Iris and Ruby

By: Rosie Thomas

Narrated by: Rula Lenska

A story of love, loss, and the distance between three generations of one family, this novel centres on Iris and Ruby, a grandmother and her granddaughter, as they try and make sense of their respective lives.©2007 Rosie Thomas (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Thomas can write with ravishing sensuality." (The Times)
"Rosie Thomas is both a subtle and realistic author and her portrait of Iris is never less than absorbing." (Daily Mail)

Tender, heart-felt and beautifully narrated

A beautifully written novel with deep understanding of the characters involved and of human nature. The straddling of two eras was well executed. I truly enjoyed the narration which made the story come to life!

LONG LONG AND LONG

Would you listen to Iris and Ruby again? Why?

No, I wouldn't listen again. I found this book very long and it didn't go anywhere. I am struggling to finish the 2nd part.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Maybe I won't get there

What about Rula Lenska’s performance did you like?

I like Rula's reading but in this book I found it inconsistent. Ruby was part London Goth and part Toffee Tart

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Have yet to get there.

Any additional comments?

I like stories that take me away and this book put me to sleep.

Excellent narration.

While I certainly enjoyed the book, it did leave me a little unsatisfied. As though it was building up to something that never happened and there were a few loose threads still wondering around in the desert.
When listening to a book it is often difficult if it skips from the thoughts of one character to another one between different eras. After all you can't hear spaces or italics. This performer managed to take you effortlessly with her between people and times with just with the use of her voice.

Slow-moving

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not. To be honest, I only got through the first half. The characters did not draw me in emotionally. Iris's lover was distanced and lacked warmth, so that the affair did not really seem that genuine to me. The story dragged. I am not one to give up early on a book but after the first half I asked myself "do I care what happens to these characters?" The answer was "no."

What aspect of Rula Lenska’s performance would you have changed?

Her voice was good for the character of Iris, the grandmother. But it didn't fit with Ruby's character-it sounded too old and scratchy. And the way she did male voices (especially those of Egyptian characters) got on my nerves... Bad accents and somehow the men came off sounding simple-minded.

Was Iris and Ruby worth the listening time?

Not for me.