The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Beryl Bainbridge Play Audiobook Sample

The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress Audiobook (Unabridged)

The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Beryl Bainbridge Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Timothy West Publisher: AudioGO Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.38 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN:

Publisher Description

In the rainswept summer of 1968, Rose sets off for the United States from Kentish Town to meet a man she knows as Washington Harold, in her suitcase a polka-dot dress and a one-way ticket. In a country rocked by the assassination of Martin Luther King and a rising groundswell of violence, they are to join forces in search of the charismatic and elusive Dr Wheeler - oracle, guru and redeemer - whom Rose credits with rescuing her from a terrible childhood, and against whom Harold nurses a silent grudge. As they trail their quarry, zigzagging through America in a camper van, the odd couple - Rose, damaged child of grey postwar Britain, and nervous, obsessive, driven Harold - encounter a ragged counter-cultural army of Wheeler's acolytes, eddying among dangerous currents of obscure dissent and rage. But somewhere in the wide American darkness, Dr Wheeler is waiting.

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"First book of hers that I read. I found the description of American landscapes and the depiction of her characters the most interesting. Perhaps their interactions, at times removed from the reader and at times bordering on intimacy, was what I enjoyed the most."

— Ana (4 out of 5 stars)

The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress (Unabridged) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.8695652173913 out of 52.8695652173913 out of 52.8695652173913 out of 52.8695652173913 out of 52.8695652173913 out of 5 (2.87)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 8
3 Stars: 3
2 Stars: 9
1 Stars: 2
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book took a little while to get going, but just when I thought I was going to stop reading it, I became totally engrossed in the story. An amusing book with several mysteries. "

    — Gale, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I'm a bit of a sucker for books set in the 1960s and while some may find Bainbridge's stream-of-consciousness style difficult to read, I felt it helped keep the story movie. Unfortunately, as Bainbridge died before the book was completed, the overall tone of the book feels uneven and poorly edited, no doubt caused in part by other hands working to finish the book. "

    — Rebecca, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Abandoned as a 'Life's too short'. Didn't hate it, didn't like it. Bored me more than anything. And I've got far too many books to read that I just know are going to be so much better than this. "

    — Penny, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " this book was far too boring for me. so it has gone unfinished. "

    — Abbey, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Poor Rose is so disliked by Harold, and yes, she is dense. The book ends still in progress, as Bainbridge dies. The connection to Bobby Kennedy makes you wonder. I love how the British come up with ideas for stories. Bainbridge's diction is tough, never sweet or flowery. "

    — Jerelyn, 12/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This novel, published posthumously, was unfinished when the author died but it doesn't feel that way too much. The plot was a little confusing but most questions were eventually answered, so I don't know what Bainbridge might have changed were she to have lived to complete the book. She uses some of the actual events of the 1960's to augment this story and this tool works but her fictional characters are too quirky-for-quirky's sake, which downgraded my rating. Apparently there was an actual news report that a girl in a polka dot dress was seen leaving the Ambassador Hotel yelling, "We shot him!" and the final third to quarter of the book set that up nicely. I wonder if the book had been finished, would my concerns have been addressed? No one can know but I plan to try another of Bainbridge's books, just to see what her finished novels are like. "

    — Chum, 12/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Such a shame Bainbridge didn't finish this incredible book. The characters are not attractive - in the least (!) - but the prose is compelling and the narrative structure ingenious. "

    — Sophia, 12/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Uggh - I kept reading thinking it would get better-- especially since the review on the cover said "Riveting, Funny". At least it only took me one day to read. The characters were irritating and I didn't laugh at all. "

    — Rebecca, 11/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " quirky and hard to follow...I don't think I understood it... "

    — Valerie, 8/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Quite a short book and the author died before finishing it sadly. To be honest, I appreciated the writing style and thought rose was an interesting character, but found it all a bit disjointed, dreamy and confusing. Shame! "

    — Elizabeth, 7/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I found this book really annoying but it did make me want to read other books be Beryl Bainbridge which I can't believe I have not done before! "

    — Nadia, 6/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A little perverse and strange but I really liked it. I think that was part of its charm. "

    — Nancy, 10/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My first time reading Bainbridge. I found the writing excellent and got very caught up in the story. "

    — Al, 8/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A class writer, wish there were more like her and sorry this is her last novel, recommend her books. "

    — Nikki, 3/18/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I did not do my homework on this book and did not realize that it was incomplete. I do look forward to reading other Bainbridge books as this one was interesting. "

    — Jayme, 3/18/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I cannot believe I read this entire book. Absolutely strange. Did not get it at all. If someone else reads let me know if there's something I missed. "

    — Alice, 3/7/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not one of her best. Part of me wishes it had been left unfinished, as a testimonial "

    — Vanessa, 1/10/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not one of her best. Part of me wishes it had been left unfinished, as a testimonial "

    — Vanessa, 10/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A little perverse and strange but I really liked it. I think that was part of its charm. "

    — Nancy, 9/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Quite a short book and the author died before finishing it sadly. To be honest, I appreciated the writing style and thought rose was an interesting character, but found it all a bit disjointed, dreamy and confusing. Shame! "

    — Elizabeth, 9/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My first time reading Bainbridge. I found the writing excellent and got very caught up in the story. "

    — Al, 9/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book took a little while to get going, but just when I thought I was going to stop reading it, I became totally engrossed in the story. An amusing book with several mysteries. "

    — Gale, 9/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A class writer, wish there were more like her and sorry this is her last novel, recommend her books. "

    — Nikki, 6/20/2011