Diane Arnold

A treasure

Reviewed: 08-11-24

A thought-provoking story, creatively and beautifully told (and narrated). I loved Klara—and having those feelings about a “non-human” person brought home the positives of what life could be like in our AI -filled future. But the story was also scary about the negatives likely to come with the new technology.

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Heartwarming tale

Reviewed: 06-13-24

I wasn’t sure when I first started this book that I’d like it. It’s seemed too simple and old-fashioned a story. But I grew to become interested in what happened. The characters were not all good or bad. And the plot twists kept you wanting to go on to the next chapter.

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Narration painful. Ruined book

Reviewed: 03-04-24

This narration is literally painful to listen to. It sounds as if a first grader with an old man’s voice is trying to read for the first time. Audible should be ashamed for allowing this up be offered on their site. It does terrible harm to the excellent writer Willa Cather and to their own reputation. I can’t believe they even charged $1.99 for it. It would not be worth it if it was free. It has cost me much more—the waste of the time I spent listening to it. (Foolishly I listened about an hour before finally realizing the narration was not going to improve.

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1 person found this helpful

Disappointing

Reviewed: 01-13-24

Narrator sounded like a high school student. Perhaps the story would have come across as more sophisticated if I’d read it vs listened to it but overall it felt like a YA book.

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Fascinating view of a time and place

Reviewed: 01-05-24

Vivid descriptions of characters and stories that reveal cultures and situations previously unknown to me.

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Good but not her best

Reviewed: 09-16-23

A bit challenging to keep the children of the two families straight at times when listening to—vs reading—this book. As with other Ann Patchett novels—I begin to wonder why this story/stories are being told and then I get pulled into her always-excellent descriptions of the characters and the emotions they are experiencing. They feel so credible and you begin to care about them. And Patchett is great about sliding in something that catches you by surprise. I’m glad I read this book ( and the narration is perfect) but it didn’t grab me as much as Dutch House or Tom Lake. Though like them, the exploration of families and relationships is similarly so insightful.

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Perfect match: Hanks & this story

Reviewed: 09-06-23

I thought Tom Hanks’s distinctive voice would interfere with the story ( as Meryl Strep’s somewhat did for me with Patchett’s “Tom Lake”) but instead he brought Danny—and this tale—wonderfully to life. As with the other Patchett books I’ve read, the characters’ emotions and actions are so credible you believe this story really happened and that you might meet these people someday. Her writing ( and his delivery) are so good that you are really drawn in to the story and regret when it’s over.

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Heartwarming.

Reviewed: 08-29-23

Anne Patchett creates characters who seem so real you think you’ll turn a corner and run into them. These are “ordinary” people—whose stories you come to care about and you feel sad to say goodbye to when the book ends. At first I felt having such a well -known narrator was a distraction, I could not help but picture Meryl Streep as the main character. But such is her talent that by the end I couldn’t imagine any better voice to make you feel all that Lara felt.

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Laugh, cry, learn. Simple but profound stories.

Reviewed: 08-08-23

The book—and Patchett’s narration of her stories—is wonderful. She opens up her life and her heart and makes you laugh and cry, remember and resolve to think about—and live your life—keeping in mind what is truly important. What a gift her insights and words are.

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Beautifully written/ transports you to

Reviewed: 07-17-23

Cather portrays so credibly a past time and place that you feel you are there. The characters will linger a long time in your mind and you’ll wonder how different their lives would be if born now. Perhaps not so much if their circumstances were similar.

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