Get ready to drop everything in your life to fall in love with Nora W. A formidable 122 year old wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and holocaust survivor who is a mere number of days away from becoming the oldest person to ever live. When we meet Nora she’s residing in a care home, cared for by Arifa who has fled Syria, with her son, she doesn’t need the training package telling her of respect and bedside manners, for however difficult Nora is Arifa knows how to respect her elders. Then there’s Debs (I despised Debs for the majority of the book) Debs has been given the task of arranging the Guinness book of records party to celebrate her Bubbe breaking the world record. Ensue adventure, a beautiful trip down memory lane and a lesson about life love strength endurance.

I don’t have the correct words to explain to you how much I loved this story, it’s beautiful in every way. It will have you laughing out loud one minute and sobbing the next. Hearing both Nora and Arifa”s stories throughout was really special. There are lessons throughout. All the stars for this one! #Jorecommends Look out for this on July 20th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins U.K. audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

The Curious Kidnapping of Nora W by Cate Green
(Narrated by Sarah Agha; Deryn Edwards; Katherine Press)

Nora was the Holocaust survivor, who was going to celebrate her 122th birthday a few weeks later. Other than this celebration, she was also going to claim to be the oldest person in the world. Her great granddaughter, Debs, was the one to plan for the party, such as catering and guests to invite. However, Nora had her own plan.

Nora left the nursing home but she needed a caretaker to look after her. Her name was Arifa, who was the Syrian refugee. Both ladies clicked because of their similar background which came from the war and also lost their sons in the war.

Among the read, the narrators brought the characters to live, from their accent, their speed to their intonation. I enjoyed a lot. The Curious Kidnapping of Nora W was the debut novel of Cate Green which surprised me the most by the story plot and the meaning behind the story - to treasure the people we love and the peaceful time we have.