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Shine, Pamela! Shine!  By  cover art

Shine, Pamela! Shine!

By: Kate Atkinson
Narrated by: Gwendoline Christie
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Publisher's summary

Thoroughly divorced but ever the optimist, Pamela faces the realities of aging and the leaps of faith required to put a “sparkle” on her daily life in this humorous short story by Kate Atkinson, the bestselling author of Life After Life.

Pamela is a newly retired teacher with time on her hands. She’s finding it hard to muster enthusiasm for what’s ahead: exhausting postdivorce dating rituals and an uneasy relationship with her emotionally stunted, live-at-home son. But for Pamela, there’s a surprise in store that could challenge the status quo and, against all expectations, make life interesting again.

Kate Atkinson’s Shine, Pamela! Shine! is part of Out of Line, an incisive collection of funny, enraging, and hopeful stories of women’s empowerment and escape. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single thought-provoking sitting.

Audible narration by Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones)

©2020 Kate Costello Ltd. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about Shine, Pamela! Shine!

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

What a weird, weird story

What a weird, weird story. Plot took a turn I didn’t expect ... like the unplanned pregnancy itself, I guess. But come on now ... how did she *really* get pregnant? This recovering Catholic doesn’t believe for a minute in immaculate conception.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting

I would love to hear more of this story. Well read and interesting. Would recommend for a quick listen on a drive!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pamela Does Shine

Like every Kate Atkinson book I’ve read, I’ve thought of the main character often since reading, and I wish the story would’ve gone on! Witty and funny and surprisingly different, I loved this story, and Pamela.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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To The Point

It baffles me that the message of this short story was lost on so many. It is a story of empowerment, rebirth and hope, just as indicated in the description. And it’s masterfully written. It is funny and thoughtful and with brilliant narration. Suspend your disbelief dear listener; give us all a chance.
Happy for this purchase.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Sub-par for the author

As a fan of the author’s novels, I am disappointed in this story.I never felt any interest in the protagonist.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The humor

I liked the inflections of the reader. She was easy to listen to and made me laugh.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Weird

Don’t bother. Really strange story but I still love the “voice” of Kate Atkinson—what a terrific writer!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Confusing writing is not art

What on earth was the author thinking? The first 3/4 of this story sound like the first chapter of a novel whose plot has yet to be revealed. There really is not much of a story arc, so you are waiting for the writer to get to the point. Then without warning, the story takes a bizzaro turn that makes no sense. It's like the author didn't know what to do so she wrapped things up with a crazy dream. Really annoying.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Nope

Skip this one. The narration is good, but the story is not. It starts nice and descriptive and then it turns into something you regret wasting your time on.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Such a disappointment from this author!

I have to agree that this was awful. I’m left feeling truly astounded that this was written by Kate Atkinson!

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1 person found this helpful