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The Water Cure

By: Sophie Mackintosh
Narrated by: Hannah Murray, Gemma Whelan, Morfydd Clark
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Publisher's Summary

The second novel from Booker-longlisted Sophie Mackintosh

British Vogue 'Star of the Future' for 2020

Independent Best Books of the Decade

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh, read by Hannah Murray, Gemma Whelan and Morfydd Clark.

Once upon a time, damaged women came here to be cured. We took them in, fed them glasses of our clean, good water, let them scream at the waves till their lips split like ripe fruit. Now no one is left but my sisters and me. King died a year ago, quite suddenly. Mother has vanished, no one knows where. And the safe compound they built around us, far away from the toxic world, has finally been breached.

Three men arrived last week, washed up by the sea, their gazes hungry and insistent. We remember now what our father taught us. 'If the men come to you, show yourself some mercy. Don't stick around and wait for them to put you out of your misery.'

©2018 Sophie Mackintosh (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Immensely assured, calmly devastating. This is a gem of a novel and I was bowled over by it." (Katherine Angel, author of Unmastered)

"I loved this book. It rushes you through to the end on a tide of tension and closely held panic. Eerie, electric, beautiful." (Daisy Johnson, author of Fen)

"Creepy and delightful - it has a pinch of Shirley Jackson, a dash of chlorine, and an essence all of its own." (Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Harmless Like You)

What listeners say about The Water Cure

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A beautiful dream

This book transported me to the strangest world, where I recognised all the parts, but not the way it was put together. The perfect solo road trip book.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read

Really loved the characters and the metaphors of female vulnerability and strength. Would highly recommend a read

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A really good dystopian story

I loved this story. I would probably listen again as I did find it a little confusing at times and only realised it was mother speaking, not the daughters. Narration was excellent.

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

Story about not much

Gah, I have had a bad run of picking books lately. Although this book has some beautiful prose, nothing really happens, the girls are a little disappointing in their reaction to men, and I didn't finish the book feeling satisfied. No answers were given.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Strange, beautiful and suspenseful

This book was gripping. Performed with a gentleness that was so pleasant to listen to. The lyrical language is full of poetry, imagery and intrigue. A very unusual story about family, the ways we can be bound tightly together and miles apart. And young women becoming who they are.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Wouldn't recommend

I felt like I was waiting for the story to begin the entirety of the novel.
Very descriptive writing style but storyline was poor. Nothing ever really happened.

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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.