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The Binding
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Carl Prekopp
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
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The Binding
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Publisher's Summary
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.
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What listeners say about The Binding
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-04-22
Top notch!
I really thought the story examines both sides of the role our memories play in our lives. I thought the plot was well planned with excellent foreshadowing.
I loved the narrator’s voice. His voice was soothing and almost hypnotic in the way he drew me into the story.
I did think that it would have been good though to hear about Alta and Emmett’s parents after Emmett had his memories wiped and how that impacted them once he gets his memories back. Perhaps though that could almost be another book!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christine
- 2019-11-09
I couldn't put it down.
Absolutely beautiful story. the narration was wonderful. I will be looking for books by this narrator again. It's been awhile since I've read a book that held me captive like this one. I cannot recommend it enough!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SCC
- 2020-06-21
superb storytelling
I missed this story when the book ended. beautifully written. Fantastic story concept. Layered storytelling.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Melissa
- 2019-08-24
Surprising
Looping story and beautiful writing. If you can let the story lead you without knowing where you're going, and not get frustrated, this will be a real treat. Let yourself be swept away with what some call unnecessary side stories, and watch it all carefully fall into place in the end. Heartwarming and heartwrenching and creative all in one. This is to say nothing of the impressively wonderful narration.
Rarely leave reviews, but this one deserves the praise, if not just for the narration. Open your heart and give it a listen.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Susan Smith
- 2020-01-04
Amazing narration
Very much enjoyed the story, great concept and would recommend for my book club. Little slow in the beginning, but overall enjoyable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-06-25
Incredible all around!
Not only was this story absolutely gripping and constantly surprising, but the narration of it was unlike anything I’ve experienced. The way that Carl Prekopp performs this spectacular story left me awestruck and constantly entertained. It was as if there was an entire cast of rehearsed performers acting out this narrative!
The story itself was wondrous! The writing is so rich with beautiful metaphors and illustrations. The scenes were so vividly described that you felt as if you were remembering them from your own experiences. The narrative is full of so many incredible twists that it feels impossible to put down and the fantasy world crafted by Collins feels just believable enough to wonder if it’s real, while still remaining truly original. I cannot recommend this enough!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Angela M.
- 2023-02-19
Captivating
I came across this audiobook after searching for anything narrated by Carl Prekopp, as he is my newly favourite narrator. His voice combined with this story is so captivating, I didn't want it to end.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- DezThePleb
- 2020-06-29
Kind of a bummer and then really dark. DNF
I thought the story itself was interesting enough up until about chapter 4. Only one review that I saw even really mentioned it but it is really dark. It was kind of a bummer up until when I stopped but it got really dark suddenly and I had to stop. 3 stars because the writing itself was my style and I thought that the performance really suited the book.
I don't want to say anything that might spoil things for people who might like this book but in a way this book is about regrets that people struggle to live with, and people do some pretty dark things.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alexandria
- 2019-05-13
Amazing!
A little slow in the middle, but the writing it beautiful and I found myself unable to stop listening.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kim
- 2020-02-29
Beautiful love story
This was an interesting story that grows on you the more you discover what is going on. Some dark parts only stand to brighten the depth of the good ones. Very much enjoyed it.
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