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We Spread
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
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We Spread
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Summary
Penny, an artist, has lived in the same apartment for decades, surrounded by the artifacts and keepsakes of her long life. She is resigned to the mundane rituals of old age, until things start to slip. Before her longtime partner passed away years earlier, provisions were made, unbeknownst to her, for a room in a unique long-term care residence, where Penny finds herself after one too many "incidents".
Initially, surrounded by peers, conversing, eating, sleeping, looking out at the beautiful woods that surround the house, all is well. She even begins to paint again. But as the days start to blur together, Penny—with a growing sense of unrest and distrust—starts to lose her grip on the passage of time and on her place in the world. Is she succumbing to the subtly destructive effects of aging, or is she an unknowing participant in something more unsettling?
At once compassionate and uncanny, told in spare, hypnotic prose, Iain Reid’s genre-defying third novel explores questions of conformity, art, productivity, relationships, and what, ultimately, it means to grow old.
Critic reviews
"I loved this book and couldn't put it down—a deeply gripping, surreal and wonderfully mysterious novel. Not only has Reid given us a brilliant page-turner, but a profoundly moving meditation on life and art, death and infinity. Reid is a master." (Mona Awad, author 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl and All's Well)
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What listeners say about We Spread
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ed
- 16-01-23
Better read than listened to?
I think the reading didn’t do justice to the story, or it is possibly one that is better read than listened to, it is a subtle story so probably hard to strike the right tone on audio book. I did not find you got pulled into the atmosphere, just felt like a series of things happening. It had brilliant moments, hence 3 stars for the audio.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Will Lakeman
- 30-01-23
Not sure I got the point: would have been fine as a shorty story
Disappointing. A decent science fiction writer would have knocked this story out in 30 pages
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 31-07-23
Would make a great horror movie
Has the typical style where it lures you in with mundane slice of life drama untill your kinda like 'this isn't a thriller' and then hits you over the head with strangeness. Key thing though and that's that it feels to short and you see the twist a mile off. not as clever as his other books or as scary.
it did have some very real and clever insight into old age and dementia and I love an older protagonist, I just felt it had more it could have done and gone to greater depths. The ending was ver abrupt and just felt like the story wasn't ready to end. mabey that's apt for the take I don't know.
not to give to much away but I like that many things were left open ended. definitely had some good spooky moments and I think it would make a fantastic movie as it's simple enough to be condensed, as a book it wasn't to my taste.
just worth a go, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
if you like the vibes from things like Coraline, The shinning and insomnia by Steven king this book may be just up your street :)
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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
- russ
- 26-11-22
another good one from iain
I really like his books, another good one with ambiguity and thought provoking ideas. thanks
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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
- amy
- 07-11-22
magnificent
In true Iain Reid style the reader is kept on the edge of their seat. The sense of Otherness is palpable in this short novel of an old ladies disquieting monologue.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Gee Tee
- 18-12-23
not for me
Great performance. Despite the good writing style the story was bleak, consuming me with anxiety and dread.
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