Poor Things

De: Alasdair Gray

Narrado por: Russ Bain, Kathryn Drysdale

Winner of the Whitbread Novel Award and the Guardian Fiction Prize

A life without freedom to choose is not worth having.

Godwin Baxter's scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is realized when he finds the drowned body of the beautiful Bella, who he brings back to life in a Frankenstein-esque feat. But his dream is thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless's jealous love for his creation...

But what does Bella think?

This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the listeners from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.

'A magnificently brisk, funny, dirty, brainy book' London Review of Books

'Visionary, ornate and outrageous' The Independent

'Witty and delightfully written' New York Times

'A brilliant marriage of technique, intelligence, and art.' Kirkus Reviews

©1992 Alasdair Gray (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd

Fiction or Nonfiction I must know!

I found this book because I don’t think I will get to see the movie. I have enjoyed the book. I want to know if it’s fiction or nonfiction but do not know. It takes twists I did not expect which is rare for me. I love that they have a female and male voice. It helps to know who is speaking. The book is no where near what I was expecting from the trailer to the movie. The book is way better than I feel the movie can be. Spoiler alert: it gives off “Fight Club” vibes that is funny in how they twisted it.

The narration was superb

I just didn’t care for the story line much. Although it highlighted the civilization and its mores , this story left me flat

Social commentary

I liked the social commentary on women, wives, nurses, classism, science & education vs money & politics.

different from movie, but that's OK

unpredictable with twists throughout the story...interesting...a good feminist work of fiction...has a specific audience I think

Originality

I enjoyed the liberated thought and freedom physically and mentally that Bell demanded. The combination of women’s lib and love

The strangeness of the story is great

Nothing to dislike at all completely enjoyably to listen to
The accents on the readers was perfect
Story much more I. Depth from movie
Loved all the new uses of words and the way all the work was worded
Amazing performance by the readers

intelligent and imaginative

enjoyed the story, it made one feel engaged and empathetic towards the characters. performance was well done as you can imagine the females and males discussing the meaningful passages.

No complaints

The complete work, capable and subtle narrator- I have been waiting for this! Now do LANARK!!

A magnificent tale, true or false!

Poor Things is a masterpiece of contemporary literature in a suit of Victorian science fiction. There is a simplicity to Alasdair Gray's story that is often lacking in today's, yet meaningful like no other. I'll admit, I went into it knowing next to nothing, expecting nothing, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.

The very best since Frankenstein itself.

This book is absolutely phenomenal! The writing is beautifully twisted in all the right ways. Narration is absolutely wonderful. And the history is accurate. I know some people said they found the book confusing - even some who weren’t sure if it was a true story (spoiler, it’s not) - I did not. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long while. And in the end you decide what you choose to believe of our characters. I can’t wait to give it a second listen…and buy the physical book.