS ONE OF GRANTA MAGAZINE'S BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH NOVELISTS 2023
All stars
Most relevant  
I read the novel and loved it, and started listening to Sarah's reading. Incredible.

Compelling

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An incredible narrative of internalised dialogue describing intergenerational trauma and internalised blame.
Given the rise of modern day antisemitism this is an important read.

As insightful as it is absurd and disturbing.

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Haven't been so confused by a book in a long time. Some pros: the style, the complexity of the characters' psychology (mainly the main one) and the relavance of modern antisemitism
. Some cons: ultra slow plot (weird in such a small book), boring side characters ...as well as 80percent ofnthe story. And particularly unrelatable and dislikable character.

Still, it is worth a read. I'm sure it's a book that can really spark something in someone...just not in me.

Complex, boring but still worth a read

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This book was a boring navel gaze by the author. Decided not to give it any more time.

Did not finish- woeful

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I found the readers accent and style of reading to be lacking intonation and overall uninteresting. The storyline, whilst subtle (it’s basically an internal monologue) was not that interesting and seemed to be on repeat. I wouldn’t recommend it.

I found the story uninteresting and was uncomfortable with the main character.

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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.