The Beautiful Mother
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The Beautiful Mother
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Narrated by:
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Jessica Tovey
About this listen
'You are her mother at this moment. The future is another time.'
In a remote corner of Tanzania, Essie Lawrence lives with her husband in an archaeologist's camp. One morning a chance encounter with two strangers sees her making a rash promise. When she returns home to the research base, she has a baby in her arms. Essie is to care for the little girl until the coming of the rains. And then hand her back.
The organised world of Magadi Research Camp is turned upside down. As her heart opens up to new life, Essie is drawn into the ancient wisdom of the Hadza, the last hunter-gatherer tribe in East Africa. And she is led back to memories of her own mother and her first home on the island of Tasmania, at the far end of the world. But there is a price to pay. Essie's marriage, her career - everything she's worked for - is put at risk.
On the shores of the flamingo lake, personal stories are played out alongside the Lawrences' quest to find the origins of the human species. Nightmares and dreams go hand in hand as past and present merge. What is real and what will turn to dust? And after a season of being a mother, will Essie be able to survive the hardest challenge of all? To love, and then let go .
An exquisite and heart-piercing story of one woman's bond with a baby, The Beautiful Mother will resonate with every parent, crossing time, place and culture. It is an unforgettable exploration of what it really means to be a member of the human family, revealing the deep need we all have to find our own tribe.
Critic Reviews
'Katherine Scholes is the queen of her craft. This is a beautiful story about the nature of belonging, entirely the right book for this moment.' - Heather Rose
'The evocative language in The Beautiful Mother transports you to a land faraway while reflecting on poignant themes that are universal. This is a beautifully crafted story.' Better Reading.
What listeners say about The Beautiful Mother
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 10-08-2021
A multi dimensional story, beautiful
For someone who was born in Kenya and aware of the background to the colonial past of Kenya, archaeological finds in the Magadi region, this is an enthralling tale of humankind, archaeology and anthropology all combined in a wonderful tale of Essie, this was a story line that was captivating and enriching. Loved the story and how it weaved so many different peoples into its tale. Based on real life and utterly believable. Could not wait to finish it.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Crystal
- 26-06-2021
Gorgeous
This was an incredible story. I will listen again one day. The story was full of rich characters, emotions, and details.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-09-2022
Beautifully written and narrated.
This book came as a complete surprise to me. It had been on my wish list and the opportunity presented itself to listen. I had no real idea of what expect so what a joy it was to read such an interesting book.
The layers of historical facts, incredible landscapes, intimate relationships and indigenous cultural insights were beautifully and poignantly woven together. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Katherine Scholes books.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maura
- 18-07-2021
Page turner.
Took me on a journey to the heart of Africa and the heart of self and grief in a raw and tender way. I valued the respectful way the author ( eventually) portrayed the First Nations people and way they were respectfully ( by Ezzie) related with. Some events were cringe worthy however reflect the reality of racism. Couldn’t stop listening from half way mark. Many a late night!! Will be reading more of this author.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-12-2021
Another Out of Africa
Magnificent collection of story romance Animalia and Nature. Inclusive of modern history and contemporary subjects, intertwining. Blended beautifully with thorough research and believable fantasy.
A sequel could easily evolve from this and would be welcomed by readers.
Thankyou for the colourful mesmerising journey 💗
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rod
- 07-12-2020
An ode to all things human
The search for human origins plays out alongside the survival of the species in a heart-warming, heart-breaking and surprisingly breath-taking story set against the dramatic landscape of Tanzania.
Tasmanian author Katherine Scholes was born in Tanzania and her love of the country is depicted as vividly as her characters in The Beautiful Mother. It is a memorable tale that tells of archaeologist and subservient wife Essie Lawrence at the Magadi Research Camp. As the team search for the origins of our species, Essie is unexpectedly approached by the nomadic Hadza, the last hunter-gatherer tribe in East Africa. With the dry season approaching, they coerce Essie into caring for one of their orphaned babies until they return in the wet season some three months later.
Suddenly a mother, Essie soon learns the power of a mother’s love while combatting the disruption and marital issues the baby’s presence evokes. As her love for the child grows, so too does her independence, feeding a growing void with many of the people around her. Her husband and distrusting other tribes both provide fuel for Essie’s personal growth and mothering instincts.
Scholes delves deep into the heart of her main character, never releasing the looming eventuality that one day soon, the baby will be reclaimed by her tribe. The people around her, including her husband, friends and main colleagues, are all realised with care to both feed the story and embark on their own paths of soul-searching and personal growth.
The Beautiful Mother is an ode to all things human, from our love for a child to our need to control our own destinies. Scholes never fails in her quest to deliver each of the powerful themes and personal journeys. And while the book is long, at almost 470 pages, not a page is wasted in keeping the reader engaged.
The audiobook recording by Penguin Random House Australia, is read by Jessica Tovey and runs for just over sixteen-and-a-half hours. Tovey is eloquent and emotive, representing the characters well, but doesn’t deliver distinct character voices in the way that so many modern readers do. Her narration however, is both engaging and enjoyable.
The Beautiful Mother may sound like a rather tedious premise on the surface but it should impress most readers who are willing to open their heart to such a story of humanity and love.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sonya perks
- 23-04-2021
Wonderful!
I loved everything about this book!
I will listen to this book again in the future.
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2 people found this helpful