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A Fine Balance
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam
- Length: 25 hrs and 49 mins
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A Fine Balance
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Summary
With a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of Charles Dickens, this magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of India. The time is 1975. The place is an unnamed city by the sea. The government has just declared a State of Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers - a spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his idyllic hill station, and two tailors who have fled the caste violence of their native village - will be thrust together, forced to share one cramped apartment and an uncertain future.
As the characters move from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love, A Fine Balance creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- shernoo
- 14-02-21
a recommended listen
a really good listen. rather depressing but felt very factual. certainly shocking and makes you think someone should of been able to do something about all the injustice. what resilience some people have
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2 people found this helpful
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- andrew james lilley
- 16-07-20
By far the best novel about contemporary India.
I read the book some years ago and this audiobook renders it perfectly.
I lived in India during the period it covers and over those years I.met almost every one of the wonderful characters depicted.
No.author has ever expressed the tragic story of modern India so eloquently with such poetic beauty.
WONDERFUL!!!!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S. Evans
- 19-08-20
An almost overwhelming experience
An amazing book. Breadth, colour and detail. And love. Strong characters, and a strong sense of values, but also such a yearning to understand and to forgive. Really, one of the greatest books I've ever encountered. And very well read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jill
- 15-04-21
Moving story
This book flowed well and narrated a very sad story in a very interesting way. I felt that the characters were real and their lives became so real to me while listening. An insight into the terrible poverty and unfairness in their country. Recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- debbieg
- 03-04-21
A lifetime read - listen - it’s truly wonderful
Reeling from having just finished this amazing book. So many memories, people, tragic stories that will remain with me forever. A real tapestry worth of a modern Dickens. Just don’t miss it - it’s a lifetime read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- matchstick girl
- 29-11-20
Exquisite book, brilliantly told
This is an exquisitely told, deeply moving book set against the backdrop of the Emergency of India in 1975-77. We follow the lives of four characters through the joys and struggles of their lives, often encountering deep pain and horror. And, yet, with the characters we keep the fine balance between hope and despair. This is one of the finest novels ever written, narrated expertly, with great empathy and range.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Doc G
- 28-01-21
A Fine Balance powerfully wrought
Absolutely awesome performance by Vikas Adam of the powerful and forensic portrait of India in the 1970s and 80s. Almost Dickensian in scope but Hardyesque in existential bleakness the novel’s characters, and their moving struggles are brought to life heartrendingly in Adam’s varied and empathetic virtuoso work. Thoroughly recommended.
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- Amanda C.
- 04-12-19
Enthralling read!
This book kept me enthralled from the first paragraph. I would highly recommend this story!
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- Anonymous User
- 19-07-20
Heart breaking
Very well narrated. Very vivid. It also broke my heart. Unexpectedly sad ending. I'm sad
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Minya
- 25-09-22
amazing.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, it took me a little while to get used to the Indian-accent narration however it really sets the scene so I was more than happy to continue listening. I feel like the women's voices he does however all sound like they are 45 years old when they were around 25-30years in the story. Either way, absolutely amazing story, very heartbreaking.
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