Here We Are

By: Graham Swift

Narrated by: Phil Davis

It's the summer of 1959, and something magical can be witnessed at the end of the pier in beach town Brighton, England. Jack Robbins, Ronnie Deane, and Evie White are performing in a seaside variety show, starring as Jack Robinson, the compere comedian, and The Great Pablo and Eve, a magic act. By the end of the summer, Evie's glinting engagement ring will be flung to the bottom of the ocean, and one of the trifecta will vanish forever.

All three friends begin their path toward the end of Brighton's pier early in life. Evie and Jack's mothers are always trumpeting the support that is trademark of stage mothers, while Ronnie's mother sends her son out in the child evacuations to Penny and Eric Lawrence for safety from the London blitz. It's within the safety and love of Evergrene, the Lawrences' estate, that magic creeps into Ronnie's life for the first time and starts the intricate intertwining of fate, chance, and show business.

Magic and reality share the stage in this masterfully devastating story that pulls back the curtain on the power of love, family, and the touchstones of our memories.

©2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Not my typical read but excellent

This is not the type of story I would normally pick up or listen to but it was thought provoking, entertaining, interesting and very well narrated.

Astounding

This book is absolutely astounding. It is beautifully written with a compelling story and much to think about after it is finished. The narration is also quite wonderful. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in fine writing.

Glimpse of life from Brighton Pier Stage

A foray into lives unseen: behind the scenes of entertainers on the Pier stage:
Just lovely, sad, and revealing. Working class people attempting to make a 'go' of
show biz, and surviving life. Narrated expertly my Phil Davis, one of my favorite actors
from British tv. Well written without sentiment but just lovely.

Perfect story, perfect reader

This is Graham Swift as his best. And how lucky to have a reader as Phil Davis.
This a a real gem.

Not For Me!

I see many positive reviews and while I'm glad that the book is liked by others. I found it hard to follow as the narration jumped all over the time line of 50 years and not in the least compelling. I never got much of a sense of the characters except for Evie and in truth I didn't like her nor what I did see in the other 2 characters. From here on out I will avoid this Author.