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The Water Diviner

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The Water Diviner

By: Andrew Anastasios, Meaghan Wilson-Anastasios
Narrated by: Jack Thompson
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About this listen

When the Great War ends, Joshua Connor, a grieving farmer and sometime water diviner from the Mallee in Victoria, sets out to fulfil his wife's dying wish – to travel to Gallipoli to recover the bodies of his three sons and bury them in consecrated ground.

Crescent collides with cross, and hope with reason as he discovers that his eldest son, Art, may still be alive. When Connor makes a desperate dash into the perilous heart of Anatolia one question haunts him: if Art is alive, why hasn't he come home?

This is not a war novel, not even an anti-war novel. Instead it focuses on the battles that go on inside the hearts and minds of a small group of Australians and Turks as they struggle to bury their dead and rebuild their lives after the First World War. The story is based on first-hand resources, diaries and official records.

©2014 Andrew Anastasios (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Fiction War Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

"Veteran Australian actor Jack Thompson narrates his first audiobook with dazzling success.... Thompson's subtle performance expresses the fierce passions of the characters with powerful resonance. The audiobook simply sweeps you up and tangles you in an extraordinary story.... Powerful to the end, this is a listening saga that stays with you." (AudioFile)
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I don’t like war stories but loved this book. The wonderful characters surrounding the war bits made it very enjoyable.

Loved this book

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Such a wonderful intertwining of cultures and times, love and loss, and ultimate determination to seek answers and find hope. Beautifully written, I felt like I was walking through those streets in Turkey and the battlefield of Galipoli ..

loved it!

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Great narration by Jack Thomson. A very evocative story with some twists and turns, but even the expected bits were very well done. Highly recommended audio book .

Brilliant story, brilliantly narrated!

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it has everything, beautiful scenery, battle fields, war torn cities. love loyalty rage acceptance brilliant

heart wrenching

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i so loved hearing The Water Diviner story narrated by Jack Thompson's rich and authentic voice. This is a beautiful story - it's incredibly sad, some chapters I wondered how the human spirit could bear such agony. However the story of Joshua Connor is one of the most courageous I will ever read about.

This is a story that you'll need to take time out for - get into a nice comfy chair or a nice 8 hour drive for me - you'll be transported to rugged Victoria Australia, then onto faraway Gallipoli - it's an amazing, incredible and emotional tale. I loved it.

Such a beautiful story

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Jack Thompson was fabulous. This story should be a must in school. A highly recommended read.

Great story well told

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Loved it, could only an happen with an Aussie you get that sense humour even though it shows a very sad part of our history that still affects many family's to this day.👍

Great reading had problems putting it down.

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A beautiful story which was brought to life by the narrator. I highly recommend this book.

Loved it

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I recently watched The Water Diviner and was so moved by the movie I went in search of the book. As a busy mum I chose the audiobook and I have been so captivated by every word I've taken to wearing head phones around the house as I hang the washing and weed my garden!
The fact that an Aussie legend reads (Jack) adds to the alluring flavour (mind you I was picturing Russell and the actors from his movie as I listened!). I recommend this treasure to everyone!! It's that good!
It paints both countries with a eloquent, realistic, deep and enthralling brush strokes. It made me both proud to be an Australian and eager to learn more about the Istanbul side of the story. I've never thought of the losses of anywhere else, in school we only ever learnt about our ANZAC's so I'm grateful for this reason to have experienced this masterpiece of literature.
I loved it and I sit here now both fulfilled yet devastated that it ended.
Thank you.

How can I ever find another book of this caliber again!

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I had already watched the movie but when I saw this was read by Jack Thompson then I new the
Performance would be divine Australian in the
Performance.
The also story came back life for me by the rich works and amazing command of the English language written unlike any book I know.
Thank you to all those who made this possible!

Rich words and spoken by a gifted orator.

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