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The Pact cover art

The Pact

By: Thomas Keneally
Narrated by: Keith Scott,Taylor Owynns,Thomas Keneally
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Publisher's Summary

From Australia's master storyteller comes an endearing and engaging novella about a journey as unexpected, painful, intriguing and character-filled as life itself. 

A cruise was the promise. To cruise away from their troubles. To cruise towards the place where they first met, on the banks of the Thames. A cruise to dwell in their memories together and plan their next chapter. 

Paddy and Jenny Davern have had a long and happy marriage together in Sydney. Together they embark on a cruise to London, for the last leisurely journey in each other's company. While on board, they meet a kaleidoscope of adventurous passengers that test their resolve to their promise to each other, and motivations towards their pact. 

Thomas Keneally is the renowned author of Schindler's List and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. He has won the Miles Franklin Award, the Booker Prize, the Los Angeles Times Prize, the Mondello International Prize and has been made a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library, a Fellow of the American Academy, recipient of the University of California gold medal and is now the subject of a 55 cent Australian stamp. 

©2020 Thomas Keneally (P)2020 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

What listeners say about The Pact

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My thoughts

I enjoy the writings of Thomas Keneally, and this story is performed brilliantly. However, I feel it gives suicide a romance that it does not deserve. It does not then visit the emptiness and loss left to loved ones, or the distress that accompanies it. We who are living have a gift, which I feel has been diminished here.

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33 people found this helpful

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Tom Keneally’s The Pact

Thomas Keneally stuns me. It is hard to imagine where he finds the time to to produce and publish “The Dickens Boy” and now “The Pact” and the year is barely half gone.

And the eclectic topics of his novels covers an extremely broad canvas. To cover topics of old age and suicide is apparently not he feels he is nearing of his writing life. I am sure there will be plenty more novels as well as trying to keep us entertained with short articles in the Age to help us survive the COVID shut downs.

Having first been introduced to his writing while I was in high school with “The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith “ it seems there has rarely been a hiatus from novel to novel.

“The Pact” itself may be more a novella and perhaps a first direct to Audible publication but it certainly makes a break between Netflix and Podcasts and I personally binge listened to it over two days.

A word of warning though- it may be advisable not to “read” it if you are suicidal or depressed. Although It is an uplifting story it is a story about suicide.

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21 people found this helpful

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So depressing I couldn’t complete

As the daughter of ageing parents suffering dementia and heart disease I find the thoughts of this couple depressing and unacceptable
Using their son’s gambling issues and incarceration is cowardice and they should be trying to help and be an example to their Grandchildren.

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18 people found this helpful

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Brilliantly written

Superb writing...however Mr Keneally is not serving humanity by describing the suicide of a hugely selfish wealthy couple ...it is the privilege of the wealthy elderly to encourage and educate the younger generations and give their time and wisdom to those less fortunate than themselves...As long as you can give to others and to God there is ALWAYS something to live for

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18 people found this helpful

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Morbid

Depressing and morbid, rather morkish and sentimental, hard to listen to. Performances are fine. OK I'd you like to be depressed

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14 people found this helpful

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Interesting concept

Look the story line is interesting but the ship sinks with an Thesaurus of gratuitous adjectives.
Only got half way on the voyage I’m afraid

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9 people found this helpful

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#Review...

Good book. The story kept me interested. Performances were phenomenal. It is an easy going, easy listen book. Recommended’

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Utterly heartbreaking

A very beautiful story, but it ended with me in tears..I work with the elderly xx

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3 people found this helpful

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Fabulous story

I loved this story,lots of twists and turns and the narrators did a great job.

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3 people found this helpful

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Fabulous

A very refreshing and honest narrative about end of life. Presentation excellence and another beautifully written novel by Thomas Keneally

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  • Clavrot
  • 08-10-2021

I don’t get suicide

It was hard for me to empathize with the characters in the book because I couldn’t understand why either of them would want to end their lives. Despite that being explained by both of them many times, it still didn’t make sense to me but I stuck with the book till the end.
I loved the language used actually. My favorite quote is “she amended her perfection”. The author used a rich, kind of old fashioned, intonation, which added to the depth of the story and which I enjoyed a lot.

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  • Kristina
  • 24-02-2023

Tough topic

It took me a while to understand the pact and was disappointed with the ending but the story is thought provoking.

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