Audiobook Review: Universality by Natasha Brown
A satirical novel that dissects wealth, class, and the media through multiple voices.
The audiobook adaptation of Natasha Brown's novel Universality offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of wealth, class, and the media. The story begins with a man named Jake, who has found a gold bar at a farm in West Yorkshire. As he contemplates what to do with the ingot, he recalls an incident involving an illegal rave that resulted in three hospitalisations and property damage.
The narrative is presented through a series of perspectives, each voiced by a different narrator. The journalist Hannah's article, titled A Fool's Gold, is replicated in full and serves as a central thread throughout the story. Her piece exposes the fraying fabric of British society, worn thin by late capitalism's relentless abrasion. The article features Richard Spencer, an arrogant and philandering banker, Miriam Leonard, a contrarian rightwing newspaper columnist, and a group of radical anarchist squatters known as The Universalists.
The audiobook format allows for a multi-voiced treatment that brings the characters to life. Norma Butikofer narrates Hannah's article, while Anushka Chakravarti voices Hannah herself, a burnt-out literary journalist who stumbles upon a scoop. Clare Corbett reads Lenny, the antihero of the culture wars, and Daniel Weyman reads from the viewpoint of the self-pitying Richard, who accuses Hannah of a cruel confidence trick.
Throughout the story, the characters' motivations and trustworthiness are called into question. As the reader is presented with the varying perspectives of the protagonists, they are left to ponder which of them can be trusted. The audiobook adaptation of Universality is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of wealth, class, and the media.
## Further Listening
If you enjoyed the audiobook adaptation of Universality, you may also want to explore other titles in the same genre. Here are a few recommendations:
| Title | Author | Publisher | Runtime | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | The Calamity Club | Kathryn Stockett | Penguin Audio | 28hr 45min | | It Could Have Been Her | Lisa Jewell | Penguin Audio | 10hr 47min |
The Calamity Club, a Depression-era novel by Kathryn Stockett, follows the story of Meg, a young orphan who meets Birdie, the new bookkeeper at her orphanage. The audiobook is read by January LaVoy and Jenna Lamia.
It Could Have Been Her, a new thriller by Lisa Jewell, is read by a cast including Lesley Sharp, James Norton, Emila Fox, and Tim McInnerny. The story follows a woman who goes on a voyage into her past after a stray dog turns up on her doorstep.
