Addition

By: Toni Jordan

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Grace Lisa Vandenburg counts - the letters in her name (19); the steps she takes every morning to the local café (920); the number of poppy seeds on her slice of orange cake, which dictates the number of bites she'll take to finish it. Grace counts everything, because numbers hold the world together. And she needs to keep an eye on how they're doing.

Seamus Joseph O'Reilly (also a 19, with the sexiest hands Grace has ever seen) thinks she might be better off without the counting - if she could hold down a job, say, or open her kitchen cupboards without conducting an inventory, or make a sandwich containing an unknown number of sprouts. Grace's problem is that Seamus doesn't count.

Her other problem is...he does.

©2008 Toni Jordan (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Light and pleasant

What made the experience of listening to Addition the most enjoyable?

I was able to do stuff around the house and listen to the book at the same time. I love listening to audio books whilst I drive.

What other book might you compare Addition to and why?

The Janet Evanovich series-light and not that believable.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

An irritatiing voice.

Who was the most memorable character of Addition and why?

The boyfriend...he was too good to be true.I don't think most blokes would put up with someone with such a disability.

Very Melbourne, but still good

I had this book on my Wish List for over 7 months, and kept avoiding it. I finally took the plunge this month, and can safely say I wish I hadn't taken so long. The story is unmistakenly Australian and very quirky. This should not put off non-Australian listeners as the author draws credible and interesting characters. It is also a very funny book. Not laugh out loud funny, but nonetheless infused with subtle wit.

A very good first novel from Toni Jordan. Yes there is a romantic threat in the story, but it doesn't dominate or distract. It is one of the many themes running through the book.

The narrator is also very competent. This is the first time I have listened to this narrator perform a contemporary novel. The previous listening have been for historical novels, and I think she performs better in this book.

If you like your humour subtle, and your characters a bit eccentric, this is a good listen. Especially if you live in Melbourne Australia, you will enjoy the quintessential Melbournisk touches.