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The Bird in the Bamboo Cage
- Narrated by: Imogen Church, Rosie Jones
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
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The Bird in the Bamboo Cage
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Summary
Shortlisted for the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction Book of the Year.
USA Today best seller. Inspired by true events.
China, 1941.
With Japan’s declaration of war on the Allies, Elspeth Kent’s future changes forever. When soldiers take control of the missionary school where she teaches, comfortable security is replaced by rationing, uncertainty and fear.
Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has always felt safe at Chefoo School. Now the enemy, separated indefinitely from anxious parents, the children must turn to their teachers – to Miss Kent and her new Girl Guide patrol especially – for help. But worse is to come when the pupils and teachers are sent to a distant internment camp. Unimaginable hardship, impossible choices and danger lie ahead.
Inspired by true events, this is the unforgettable story of the life-changing bonds formed between a young girl and her teacher, in a remote corner of a terrible war.
Published in the USA and Canada under the title When We Were Young & Brave.
Critic reviews
"Moving and authentic." (Dinah Jefferies)
"Beautiful...warm, loveable characters who had me rooting for them all the way." (Tracy Rees)
"An absolute treat." (Liz Nugent)
What listeners say about The Bird in the Bamboo Cage
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
- Amazon Customer
- 14-04-24
Memories
Many stories are told about prison camps from WW2 but the way this story is told brings a new understanding of how people went on living with hope despite the appalling circumstances.
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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
- Pierre Bovington
- 17-04-24
Survival
Inspiring story of China during the occupation of Japan. Hazel Gaynor captures the moment perfectly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Caroline McCabe
- 19-03-21
brilliant book really enjoyed it
I loved this book from start to finish the description of places and situations was incredible and I felt I could really see the places. Great book
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eva Davison
- 07-04-24
Not sure if it's too sentimental
At first I thought that this book had very much the feel of " Call the Midwife ", which I found to be too sentimental for my taste. I also found the accents the reader used were a bit too strong. However I'm pleased that I listen to it right to the end. Yes, it was sentimental but was well written and the ending did have me in tears.
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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
- Jon m
- 15-08-23
superb tale of endurance and courage
an incredibly beautiful story, wonderfully read. it will stay with me for a long time. A must-read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR MARK EVANS
- 08-04-24
A wonderful read.
I loved the book very powerful. I savoured listening to it and felt I learned something about our history that isn’t spoken about much. One of my favourites.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jenny Simanis
- 22-02-23
Beautiful story
Really wonderful story and performance. The telling of this powerful tale is very gently told, and is all the better for it.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rachael Murphy
- 05-05-21
Beautiful
Lovely story excellently preformed. I feel like I learned a bit about what it was like. War stories that follow civilians give you so much when it comes to understanding your what happened.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sigrin
- 05-04-24
Courage and determination
Beautiful but harrowing book of the teachers of boarding school and their pupils who are changing from children to young adults, all whilst enduring the Japanese occupation in the far East during WW2.
Their old fashioned values, morals and résilience were their saving grace, one does wonder how the todays youngsters would cope? I especially liked the scene with them eating the meagre rations at the pow camp, whilst the teachers ensured that they kept their table manners. It was however these values that allowed their minds to stay strong and focused, despite being physically weak to continue during this almost impossible time.
I usually like Imogen Church as a narrator but found her intonation on many occasion a bit theatrical. Rosie Jones was just lovely as Nancy.
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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
- Gilly
- 04-04-24
Amazing
Loved this book from start to finish cried, laughed felt all the emotions it was like being there living it with them ❤️ Would highly recommend well worth listening to.
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