Bruny

By: Heather Rose

Narrated by: Zoe Carides

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Why is a massive bridge being built to connect the sleepy island of Bruny with the mainland of Tasmania? And why have terrorists blown it up?

When the Bruny bridge is bombed, UN troubleshooter Astrid Coleman agrees to return home to help her brother before an upcoming election. But this is no simple task. Her brother and sister are on either side of politics, the community is full of conspiracy theories, her mother is fading and her father is quoting Shakespeare. Only on Bruny does the world seem sane. Until Astrid discovers how far the government is willing to go.

Bruny is a searing, subversive novel about family, love, loyalty and the new world order. It is a gripping thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, a love story, a cry from the heart and a fiercely entertaining and crucial work of imagination that asks the burning question: what would you do to protect the place you love?

By the best-selling author of The Museum of Modern Love, winner of the 2017 Stella Prize, the 2017 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the 2017 Margaret Scott Prize.

©2019 Heather Rose (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Slow to start but worth pursuing

A fiction but worryingly prescient. Read it in current climate of Chinese antics with respect to Australian trade

Where the world could go…

Such a great story hopefully implausible but deep down in our post covid conspiracy theory world we fear it’s plausible… beautifully written and so evocative of the places in Hobart I remember from my childhood and teenage years… a great listen, I loved it.

The best book I've read (or listened to) in years

Bruny is a very gripping story about a major political threat to Tasmania, the island to the bottom of Australia. It is beautifully written and the narration is excellent and adds to the story.

It should appeal to anyone who enjoys well written, gripping literature, although possibly more to women over 40 as the protagonist is in that age group.

Highly recommended! One of those books you don't want to finish.

Superb

Fascinating combination of espionage thriller & political commentary.Well narrated and absorbing, with great insight in to a unique place.

Great

Everything - 15 word minimum, don’t tell me how to review a book, thank you very much. One more word?

Heavy handed and irritating

How many times do you get to describe a one trick pony story?
There is a good story here that deserves airing but there is absolutely no subtlety or finesse in the construction of the story. It would have been easy to be sympathetic and supportive, whatever our own political preferences but none Luke’s the sledgehammer proselytizing.
And the actor’s complete approach/tone was like a newcomer to both acting and voice acting. The actual inclusion of mock laughing was so intrusive and should never be a part of an audible tale for grownups.
At least the words were usually pronounced correctly. The last one I listened to from the same studio was so full of mispronunciations that I stopped when my list grew past 50 instances.
This was not an attempt at a literary novel.

Something different

I read other reviews that said implausible but with insightful reference to complex politics in the world today, I found it the opposite. The characters had a lot more depth than many and I could readily identify with the main characters reflections. Enjoyable!