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The Weekend  By  cover art

The Weekend

By: Charlotte Wood
Narrated by: Taylor Owynns
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Publisher's Summary

From the Winner of the 2016 Stella Prize for The Natural Way of Things.   

Four older women have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three. Can they survive together without her? They are Jude, a once-famous restaurateur, Wendy, an acclaimed public intellectual, and Adele, a renowned actress now mostly out of work. 

Struggling to recall exactly why they've remained close all these years, the grieving women gather for Christmas at Sylvie's old beach house - not for festivities but to clean the place out before it is sold. Without Sylvie to maintain the group's delicate equilibrium, frustrations build and painful memories press in. 

Fraying tempers, an elderly dog, unwelcome guests and too much wine collide in a storm that brings long-buried hurts to the surface - and threatens to sweep away their friendship for good.

©2019 Charlotte Wood (P)2019 Allen & Unwin Pty Limited

Critic Reviews

“A compelling and vivid look at the friendships we make as women. Honest, unsettling and, like all good literature, had me asking questions about life and myself.” (Heather Rose, author of The Museum of Modern Love, winner of the 2017 Stella Prize) 

What listeners say about The Weekend

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Potential not reached

I really welcomed the appearance of 4 different seeming characters in their final years. But then. So little. Perhaps because each person represented only a “one trick pony” the plot fell down a deeply repetitive hole.
If the old dog walked up and down once more I felt I would be moved to euthanize it myself and perhaps, well, all of them! And perhaps worst of all, the already irritating, paper thin characters didn’t hold to their given form so the final sections felt really unconvincing and melodramatic.
And the actor doing the reading. Clear diction but so much so much same, that it was often unclear when a different character was speaking/thinking/doing.

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  • elizabeth b.
  • 10-14-19

The weekend

Very disappointing read. I wish I hadn’t read it at all really. Dull dull dull. Won’t be reading anything of Charlotte woods again. Give me a murder anytime.

4 people found this helpful

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  • Lisa G
  • 11-07-19

A great read!

Loved this story from beginning to end. Will make you re-think friends and friendships, aging and dying, life and living.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-15-21

The most boring book I have read

Nothing happens. There is no suspense. The blurb looked interesting, but it was the most boring book I have read. I give it half a star.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 01-15-20

The Weekend

A great story with strong female characters. So good to listen to a story about older female relationships with all their flaws.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Nadia
  • 11-21-19

Too much talk about the dog

I was really hoping to have insight into these valuable women but my god it was all about the old dog.
I got 3.5 hours in but couldn't take it anymore, not sure if it took a turn after that maybe I've missed the best part.
fingers crossed.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 06-30-22

Excellent narration!

Loved every word of it, the acting, the perfect wording and voice. Very thoughtful acting.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Kim
  • 01-28-21

Sad reflection on aging

Quite disappointed with this book. Was hoping for an empowered view of the older woman, but instead got a sad, generational stereotype.

1 person found this helpful

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  • ej
  • 07-23-22

Not for me

I felt the book contained tedious characters that did not appeal to me at all

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  • Anonymous User
  • 04-27-22

Really enjoyed this!

A beautiful reflection of female relationships; their flaws and the different types of love that hold them together.

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  • Peta
  • 04-14-22

No point

Would not recommend. Very slow, sad and did not luke how the women were portrayed.