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The Only Story

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The Only Story

By: Julian Barnes
Narrated by: Guy Mott
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About this listen

'Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.'

First love has lifelong consequences, but Paul doesn't know anything about that at 19. At 19, he's proud of the fact his relationship flies in the face of social convention. As he grows older, the demands placed on Paul by love become far greater than he could possibly have foreseen.

©2018 Julian Barnes (P)2018 W.F. Howes Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction
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I really like Julian Barnes This book is a bit over-written, though, a long inner monologue. It is perhaps to make the reader wonder, like Tony did all his life, about love, memory and responsibility. Or as Barnes is wondering all his life - and now me.

A bit over-written

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Starts well but degenerates halfway through into a rather meaningless philosophical ramble about I'm not sure it knows quite what.

Disappointed

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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.