Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Welcome to Glorious Tuga

A Novel

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A bighearted page-turner set on a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean about love, community, and what it means to come home

Passionate about conservation and fleeing an argument with her mother, newly qualified London vet Charlotte Walker has taken up a fellowship on the tiny South Atlantic island of Tuga de Oro to study the endangered gold coin tortoises in the jungle interior. She can claim the best of reasons for this year in paradise—What better motivation than to save a species?—but the reality is more complex. For Charlotte has secretly come to believe that she has her own connection to this remote and eccentric community, and she is finally determined to solve the mystery that has dominated her life.

But she will have little time for any of her declared or covert investigations. She is inconveniently attracted to the new island doctor. And not only do Tuga's tortoises need attention but so too do the island's dogs, goats, and donkeys—not to mention the islanders themselves, determined to win Charlotte over with cake and homemade jam until she relents and becomes vet to all their animals.

A complete, vivid world unto itself, Welcome to Glorious Tuga is a bewitching combination of warmth and humor. Immersive and uplifting, it transports the reader to an island that time forgot, bringing to life a cast of flawed, loveable people, like a contemporary James Herriot beneath the coconut palms.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 5, 2024
      In the immersive latest from Segal (The Innocents), a British woman ventures to the fictional South Atlantic island of Tuga, hoping to learn about her origins. At the outset, veterinary researcher Charlotte Walker plans to study the endangered gold coin tortoise species essential to the island’s ecology. She also hopes to investigate her suspicion that her father, whom she never knew, came from Tuga. She travels by boat from England, and on her voyage she meets and falls for Tuga native Dan Zekri. Upon arrival, Charlotte discovers that Dan is engaged to a physiotherapist on the island. She tries to avoid Dan, paying more attention to her attractive host, Levi Mendoza, and his “distracting abdominals.” She also encounters roadblocks to her research, such as from island elder Grand Mary, who bars Charlotte from viewing historic records in her personal library. Eventually, Charlotte secures access to the records in exchange for treating Grand Mary’s cat and endears herself to others by helping with their pets and livestock. Tensions flare when she’s torn between Dan and Levi, fueling island gossip. Though some of the plot points feel unresolved, Segal vividly portrays life in a close-knit community, where people like Charlotte are labeled FFA (Folk From Away). This is worth a look. Agent: Zoe Waldie, RCW Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Kristin Atherton brings us to the tiny South Atlantic island of Tuga de Oro, known for being the most remote British colony in the world. London vet Charlotte Walker accepts a fellowship to study the endangered gold coin tortoises there, and perhaps find out more about herself. The caliber of acting Atherton displays is truly laudable. She goes beyond assigning memorable voices to characters by growling grumpy Pastor Garrick's greeting, filling Levi's voice with raw longing as Charlotte avoids kissing him, sounding breathy and tired as Joan's health deteriorates, and adding sobbed pauses as Charlotte spills her heart. These hundreds of little choices show mastery of craft and thoughtful understanding of each individual character, making listeners care deeply for all of them. S.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      December 6, 2024

      In the first of a planned trilogy, Segal (Mother Ship) offers listeners a layered story of community and family set on a fictional British overseas territory in the South Atlantic. Charlotte, a 29-year-old veterinarian and reptile enthusiast, travels to the remote island Tuga de Oro to study the gold coin tortoise as a fellowship opportunity and an escape. Blending elements of both contemporary fiction and mystery, the novel follows Charlotte as she comes to terms with having grown up without knowing her own father, who she believes once lived on the island. As Charlotte gets to know Tuga's close-knit community and tends to the many animals on the island, the book explores themes of community, family, conservation, and governance of territories. Narrator Kristin Atherton skillfully crafts musical voices for a range of British characters, but unfortunately, her accents for the Tuga residents are less than ideal. They are presented in an exaggerated stereotypical manner that doesn't reflect the island's populace, whose ancestors hail variously from Brazil, England, the Netherlands, Nigeria, North America, and eastern Europe. VERDICT Though this is an affecting story with charming characters and a vibrant setting, the mismatched accents make the audio a secondary purchase.--Taylor Skorski

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading