Small Worlds
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Small Worlds
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Narrated by:
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Caleb Azumah Nelson
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
WINNER OF THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024
An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from Caleb Azumah Nelson, the no.1 bestselling, award-winning author of Open Water
The one thing that can solve Stephen's problems is dancing. Dancing at Church, with his parents and brother, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise; he might have lost his faith, but he does believe in rhythm. Dancing with his friends, somewhere in a basement with the drums about to drop, while the DJ spins garage cuts. Dancing with his band, making music which speaks not just to the hardships of their lives, but the joys too. Dancing with his best friend Adeline, two-stepping around the living room, crooning and grooving, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone, at home, to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known.
Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? When his father begins to speak of shame and sacrifice, when his home is no longer his own? How will he find space for himself: a place where he can feel beautiful, a place he might feel free?
Set over the course of three summers in Stephen's life, from London to Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exhilarating and expansive novel about the worlds we build for ourselves, the worlds we live, dance and love within.
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What listeners say about Small Worlds
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Claire
- 04-06-24
A journey through Family, via Music, London and Ghana.
Music and a lyrical style run through this memorable book on family dynamics and growing up in London.
It looks at the subtle ways we lose connection with each other, and the ways back together if the bonds are strong.
Really well written.and narrated.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tasha
- 09-11-24
Poetic, Beautiful
I think everyone should read this. It took a little time for me to really sink into it, at times I found it hard to follow the narrative, but once I really leant into the style I was fully in the world of the book and I absolutely loved it. Growing up in London, there was a special connection to many of the references and music that was brought out of the story. Really loved it. More please!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Helen
- 12-02-24
Poetic storytelling
I really related to this book as a Ghanaian Diaspora. Loved the flow and poetry of this in comparison to open waters. The storyline was such an improvement from his previous book. Caleb explores a lot of themes but my favourite is love in its many forms and also belonging. And how everyone’s individual world is different. I would highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tito
- 11-07-23
Perfect - Emotional - Real - Honest
I love Caleb’s writing. It’s so rooted in his authentic experiences and his truths. There are so many relatable characters, feelings and experiences he communicates. We are witnessing a generational writer. The way he captures the lives that us diaspora second gen kids - particularly us west Africans is extraordinary. I nearly cried hearing the weaknesses and vulnerability of the male characters. Male mental health and stories are hardly shared. But Caleb did. Thank you. A gift to all to read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wolfgang
- 15-11-23
Incredible book!
This book spoke to my soul, I loved every word of it. He reads it beautifully.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Tom
- 02-06-23
Just beautiful
Nelson is a wonderful writer. There’s rhythm in his words and the emotion these conjure for the reader. I cannot wait for his next book. Thank you blessing us with your gift of writing.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-09-23
Exquisitely told story, masterfully written
An elegantly raw and heartfelt story told through the lens of beautifully crafted narratives of the characters that resonates with authenticity, compassion and a profound understanding of migrant experience and the subsequent generations living in UK today. An exquisitely written novel that delves into the multifaceted nature of the diaspora identity. Beautiful, personal, spoke of things most of us find hard to articulate about our experience. I couldn’t stop listening to this. Thank you so much Caleb Azumah Nelson.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- lukeclark
- 17-01-24
Standing Ovation.
I thought 'Open Water' was amazing – so fresh, so lyrical, and so stylistically true to the music and the voices it was sharing. 'Small Worlds' is even better. That 'buzz' was officially not an accident. The characters here benefit from the writers' added maturity: the father-son dynamic is to me, point-perfect. We are in the hands of a true talent here: the attention that Caleb Azumah Nelson got from agents, media and publishers is more than deserved. What I look for in a novel is truth and believability: the effect being that you feel you 'know' the people, and that they stay with you afterwards. That's exactly the case with 'Small Worlds': it's definitely one I'm excited to read again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Craig L.
- 22-06-23
Extraordinary
Utterly gripped throughout by the beautiful storytelling and language. Took me to a world I know little about, one which I did not want to leave.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Stella billerey
- 26-08-24
Beautiful rhythmic use of language.
Reads like prose. Deeply moving and utterly mesmerising. I loved all the references to SE london. I couldn’t put this down.
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