A Northern Light Audiobook By Jennifer Donnelly cover art

A Northern Light

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A Northern Light

By: Jennifer Donnelly
Narrated by: Hope Davis
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About this listen

Mattie Gokey has a word for everything. She collects words, stores them up as a way of fending off the hard truths of her life, the truths that she can't write down in stories.

The fresh pain of her mother's death. The burden of raising her sisters while her father struggles over his brokeback farm. The mad welter of feelings Mattie has for handsome but dull Royal Loomis, who says he wants to marry her. And the secret dreams that keep her going: visions of finishing high school, going to college in New York City, becoming a writer.

Yet when the drowned body of a young woman turns up at the hotel where Mattie works, all her words are useless. But in the dead woman's letters, Mattie again finds her voice, and a determination to live her own life.

Set in 1906 against the backdrop of the murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, this coming-of-age novel effortlessly weaves romance, history and a murder mystery into something moving, and real, and wholly original.

©2003 Jennifer Donnelly (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint Of Random House Audio Publishing Group
Death & Dying Fiction Historical Fiction Mysteries & Detectives Romance Romantic Suspense Thrillers & Suspense Young Adult Mystery Historic Family Mystery
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Critic reviews

"Donnelly's characters ring true to life, and the meticulously described setting forms a vivid backdrop to this finely crafted story. An outstanding choice for historical-fiction fans." (School Library Journal)
"In an intelligent, colloquial voice that speaks with a writer's love of language and an observant eye, Mattie details the physical particulars of people's lives as well as deeper issues of race, class, and gender...Many teens will connect with Mattie's deep yearning for independence and for stories, like her own, that are frank, messy, complicated, and inspiring." (Booklist)

What listeners say about A Northern Light

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

a northern light

This is the best book I have listened to in years. Would like to hear more of her stories.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well written and well narrated.

This was Definitely worth the read. Sad but thoughtful. Descriptive and good character development. Tragic story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gilded Age Honesty

This was a great story, historical fiction set in a wonderful and realistic Adirondack setting. Truly enjoyable.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed A Northern Light Immensely

I raced through this book. Donnelly has a lovely writing style and I'll be looking into her other books. The narration is excellent.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good listen

I loved this book. It has enough mystery and intrigue to keep the adult listenter interested, but is also suitable for the younger listener as well. Highly enjoyable.

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5 people found this helpful

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Excellent !

A wonderful coming-of-age story incorporating a true-life crime as a backdrop. Hope Davis reads this beautifully.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

enjoyable

This book was a little hard to get into at first, but I found it enjoyable after the first hour or so. I also felt like a lot of the story was a rip off of Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. Even so, it was still a good read.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Prequel to Jane Austen's "Persuasion"

An intelligent, thoughtful, warm, caring treatise on life, promises and possiblities.

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A Northern Light

I will start with the positive. I really liked the Historical aspect. And that alot of the story is based on true events. I did not give a Great rating. mostly due to the Narrator, almost had to stop several times. Will Not listen to this Narrator again!!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Nice

Everybody in this novel felt so real. It was very well done, very entertaining. Highly recommend

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