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  • The Bermondsey Bookshop

  • By: Mary Gibson
  • Narrated by: Anne Dover
  • Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (868 ratings)

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The Bermondsey Bookshop

By: Mary Gibson
Narrated by: Anne Dover
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Summary

'Happiness had never been something she'd looked for. A quiet day with no insults or wallops, that was the best she could imagine.'

Set in 1920s London, this is the inspiring story of Kate Goss' struggle against poverty, hunger and cruel family secrets.

Her mother died in a fall, her father has vanished without trace, and now her aunt and cousins treat her viciously. In a freezing, vermin-infested garret, factory girl Kate has only her own brave spirit and dreams of finding her father to keep her going. She has barely enough money to feed herself, or to pay the rent. The factory where she works begins to lay off people and it isn't long before she has fallen into the hands of the violent local money-lender. That is until an unexpected opportunity comes her way - a job cleaning a most unusual bookshop, where anyone, from factory workers to dockers, can learn to read and then buy books cheaply. A new world opens up, but with it come new dangers, too.

Based on the true story of the Bermondsey Bookshop, this is the most inspiring and gripping novel Mary Gibson has yet written.

©2020 Mary Gibson (P)2020 Head of Zeus
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What listeners say about The Bermondsey Bookshop

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An easy and enjoyable listen

A lovely, easy story to listen to. I had predicted the end but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. Great narrator.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story..

This was such a good book it was hard to put down. The story line kept you interested and the characters were so real it was as if you knew them personally.
the reason for 4 stars was the last two chapters. I thought they were rushed especially the part in Cornwall then switched to Johnny being in switzerland.then back to Cornwall. The story line of Nora and Martin Connie and the baby etc I feel could have been more explained. To me the ending was rushed .Apart from that it was a great read and I have now bought more books by the author.
The Narrative was brilliant. Her voices for each character made it more real..
Again great book shame about the rushed ending..

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

Enthralling and beautifully narrated.

The East End community in the 1920’s with plenty of feeling and compassion. Good story with twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way. Best Narrator too in my opinion. The narrator makes or breaks an audiobook as we know. Nothing but a pleasure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Bermondsey bookshop

Really enjoyed the book. Insight into the lives and struggles of working class lives and living conditions before the welfare state. I always enjoy a story with fiesty woman. Ann Grover is a fantastic narrator, I always appreciate her work

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A good page turner

I wasn't expecting a great novel when listening to the dialect however the characters where good Few unexpected twists and a fairy good storyline l did enjoy it not great but good

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The Bermondsey Bookshop

Wonderful book with everything in it
Laughter,tears and love. This was a companion on walks and quiet hours

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

Great story

What a great book & what a brilliant narrator, it felt at times when listening you were at the theatre.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

good listen

really good listen, enjoyed the twists and turns, little predictable towards the end of the book

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

lovely

You will enjoy this book if you like historical fiction and old books. It's written in a style of the 1920s that it describes, so flows smoothly. Not a particularly gripping story but lovely. It was nice to learn a bit about the bookshop and the way people lived only 100 years ago. I enjoyed the narration

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

believeable characters good story

loved it from start to finish. took you along with the characters all tbe way

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