The Binding

A Novel

By: Bridget Collins

Narrated by: Carl Prekopp

Proclaimed as “truly spellbinding", a “great fable” that “functions as transporting romance” by The Guardian, the runaway number one international best seller arrives in America.

"A rich, gothic entertainment that explores what books have trapped inside them and reminds us of the power of storytelling. Spellbinding.” (Tracy Chevalier)

Imagine you could erase grief. Imagine you could remove pain. Imagine you could hide the darkest, most horrifying secret. Forever.

Young Emmett Farmer is working in the fields when a strange letter arrives summoning him away from his family. He is to begin an apprenticeship as a bookbinder - a vocation that arouses fear, superstition, and prejudice among their small community, but one neither he nor his parents can afford to refuse.

For as long as he can recall, Emmett has been drawn to books, even though they are strictly forbidden. Bookbinding is a sacred calling, Seredith informs her new apprentice, and he is a binder born. Under the old woman’s watchful eye, Emmett learns to handcraft the elegant leather-bound volumes. Within each one, they will capture something unique and extraordinary: a memory. If there’s something you want to forget, a binder can help. If there’s something you need to erase, they can assist. Within the pages of the books they create, secrets are concealed and the past is locked away. In a vault under his mentor’s workshop, rows upon rows of books are meticulously stored.

But while Seredith is an artisan, there are others of their kind, avaricious and amoral tradesman who use their talents for dark ends - and just as Emmett begins to settle into his new circumstances, he makes an astonishing discovery: One of the books has his name on it. Soon, everything he thought he understood about his life will be dramatically rewritten.

An unforgettable novel of enchantment, mystery, memory, and forbidden love, The Binding is a beautiful homage to the allure and life-changing power of books - and a reminder to us all that knowledge can be its own kind of magic.

©2019 Bridget Collins (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

a long darkly romantic book

it's slow, delightfully slow. the romance and cruelties inflicted left you wanting to hear more. the take on memories were originally. my only complaint was that I wasn't entirely sure what period the book took place in, obviously it was an alternative history but still. vastly enjoyable.

An astonishingly fresh and compelling story

The beginning this book was tough going and I nearly gave up, as it felt all too bleak, and then it transformed. Collins has the ability to create a whole world with such depth that you exist there and feel everything with the characters. At times I couldn't breathe, other times I was flooded with delight. Sometimes I became weirdly aware that she held such power, she could make things go any which way and I found myself hoping she wasn't cruel. She's not. It's an astonishing feat to create a reality that is so convincing and to be unpredictable. A truly talented storyteller. Carl Prekopp was pitch perfect all the way through, different people's voices were flawless and instantly recognisable. Bravo! The best book I have listened to this year.

Original fantasy at its best

As a fantasy bookworm since small, I do love it when I find a beautifully woven story. This one with plenty of love, fear and depravity.

Loved it

I loved this book. It was, ultimately, a novel of two men struggling within themselves and within society to be together. I do wish there had been more about Emmett and is learning how to make books and how to bind people. I thought it was an interesting concept. I enjoyed the narrator and thought he did a terrific job.

very good!!

The story and narration was great! I did have to really pay attention though. I usually listen at work but I could only listen to this story while in the car.

Dark

This was an intriguing and well written book and the narration was fabulous, however, it was very dark.

Touching story, phenomenal performance

A simple yet beautiful and moving story. I loved the concept that is at the core of the book and the lore but what really made everything shine was the narrator's performance. Overall a very enjoyable listen!

Beautiful

The story is aching and heartbreakingly beautiful. The narrator does a wonderful job. Highly recommend.

A beautiful surprise

I didn't know what to expect and was thrilled to discover this book has a brilliant, original core concept anchoring a complex LGBTQ love story. I finished it in 2 days and was sad when it was over. Beautifully written and perfectly performed. It was an absolute joy to experience and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. Now I'm eager to see what else this author has created.

Great Worldbuilding beautifully wtitten

Its dark. it got a bit angsty even for me and there's a gratuitous bit of cruelty that went too far, but it's a cracking story with well drawn characters. The narrator tended to sound like Worzel Gummage but that's not a bad thing. Top quality story and narration.