Bleak Expectations

By: Mark Evans

Narrated by: Mark Evans

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Bleak Expectations' recounts the remarkable adventures of young Pip Bin as he tries to repair his destroyed family and distinctly damaged life, aided by his best friend Harry Biscuit and definitely not aided by his cruel and ironically named guardian Mr Gently Benevolent and his accomplices, the fearsome Hardthrasher siblings. Grim circumstances, mistaken identities, unlikely inheritances, nightmarish court cases, ridiculous names, convenient coincidences to resolve plot problems, over-sentimental death scenes and lots and lots of adjectives: 'Bleak Expectations' is the novel Charles Dickens might have written after drinking far too much gin.

©2012 Mark Evans (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Critic Reviews

"The funniest book since the one I haven't written yet. Mark Evans sets the bar annoyingly high." (Robert Webb)

"If ever a show deserved a handsome Christmas hardback it is Bleak Expectations. The comedy itself (Radio 4) is a brilliant Dickens pastiche by Mark Evans, a mash-up of plots and characters that is scholarly,irreverent, affectionate and topical all at once. On radio it is perfectly cast and directed (Mark Evans again). On the page it has utterly wonderful footnotes, too." (Daily Telegraph)

Not as good as the radio

being a fan of the radio series I thought that I would download this, what a mistake. Whilst Mark Evans may be a good writer his narration leaves a lot to be desired, his delivery is monotonous making prolonged listening difficult. I can only recommend this audio book as a cure for insomnia as it has put me to sleep on numerous occasions. Download the radio series it'll be much more enjoyable.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not what you expect

Whilst I am a massive fan of the radio series I found this book to be a disappointment. It seemed to be written as either a way to drive more listeners to the series or to make additional money from the concept. Either way it wasn't a great move in my opinion. It does cover the some of the series after a fashion but without the humour that comes with the actors performances and towards the end it seemed to become strained and frankly tedious. A shame really.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

not as good as the radio drama but still enjoyable

Evans' rewriting of the first series of the radio drama is great, but without the timing afforded by an ensemble cast, some of the jokes fall flat. The new literary flourishes are appreciated, and add a star.

Great

Brilliant book BUT no where near as good as the bbc4 radio show that dramatically tells it recommend the radio series over this any day. But still really enjoyed it. Listened to it as a whole on a flight it made the flight fly by ARF ARF

Not as funny as it should have been

Would you try another book written by Mark Evans or narrated by Mark Evans?

Probably not

What did you like best about this story?

It tried to be funny

What about Mark Evans’s performance did you like?

He has a good reading voice

Do you think Bleak Expectations needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No

Any additional comments?

A bit too silly. Entertaining but some of the situations were too extreme and ridiculous for my taste.

A good translation of a radio classic

If you like the series but want to experience the high points of series one in a new and exciting way this could be the book for you in the tradition of other comedy books such as red dwarf this takes the best jokes and builds them with more depth and character.



As the writer Evans has a love of the work the flows in his reading.

An hilarificatious listenation

I have to disagree with the previous review - I loved this and kept laughing out loud when listening to it on my breaks at work to much funny looks as they couldn't hear what I was as I was wearing earphones.

OK the series is better, but then most many voiced audiobooks are better than a reading, P.G Wodehouse for example, but I still enjoyed it and I thought the narration was very good, but I admit that no one can do Mr Benevolent's evil laugh like Anthony Head can.

If you are a fan or not of the series then try it anyway, what can you lose, apart from your dignity- see above!

Poor Book

I expected a lot from this author but this book was a big letdown.Great expectations turned to great upset. I wish I never came across this book. It was a serious waste of my time.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful