Things I Don't Want to Know cover art

Things I Don't Want to Know

Living Autobiography 1

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Things I Don't Want to Know

By: Deborah Levy
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Things I Don't Want to Know by Deborah Levy.

Things I Don't Want to Know is the first in Deborah Levy's essential three-part 'Living Autobiography' on writing and womanhood. Taking George Orwell's famous essay 'Why I Write' as a jumping-off point, Deborah Levy offers her own indispensable reflections of the writing life. With wit, clarity and calm brilliance, she considers how the writer must stake claim to that contested territory as a young woman and shape it to her need.

Things I Don't Want to Know is a work of dazzling insight and deep psychological succour from one of our most vital contemporary writers.

©2014 Deborah Levy (P)2018 Penguin Audio Gender Studies Grief & Loss Personal Development Relationships Social Sciences Nonfiction

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Critic reviews

"Unmissable. Like chancing upon an oasis, you want to drink it slowly.... Subtle, unpredictable, surprising." (The Guardian)

"Superb sharpness and originality of imagination. An inspiring work of writing." (Marina Warner)
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I discovered Debora Levy in a review on the paper in Italy. I started from the second book of the series, went on to read the third one and finished by reading the first one. I like them all but this one was my favourite. Love the way they are read by Juliet Stevenson, Levy’s writing style, imagery… it definitely speaks to me with more than a few coincidences with my private life .

Wonderful book

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Juliet Stevenson — whoever told you to do all those accents was extremely misguided. Avoid the audiobook and pick up the book instead.

Terrible audiobook of an excellent book

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These are good stories horribly spoiled by accents that bordered on the offensive. The narrator and also sometimes her brother have English accents although they’re from Johannesburg but her mother has a very thick South African accent. No consistency. I’ll have to buy the book to get them out of my head!

Beware the accents

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Deborah Levy brings us into her own world in this book with dignity and delivers its sadness without sentimentality and just enough drama. Completely engaging. Juliet Stevenson is a fine reader; the world is full of accents, and who is to say what’s “correct”. I’ve lived on five continents and the accents didn’t bother me. Well worth the listen.

Moving, eloquent, rewarding.

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Deborah IS a genius. Every sentence is as sharp as necessary. I followed her around the globe through her words and didn't want to leave her by the time the last page was read. Juliet's narration is sublime. Her on point change of accents helped the teletransporting and her reading pace was perfect.

Wonderful book, non-stop listening

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This genre of mosaic autobiography, deep introspection/reflection and literary backdrops/anecdotes woven into the story at the right moments it mesmerises. I feel myself hanging on her lips for every word and often repeating passages. Having finished it, I already know that I will listen to it again.

Mastering a new genre

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Loved how eloquent the writing is. You truly feel for the main character and Juliet Stevenson brings this to life!

Loved it!

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Super entertaining and poiniant. Moments of reflection and events cascading through a writers life. Great insights into coming to terms with one's childhood and events that shape you.

Sad and hilarious!

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It’s quite offensive of the person reading the book to use a Russian accent when reading as the Polish actress.

The narrator lets this book down

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