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Wanderland
- Narrated by: Jini Reddy
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
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Summary
Bloomsbury presents Wanderland by Jini Reddy, read by Jini Reddy.
Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize.
Alone on a remote mountaintop one dark night, a woman hears a mysterious voice.
Propelled by the memory and after years of dreaming about it, Jini Reddy dares to delve into the 'wanderlands' of Britain, heading off in search of the magical in the landscape.
A London journalist with multicultural roots and a perennial outsider, she determinedly sets off on this unorthodox path. Serendipity and her inner compass guide her around the country in pursuit of the Other and a connection to Britain’s captivating natural world. Where might this lead? And if you know what it is to be Othered yourself, how might this colour your experiences? And what if, in invoking the spirit of the land, ‘it’ decides to make its presence felt?
Whether following a ‘cult’ map to a hidden well that refuses to reveal itself, attempting to persuade a labyrinth to spill its secrets, embarking on a coast-to-coast pilgrimage or searching for a mystical land temple, Jini depicts a whimsical, natural Britain. Along the way, she tracks down ephemeral wild art, encounters women who worship The Goddess, falls deeper in love with her birth land and struggles – but mostly fails – to get to grips with its lore. Throughout, she rejoices in the wildness we cannot see and celebrates the natural beauty we can, while offering glimpses of her Canadian childhood and her Indian parents’ struggles in apartheid-era South Africa.
Wanderland is a book in which the heart leads, all things are possible and the Other, both wild and human, comes in from the cold. It is a paean to the joy of roaming, both figuratively and imaginatively, and to the joy of finding your place in the world.
Critic reviews
"What a wonderful book Wanderland is! A witty, gentle, original and very modern quest for the magical (not the mythical) in Britain's landscape, which both made me laugh and moved me. I wish Roger Deakin could have read this book, for he would surely have recognised a kindred spirit in Jini Reddy." (Robert Macfarlane)
"A breath of fresh air." (Observer)
"[An] effervescent exploration [...] Reddy’s engaging narrative has an assurance and humour which both charm and convince." (Elizabeth Dearnley, The Times Literary Supplement)
What listeners say about Wanderland
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- Rachael B.
- 16-09-21
Not a magical experience
I really wanted to like this book BUT it is a frustrating read.
The sea is 'pongy' and light comes through the windows 'nicely'. I'm slightly astonished it was shortlisted for the Wainright prize.
The author sets of to find the magical in the landscape and appears to find everywhere a disappointment.
For someone on a quest to find nature's spirit it seems strange she can't be bothered to learn the names of trees, plants or birds she comes across. Maybe if she had more interest, patience and made an effort to know them better, they might have had more meaning.
She feels the world judging her, however, is annoyed by, and judgemental and critical of almost every person she meets.
I get the impression it isn't spirit she seeks, but an exillerating walk with a view.
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