Always Greener

The Restless Life of Dolly Russell, an Audible Original

By: Kate Grenville

Narrated by: Kate Grenville

Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

'If there’d been a gun in her hand at that moment she knew she’d have shot them.... She’d been so pleased with little Dolly Russell, the good life she’d got for them all. Thought she had it made, had got her hands at last on the levers of her life.... Now it turned out that all that, being so pleased with herself, was no more real than a puff of smoke.'

Always Greener is an exquisite portrait of Kate Grenville's complex, conflicted grandmother, who she feared as a child and only in adulthood came to understand. Born in rural Australia, Dolly Russell becomes a successful businessperson, mother and troubled wife. Then came the depression, bankruptcy and World War I. Yet, in a way, those disasters freed her. They allowed her to use her intelligence and ambition to make a space for herself in a man’s world.

With all the pathos and subtlety that defined Grenville’s Australian classics such as Lilian’s Story and her Booker-shortlisted The Secret River, Always Greener tells the story of a generation of women often forgotten at our own cost.

©2021 Kate Grenville (P)2021 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

The storyline

Good narration, sensitive period piece told in a way that felt authentic. Highly enjoyable and thoroughly recommended

Superficial

Not much new info here nor a lot of insight into the emotions of this time in history. Sound effects very annoying.

Enjoyed but....

Love the story and the reading but hated the sound effects. Amazing lives the women of previous generations led.

the hard truth

an easy enough listen - a sad story, but triumphant somehow. A woman born at the wrong time manages to carve out a place not just for herself, but ensures her daughter will have a future and a legacy.

Loved it. Wish it were longer!

Performance was great, but I’m not used to sound effects so the few that the story contained were distracting— but over all really enjoyed.

Interesting life story, annoying sound effects

I was looking for a book set in Melbourne, Australia when I found out about this author who does have at least one book set there. This was an Audible Original included with my subscription so I gave the author a test drive.

This is the story of the author's grandmother. Her grandmother had been a success before, and lived through the Great Depression. She was restless and resilient. Like most people she made decisions that she worked out and those she probably regretted.

It is a strong 4 stars. It could have been 5 stars if some things were fleshed out a little more. It is very short and needed a couple of more transitions. The author narrated it and her narration is a 5, except for the addition of sound effects. This book doesn't need them. Some books could benefit, but I felt as if I had to listen at regular speed, even though I usually listen just a little faster.

This book did make me want to read more of this author. I like her style and this won't be my last Kate Grenville book. I'm glad I was able to try out one of her shorter works first. I would still recommend this