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The Great Believers

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The Great Believers

By: Rebecca Makkai
Narrated by: Michael Crouch
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL

FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

WINNER OF THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD - BARBARA GITTINGS LITERATURE AWARD

FINALIST FOR THE LA TIMES FICTION AWARD

In 1985, Yale Tishman, the development director for an art gallery in Chicago, is about to pull off an amazing coup: bringing an extraordinary collection of 1920s paintings as a gift to the gallery. Yet as his career begins to flourish, the carnage of the AIDs epidemic grows around him. One by one, his friends are dying and after his friend Nico's funeral, he finds his partner is infected, and that he might even have the virus himself. The only person he has left is Fiona, Nico's little sister.

Thirty years later, Fiona is in Paris tracking down her estranged daughter who disappeared into a cult. While staying with an old friend, a famous photographer who documented the Chicago epidemic, she finds herself finally grappling with the devastating ways the AIDS crisis affected her life and her relationship with her daughter. Yale and Fiona's stories unfold in incredibly moving and sometimes surprising ways, as both struggle to find goodness in the face of disaster.

©2019 Rebecca Makkai (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK Family Life Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Heartfelt Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Chicago

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Critic reviews

an antidote to our general urge to forget what we'd rather not remember, but it's also - which is more important - an absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what it's like to live during times of crisis (Michael Cunningham)
Stirring, spellbinding and full of life (Téa Obreht, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger’s Wife)
Well imagined, intricately plotted, and deeply felt, both humane and human (Rabih Alameddine, author of The Angel of History and An Unnecessary Woman)
All stars
Most relevant  
Very polished composition. Some good characters. Mostly well paced narrative drive. Excellent narration. The story covers a period I lived through. I was young when the characters in the story were young but still understand only a little of the world described. I wonder about the authenticity of the voice but out of interest, not from a position of doubt. Well worth a listen. A bit maudlin and wistful at times, especially towards the end … you might want to skip those parts. What seem like flashes of insight are dropped in to the text and left to sink without trace. Overall, I think I preferred ‘I Have Some Questions for You’ (same author). I’ll try other pieces by Rebecca Makkai, I think.

Pretty good

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A really great story, with a great narration. I felt like I was in the story and was able to imagine having conversations about the characters. It's fully realised, tragic, but I couldn't stop listening.

Immersive

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I loved this book, being born in 86 I didn't know much of the Aids crisis part from little bit. This book brought it to life and the male characters are family. Fiona story I was less interested in however enjoyed the ending.

Highly recommended

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Completely heartbreaking. Such vivid, realistic characters - the novel's inevitable conclusion left me in tatters.

Themes of love, grief, memory, guilt, obligation; all handled masterfully by Makkai whose commitment to truth and nuance shines through the entire novel.

Such an incredible, important piece of work. Will be recommending widely.

Phenomenal

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This novel, that kept reality and social history close really consumed me; I was held by the emotion, the relationships and events. It reflected, in the 80’s, a contrasting perspective - the personal realities and for me at the academic end of the Virus; the scientific articles as they appeared. I thought the author RM, crafted the connecting threads well enough.. and found the ending incredibly moving. Confidently recommended !

Incredibly moving

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I loved it - the story, characters, the dialogue. I found it believable and touching, and brought back that time in the 80s/90s. Narration added to it, I was totally engaged.

Beautiful engaging writing and wonderful narration

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Was a great heartfelt book that I still think about today! Please read it is worth it

Has really stayed with me

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This is not the book I thought I would enjoy but it was on offer and thought to give it a try. Even though the subject matter is quite bleak it is very well written and expertly narrated. I would recommend especially since I have never read anything similar on the subject matter and it kept my interest throughout

Very good

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Incredible, touching writing full of characters that feel weirdly real. I’m not going to forget this for a long time, would really recommend!

A great one

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The best book I’ve listened to this year. I loved the characters and was completely drawn into the story. I resisted listening to this for ages thinking it would be too sad and it is sad but so beautiful. Highly recommended

Moving and compelling

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