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  • Riddley Walker

  • Penguin Modern Classics
  • By: Russell Hoban
  • Narrated by: Richard Pearce
  • Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (54 ratings)

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Riddley Walker

By: Russell Hoban
Narrated by: Richard Pearce
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

O what we ben! And what we come to....

Wandering a desolate post-apocalyptic landscape, speaking a broken-down English lost after the end of civilisation, Riddley Walker sets out to find out what brought humanity here. This is his story.

©2021 Russell Hoban (P)2021 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"This is what literature is meant to be." (Anthony Burgess)

"Funny, terrible, haunting and unsettling, this book is a masterpiece." (Observer)

"A timeless portrayal of the human condition...frightening and uncanny." (Will Self)

What listeners say about Riddley Walker

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  • Overall
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OMG amazing!

If there is only ever one book you listen to, this should be it. Of course, the language takes a little getting used to but the narration is absolutely perfect, it can not be faulted.
The story ambles and wanders in a way that is very engaging. I highly recommend this book, but only when read by this narrator.

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  • Overall
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When did this happen? Why wasn’t I told?

I have lost count of the years waiting for this to happen. I used to check pretty regularly but I guess I’d given up to the inevitability of this never happening then “bang” it arrives while I’m not even looking.
So happy. Such an excellent book and the narration is all I could have hoped for.

My one caveat is that maybe you should experience reading the book first before listening. The grammar and spelling has a poetry and richness that no one could ever hope to reproduce in an audiobook.

Wonderful

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4 people found this helpful

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One of the Greatest of All Time

This was my second reading of Riddley Walker and it’s even better than I remembered. The language is magical, the storytelling even better than I remembered. I did wonder if the audio version could equal the printed book and, while it is handy to have the text to hand, it’s by no means essential.

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Phenomenal reading

Just leaving a review because the reading by Richard Pearce was absolutely phenomenal. He brings the story to life and reveals the inherent poetry of the writing.

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Bravo Richard Pearce!

What a fantastic narration! It’s like a radio play - so full of feeling and intelligence. It must have taken a lot of thought and preparation. This is my favourite book, I have read it many times, but this narration really does it justice and I know I will listen again.

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Great performance of a wonderful book

I love this book, but it isn't the easiest read - I know a few people who have started it, loved it, but flagged part-way.
This audiobook makes the devolved language really accessible.

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1 person found this helpful

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A new favourite

One I'll come back to again and again. Amazing from beginning to end. I haven't a single word of complaint.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I've waited decades

and my brother's recommendation read this in the 1980s and I have been waiting for a very long time for an audiobook. it would have been very easy for this to disappoint but it absolutely doesn't - it hits the nail on the head, the atmosphere, the language, everything this is the real deal!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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the idea of us in the great dance of the everything

"What it the idea of you? I ain't the knowing of it, I'm just only the showing of it."

if you've ever looked for meaning, read along with Riddley.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Does Russell Hoban`s cult classic justice.

A brilliant performance from the narrator who brings Hoban`s dialect to life and gives each of the characters an individual voice which keeps the readers interest .The quality of the narration really adds to the enjoyment of this story and helps conjure a vivid picture of this post apocalyptic vision. Hoban`s original novel is a great piece of writing with increasing relevance in our current times .I would thoroughly recommend this to other listeners. A MUST listen.

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1 person found this helpful