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The Rain Before it Falls

By Jonathan Coe
Series: Penguin Essentials
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Rain Before it Falls by Jonathan Coe is a poignant exploration of family and memory. It tells the story of Rosamond, an elderly woman who leaves behind a series of recorded tapes revealing her past and a family mystery. Through her narration, listeners are taken on a journey across generations, uncovering hidden stories and emotional truths.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to multigenerational family sagas and appreciate rich, emotional storytelling. The narrative unfolds through evocative descriptions of photographs, revealing complex family secrets and poignant moments. Its blend of nostalgia and introspective character study makes it appealing to those interested in exploring the intricacies of familial relationships and the passage of time.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A mesmerizing study of human character from one of the masters of modern fiction — now a Penguin Essential.

The Rain Before it Falls is centred on Rosamund, who lies dying in her remote Shropshire home. Before she passes, she has one last task: to put on tape not just her own story, but the story of the young blind girl, her cousin's granddaughter, who turned up mysteriously at her party all those years ago.

Through this evocative tale, Rosamund seeks to impart to Imogen, "What I want you to have, Imogen, above all, is a sense of your own history; a sense of where you come from, and of the forces that made you."

This novel is a story of generations, exploring the intricacies of family relationships and the myriad forces that contribute to shaping a child.

Series: Penguin Essentials

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Rain Before it Falls by Jonathan Coe is praised as a spectacular, beautifully written novel, offering a captivating and extraordinary story centred on Rosamund. Reviews highlight its heartbreakingly compelling plot, often comparing Coe's style to Ian McEwan. The narrative is described as a moving and melancholic exploration of motherhood, love, and loss, with the ability to resonate deeply with readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241996553

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 May 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 111.0mm

Height: 181.0mm

Weight: 159g

Pages: 288

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Jonathan Coe Literary Fiction Penguin Books Series: Penguin Essentials

About the Author

Jonathan Coe was born in Birmingham in 1961. He is the award-winning, bestselling author of fifteen novels, including What a Carve Up!, The Rotters' Club, Middle England and, most recently, The Proof of My Innocence. He has won the Costa Novel Award, the Prix du Livre Europeen, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the Prix Medicis tranger and the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, among many others. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. His work has been translated into twenty-two languages. Jonathan Coe lives in London.

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