The Promise

De: Damon Galgut

Narrado por: Peter Noble

Duración: 9 h y 37 m

Resumen del Editor

WINNER OF THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE

A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE

A modern family saga written in gorgeous prose by three-time Booker Prize-shortlisted author Damon Galgut.

Haunted by an unmet promise, the Swart family loses touch after the death of their matriarch. Adrift, the lives of the three siblings move separately through the uncharted waters of South Africa; Anton, the golden boy who bitterly resents his life’s unfulfilled potential; Astrid, whose beauty is her power; and the youngest, Amor, whose life is shaped by a nebulous feeling of guilt.

Reunited by four funerals over three decades, the dwindling family reflects the atmosphere of its country - one of resentment, renewal, and, ultimately, hope. The Promise is an epic drama that unfurls against the unrelenting march of national history, sure to please current fans and attract many new ones.

“Simply: you must read it.” (Claire Messud, Harper’s Magazine)

©2021 Damon Galgut (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Galgut extends his extraordinary corpus with a rich story of family, history, and grief.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

“This tour-de-force unleashes a searing portrait of a damaged family and a troubled country in need of healing.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Galgut’s compelling new novel blends characters and history and intricate themes to reveal the devastating impacts of white privilege and institutional racism.... The Promise is timely, relevant, and thematically significant.” (Booklist, starred review)

A story that I undrrstand

Story was of a past that is long gone. And best remembered with melancholy of past sins with occasional blessings.

The narrator did not do justice to the story. A pity.

Fantastic Story

Worthy of the Booker! Thank you Damon for a great story and fresh insight into apartheid.

Extraordinary

Rich novel with one of the best narrations I’ve ever heard. Much more political context than just a family saga. So intriguing and insightful.

Sad History

I was not seeking a family saga which was so sad when I chose this book. Creatively written, the story captures the apartheid driven destruction of lives both white and black. Whether by greed, patriotism or discriminatory exploitation, the young promising characters meet sad or reduced fates driven by their environment and upbringing.

Excellent writing

Faultless writing, almost faultless performance (I hate it when men do a woman’s voice as falsetto). Highly recommended. One quibble: I think the ending is both too predictable and too unlikely. But I can see why it had to be that. It works in the structure of the story.

Wonderful

This descent into nothingness from a South African family around the apartheid is brilliantly portrayed.

Just Fine

I wanted to love this book, but it was just ok. It got me through a long road-trip, but that is the only reason I finished. I would have put it down if I had been reading.
Amazing narration!

Incredible!!

A book with a deceptively simple story that actually provides perspectives on so many aspects of life, both personal and societal, in South Africa and anywhere. A book that will stay with me forever. Genius. Pure genius.

Depressing but meaningful

Learning the demise of a family in what is the demise of a country is an exquisitely wrought story about a very depressing occurrence. Ultimately a promise is kept even though the multiple promises are not. I didn’t love the experience of listening to the book but I found it worthwhile.

Fascinating

The author’s descriptions bring every character to life. I could visualize each of the their faces, and the performer captured the personality of each.
The plot presented surprise after surprise and kept my constant undivided attention.
Highly recommend.