Speaking with the Angel Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Speaking with the Angel Book

A more inappropriate title is inconceivable as most of this melange of fiction overflows with expletives. This sits uneasily with the fact that £1 from the sale of each audio book goes to an indubitably worthy cause, The Treehouse Trust, for children afflicted by frenetic and relentless autism. Though surely honourable, Nick Hornby's intentions in garnering this specially written material may prove disconcerting to the equally sincere purchaser.Amid the fantasies and sub-realities of these monologues--by the guard of a controversial work of art, by a dog; by the Prime Minister explaining his occupancy of a car driven by a 15-year-old girl who affirms "He seemed like a nice bloke, he'd gone a bit quiet"--Miriam Margolyes is a shining star. She gives scintillating life to the banal, particularly as Maggie, maker of last request meals for the condemned since the re-introduction of hanging, "It's nice for me in a way because I get to do some cooking again.""Ugly intrusiveness", ascribed to mobile phones in the penultimate contribution, is a phrase better suited to that particular story, and even the most moving allegory, touchingly read by Dermot Crowley, is somewhat spoiled. Surely the writers can't imagine obscenities enhance their work. --Lyn Took (4 cassettes Running time 6hrs 30mins)Read More

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  • Amazon

    The contributors' list of this collection of freshly penned literary monologues, published to help The Treehouse Trust, a charity for autistic children, reads like a Who's Who of the richest, hippest authors in the UK--with a healthy smattering of talent from across the pond.

    The editor, Nick (High Fidelity) Hornby, as well as writing a moving and very heartfelt introduction--his own child is autistic--submits one of the best efforts: "Nipple Jesus", a slyly funny parable about a security man guarding a chunk of dubious modern art. Other notable contributions come from Irvine (Trainspotting) Welsh with one of his identity-swap-stories, this time about a Scottish stud-muffin turned into an unwitting gay, and John (The Best A Man Can Get) O'Farrell, with a predictably funny, surprisingly edgy confessional from a mime artist slowly going to the dogs. Other big names included are Helen Fielding, Robert Harries, Zadie Smith, Roddy Doyle, et al.

    As with many of these projects, there is a slight feeling of incestuousness; Hornby actually admits that Harries is married to his sister, and that O'Farrell went to his school. But given the goodness of the cause, it's no real reason to quibble. --Sean Thomas

  • Foyles

    Speaking with the Angel is a collection of short stories, edited by Nick Hornby Hear the Prime Minister explain to the House why he did a runner from Greenford Park service station and hitched a lift with a fifteen-year-old girl, as imagined by Robert Harris. Listen to someone who has a small hostile creature in his room, as told by Roddy Doyle.Twelve voices, twelve completely new stories, narrated by twelve different characters. And all written by twelve of the most exciting and popular writers around: Robert Harris, Melissa Bank, Giles Smith, Patrick Marber, Colin Frith, Zadie Smith, Dave Eggers, Helen Fielding, Roddy Doyle, Irvine Welsh, John O'Farrell and Nick Hornby himself.This sparkling collection has been put together by bestselling novelist Nick Hornby, who also contributes an Introduction about TreeHouse, an organisation that offers a unique and pioneering approach to the education of children with autism. £1 will go to TreeHouse with every copy sold of Speaking with the Angel.

  • TheBookPeople

    A dozen of the most successful and popular writers today including: Helen Fielding, Robert Harris, Patrick Marber, Zadie Smith, John O'Farrell, Roddy Doyle, Melissa Bank and Irvine Welsh have written 6000-word fictional monologues along the lines of Alan Bennet's Talking Heads. And Colin Firth makes his debut as a fiction writer. The result is a book of completely original stories that have heart, soul and wit. All the writers have given their work free, and Penguin is giving GBP1 per copy sold to the TreeHouse Trust, a charity which is setting up a unique school for autistic children

  • 0241957249
  • 9780241957240
  • Nick Hornby
  • 7 July 2011
  • Penguin
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 240
  • UK ed.
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