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The Wonder

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The Wonder

By: Emma Donoghue
Narrated by: Tara Egan-Langley
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About this listen

A major film from the makers of Normal People and Room, starring Florence Pugh and streaming on Netflix.

Eleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell stops eating, but remains miraculously alive and well. A nurse, sent to investigate whether she is a fraud, meets a journalist hungry for a story . . .

Set in the Irish Midlands in the 1850s, Emma Donoghue's The Wonder – inspired by numerous European and North American cases of 'fasting girls' between the sixteenth century and the twentieth – is a psychological thriller about a child's murder threatening to happen in slow motion before our eyes.

©2016 Emma Donoghue (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Limited Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Women's Fiction

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Critic reviews

Emma Donoghue's writing is superb alchemy, changing innocence into horror and horror into tenderness (Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife)
Fascinating . . . Like The Turn of the Screw, the novel opens irresistibly, when a young woman with a troubled past gets an enigmatic posting in a remote place . . . Heartbreaking and transcendent and almost religious in itself (Sarah Lyall)
A fine, fact-based historical novel, an old-school page turner . . . Donoghue has written, with crackling intensity, about [spirituality's] power to destroy (Stephen King)
All stars
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I have read other books by Emma Donoghue, and very much enjoyed them. This is my first audible listen to her work and the experience was great from beginning to end. The story is powerful and the characters portrayed fabulously by the narrator who’s abilities to invoke feelings moved me deeply.
I highly recommend the Wonder and look forward to hearing Tara Egan-Langley again.

Wonderful!

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I found this audiobook unlike anything else I’ve read or listened to, and the performance was beautiful.

Gripping

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As good as the film of the book. I thought Both fantastic. Great story, beautifully read.

Fantastic

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Loved it. Beautifully read as well. One of the book you don’t want to end.

Fantastic book.

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Having recently read the hardback of Emma Donoghue's The Wonder, given all the hype for the film, I was intrigued to experience the narration of same. I wasn't disappointed, Tara Egan-Langley as a narrator transported me to a a new level and gave such an insight to this story, totally captivating me. The audiobook is spellbinding from beginning to end, truly a must. I look forward to hearing more from this insightful narrator. Gemma

The Wonder - Tara Egan-Langley narratir

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Though the story was bleak at times, the voice of Tara Egan Langley, soothing and commanding, allowed for safe listening as we were gently carried to a calm, satisfying completion. Tara’s voice range is quite incredible - from tiny Anna all the way to the ships Chaplin. Bravo Emma, Bravo Tara - the perfect team 💛

Storytelling at its best

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Bit slow to get going but an excellent story. Very good narration with gentle Irish accent.

really enjoyed it

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Not a happy read but an interesting look at religion at the heart of Ireland in the late 1800s. It is frightening to think that families may have endured trauma like this and covered up with a veil of piety.

Difficult Subject

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One of the best books I have heard in a long time. The story is gripping and engaging, the narration was simply outstanding, you’d be forgiven for thinking there was a full cast reading this in perfect accents for each character. Exceptional. Stunning. Hugely recommended.

Stunning and the best narration I have ever heard

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