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Afloat
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Danie Couchman
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
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Afloat
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Summary
Danie Couchman grew up on the move, her family never staying still long enough for her to say where she's from. At 25, and living in her 17th home, she finds herself drowning in the rush of London life and makes an impulsive decision: to buy a narrowboat and make it her home.
Surrounded by an eclectic and itinerant community in the uncharted territory of the capital's urban wilderness, Danie becomes fully immersed in this hidden world. Each day on board her boat, Genesis, is an adventure full of disaster and magic. Over five years of living off-grid, nomadic Danie learns to survive the many highs and lows of boat life alone, keeping herself, and her steel home, afloat.
A captivating debut, Afloat is the story of a young woman's desire to escape an ever more isolated city existence and reconnect with nature, discovering what is important in life.
Cover Credit: © Eleanor Taylor
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Critic reviews
"What an enjoyable and engaging book. I loved all the granular detail of boat living, the portraits of the various characters who live on the water, and the moving story of Danie's family and her teenage years. The way she describes feeling powerless when in thrall to older boys will be painfully resonant to lots of women." (Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act Of Love)
"This is such a lovely book, about life on the river, and so much more. It's a tale of strength and courage - painfully sad, and beautifully uplifting, and always fascinating." (Anna Maxted, The Times)
"Afloat makes it clear that we must all stop to appreciate the simplicity of life in the urban landscape of London’s waterways" (George Burton, BBC Radio London)
What listeners say about Afloat
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Conor Burns
- 24-06-19
Inspiring!
I moved onto a boat in January and loved every second! Well read and an inspiring story!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Leonie chidley
- 07-05-19
best book I've listened to
I loved this book, it has allowed me to escape into a world I so desperately want to be a part of, it should have a part two or another book as I'm not completely booked on what happens with the floatilla. if you need more information on boat life or just want a lovely a story to listen to this book is perfect!
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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
- 15-02-23
Superb, very moving, delightful
I loved this book and didn’t want it to end, it’s delightful, poignant and relaxing and I’m still thinking about it hours after it ended. It does get dark in the middle by necessity, this content was hard to listen to at times, due to the skill of the lovely narrator, the bravery shown is truly admirable.
Suit anyone that longs for the canals and boat life and an interest in healing after trauma. Gave top score as so much more than a canal story. Thank you for telling your story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 24-06-20
Truly evocative
I feel like I've lived a life on a narrow boat after listening to this memoir.
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5 people 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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- TheHorsemeister
- 26-11-19
‘Afloat’ - My book of the year! What an adventure!
This book was bought on a whim, within 30 minutes I was totally hooked.
The way the author narrates and the story itself was like a little window into her life. Hilarious, raw and honest this audiobook was without doubt my book of the year.
I recommend it to anyone and everyone who likes a bit of escapism and enjoys a tale or two!
Five stars all day long!
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jonathan T
- 03-02-21
Wonderful
I have spent so many hours running up the River Lea and the other East London canals that this felt close to me.. Danie is excellent at painting a picture of the green areas and wildlife in this hidden world as well ad the joys and struggles of boat life.. There are some darker passages but they are essential and part of her journey. Superb narration as you would expect from her profession.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Phil Tweedy
- 30-03-21
Afloat
Most absorbing audiobook yet I felt like I was there every page of the book
Would love to meet the author
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Owl Crone
- 05-05-21
A well written and narrated true story.
This is an honest unfoldment of a story of a lovely young lady who works hard and takes us on the journey of her life. Most people have ghosts in our past and Danie's story unfolds in a gentle way in the similar to flow of water.
I loved this book because of it was honest and simplicity.
Dannie proves that with determination you can make changes and grow in life. She took us on her journey of how she started her life on a boat knowing nothing and how things unfolded.
To me as a therapist she is a hero. When someone writes in away that carries you in the experience they are a professional writer and Dannie does this. I felt that I was sitting on Dannie's shoulder watching her life unfold through her eyes and I loved this enthralling story and her honesty is a credit to her.
Looking forward to her follow up book.... please x
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JohnJenner
- 26-07-20
a brave lady & a moving story
I was initially loved the Frank & capturing account of her story moving onto the water, but was then moved by her brave exploration of her early sexual exploitation & rape.
I'm left with a feeling of great admiration & truly loved listening to the book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Richard Land
- 18-01-21
wonderful
loved it, heartwarming, sad, and funny rolled into a beautifully read adventure. worth a credit.
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