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  • The Bermondsey Bookshop

  • By: Mary Gibson
  • Narrated by: Anne Dover
  • Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (114 ratings)

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The Bermondsey Bookshop cover art

The Bermondsey Bookshop

By: Mary Gibson
Narrated by: Anne Dover
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Publisher's Summary

'Happiness had never been something she'd looked for. A quiet day with no insults or wallops, that was the best she could imagine.'

Set in 1920s London, this is the inspiring story of Kate Goss' struggle against poverty, hunger and cruel family secrets. 

Her mother died in a fall, her father has vanished without trace, and now her aunt and cousins treat her viciously. In a freezing, vermin-infested garret, factory girl Kate has only her own brave spirit and dreams of finding her father to keep her going. She has barely enough money to feed herself, or to pay the rent. The factory where she works begins to lay off people and it isn't long before she has fallen into the hands of the violent local money-lender. That is until an unexpected opportunity comes her way - a job cleaning a most unusual bookshop, where anyone, from factory workers to dockers, can learn to read and then buy books cheaply. A new world opens up, but with it come new dangers, too. 

Based on the true story of the Bermondsey Bookshop, this is the most inspiring and gripping novel Mary Gibson has yet written. 

©2020 Mary Gibson (P)2020 Head of Zeus

What listeners say about The Bermondsey Bookshop

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

Hated the ending

Review contains spoilers



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Whilst I loved the performance and almost all of the story, I absolutely hated the ending... the way Kate returned to Johnny who was a violent man and the way it was portrayed that she was at fault for their relationship breakdown when it was because he was physically violent was awful and gaslighting. I hated the part at the end where she left her fiancé and it said her heart wasn’t broken, it was just incomplete... and then Johnny came back.

It did a huge disservice to the strength of the female characters in the story. The fact that Kate had survived such hardship, and that almost all of the women had survived either physical or sexual assault seemed to be belittled by her returning to a man with a history of explosive violence.

Honestly, other than the last two chapters, I loved the book. I would have given it 4.5 stars. The characters were beautifully described and had excellent development. They just all seemed to betray all of that in the final two chapters.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Great story

Loved this storyline with interesting characters and some unexpected twists. As always narrator Anne Dover is superb.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Enjoyable story

This is a well narrated story that brings the characters to life as you read. The story immerses you in their lives and you want the heroine of the story to triumph even if she frustrates you occasionally!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Superb Story

Great story Ann Dover never disappoints as narrator. Minus a star for the lack lustre ending.

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

Brilliant

This was such a lovely heart warming story Not what I normanly listen to. Everything about this was a delight. Loved the characters and friendships that developed It is a must. looking forward to listening to more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen

loved it...couldn't stop listening.
Great listen whilst in bed unwell.
loved the characters and the story line. Great ending.

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

I devoured this story!

I couldn't stop thinking about this story, the characters, where it was leading. I was totally hooked.

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

lovely little story

I enjoyed this book. I have been reading action packed books of late and this has been a great change in pace and genre. looking for something else similar now as I enjoyed this book.

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

Lovely story

Great book and the narrator is brilliant. I love great endings, and the lead up to this one is very twisty.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story telling

Loved the story, the narrator was very easy to listen to and made each character alive and interesting.

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