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Italian Shoes Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,872 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
With more than 30 million copies of his works published in 37 languages, award-winning author Henning Mankell may be Sweden' s most accomplished novelist. Here he crafts the icy, atmospheric tale of Fredrik Welin, a disgraced surgeon living in exile on a small island. When Fredrik receives a surprise visit from a lover he abandoned decades earlier, he begins the difficult road to redemption.
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"One of my favourite writers. Once a successful surgeon, Welin now lives in self-imposed exile on an island after amputating the wrong arm. The only woman he ever loved turns up after 40 years with cancer and a secret. Not fast moving but compelling. Mankell tackles ageing and death with sensitivity."
— Bachyboy (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Mankell is in the great tradition of those whose works transcend their chosen genre to become thrilling and moral literature.”
— Michael Ondaatje, Booker Prize–winning author of The English Patient -
“Moving…Mankell displays his considerable gifts for characterization as he succeeds in making his emotionally limited lead character sympathetic.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Mankell…offers a rich, thoughtful reflection on human isolation and redemption. Strozier’s controlled, nontheatrical performance is a perfect fit.”
— AudioFile -
“[A] short, beautiful, and ultimately life-affirming novel.”
— Booklist -
“Mankell…has an ability to create an intimate atmosphere that places the reader directly into the world of his characters, which is nothing short of brilliant.”
— Library Journal
Italian Shoes Listener Reviews
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" Great storyline and great narration! Well done 4/5 would recommend "
— JCampos, 12/9/2022 -
" Very different type of Mankell. I loved the heavy atmospheric sense he created of that part of Sweden and for that he deserves a 3.5. "
— Lorna, 2/8/2014 -
" Finished. Thanks God. Only Mankell's Depths are more depressing. The 'home-made' cremation was simply the top. I will better wait for Wallander series. "
— Eva, 2/1/2014 -
" Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks to all who recommended it to me. I love the world of it, the kind of soft magical realism to it. The people are wonderful, familiar, true. "
— Meg, 1/9/2014 -
" Drifting through an unedited Bergman drama, the dark and brooding tone wears out and the darkness becomes attitude instead of meaning. "
— Daniel, 1/7/2014 -
" I just couldn't finish it. I really tried because I hat not finishing books, but then I though life is short and I should be spending my time on books I enjoy. For the things the characters did just didn't make much sense. Why does a man who has placed himself on a secluded island jump up and go when a woman from fourty years ago appears? He had left her after all.There were many other smaller instances when I just couldn't believe that it was what a person would do, but I won't get into all that since they are spoilers and I just don't care to spend anymore time thinking about this book. "
— Fiona, 1/4/2014 -
" this is a wonderful life affirming story by an author whose crime fiction I really like. a short heartwarming story of love and redemption. I would have liked to meet the characters in the story "
— Fran, 12/20/2013 -
" Henning Mankell has become one of my favorite authors, surprising because I had never picked up a book that was billed as "mystery." since reading (and loving) Nancy Drew. This, a novel by Mankell, is extraordinary. The setting is cold and icy; chilling; gripping, but beautifully written. "
— Deborah, 12/14/2013 -
" Great characters, reflections on death. I read the French translation. Made me want to read one of his detective novels. Memorable and original, but melancholy. "
— Cynthia, 12/11/2013 -
" On my Nook...can't wait as I love Henning Mankell "
— Linda, 11/27/2013 -
" OK, but a little cold and depressing. "
— Chris, 11/19/2013 -
" My first real disappointment from this writer. (Oh, those gloomy Swedes!) "
— Lynn, 10/24/2013 -
" Hard to take in places, but I liked that it was different and unexpected. "
— Ronda, 10/9/2013 -
" This writer of mysteries has written a novel about a lonely guy trying to understand who he is and how to change that. His characters in mysteries and in this novel are always dysthymic, but the story is touching and I had no trouble reading it quickly. "
— Karen, 8/28/2013 -
" excellent story and told in that dark style that is so reflected by this author. "
— Patricia, 3/24/2013 -
" The character is a tad bit intense. He suffers because he made a surgical mistake so he exiles himself. "
— Bunny, 5/30/2012 -
" Nice little novel but not as good as Mankell's criminal stories. "
— Karolina, 1/3/2012 -
" good story - fun, sad, interesting people and relationships "
— Sue, 7/4/2011 -
" Said to be a really good book, I found it disappointing. Another broken-down man isolated on a frozen island whose character is more flawed then I like. I want to like at least one character in a book - in this one, I didn't like an. "
— Maura, 6/5/2011 -
" Not sure what everyone loves about this author. The plot moved as slowly as the ice receded along his remote northern island! "
— Kathleen, 5/16/2011 -
" Awesome...a must read...a great story of what is important and how we come to realize it. "
— Dax, 5/15/2011 -
" Said to be a really good book, I found it disappointing. Another broken-down man isolated on a frozen island whose character is more flawed then I like. I want to like at least one character in a book - in this one, I didn't like an. "
— Maura, 5/13/2011 -
" Good read, just good to read "
— Daniel, 5/3/2011 -
" Beautiful, slow novel about a guy who's both petty and sympathetic, hard and helpless. Human, in short. "
— Jessica, 4/28/2011 -
" This is not a typical Mankell mystery. It's a story of a man who lives in isolation almost all of his life who must face the mistakes of the past and finds redemption at long last. "
— Edie, 4/14/2011 -
" Hmmm, a bit odd, but I was curious to finish it. I'm fascinated by these bleak Swedish winterscapes and idiosyncratic characters, these stubborn, depressive men, these tough women a la Lisbeth Salander - definitely a people of survivors. Not great writing, but interesting enough. "
— Katie, 4/11/2011 -
" This writer of mysteries has written a novel about a lonely guy trying to understand who he is and how to change that. His characters in mysteries and in this novel are always dysthymic, but the story is touching and I had no trouble reading it quickly. "
— Karen, 4/10/2011 -
" *Not* Kurt Wallander, but very well written. "
— Robin, 4/5/2011 -
" CD reader was excellent. I'm a fan of ths author. "
— Mae, 3/26/2011 -
" His books are too depressive for me - but my father for example loves them... "
— Annika, 3/22/2011 -
" I really really like this author. THis is a novel and not a mystery but it is a good story with many layers. I highly recommend it. "
— Gaile, 3/21/2011 -
" Leesbaar maar absoluut niet wat ik verwacht had. "
— Marcel, 3/18/2011
About Henning Mankell
Henning Mankell (1948–2015) was Sweden’s most-read author worldwide. His novels, which include the bestselling Kurt Wallander mysteries, have been translated into thirty-seven languages with more than thirty million copies in print worldwide. He has received the Crime Writers’ Association’s Macallan Gold Dagger and the German Tolerance Prize and has been a three-time finalist for the Los Angeles Times Mystery/Thriller Book Prize.
About Henry Strozier
Henry Strozier is an actor with a forty-year career in numerous movies and television series. Also a voice-over artist, he has worked extensively in video games and audiobook narration, earning several AudioFile Earphones Awards.