A Well-Tempered Heart Audiobook By Jan-Philipp Sendker cover art

A Well-Tempered Heart

A Novel

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A Well-Tempered Heart

By: Jan-Philipp Sendker
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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The sequel to the international bestselling novel The Art of Hearing Heartbeats.

Almost ten years have passed since Julia Win came back from Burma, her father's native country. Though she is a successful Manhattan lawyer, her private life is at a crossroads; her boyfriend recently left her, she has suffered a miscarriage, and she is, despite her wealth, unhappy with her professional life. Julia is lost and exhausted.

One day, in the middle of an important business meeting, she hears a stranger's voice in her head that causes her to leave the office without explanation. In the following days, her crisis only deepens. Not only does the female voice refuse to disappear, but it starts to ask questions Julia has been trying to avoid. Why do you live alone? To whom do you feel close? What do you want in life?

Interwoven with Julia's story is that of a Burmese woman named Nu Nu who finds her world turned upside down when Burma goes to war and calls on her two young sons to be child soldiers. This spirited sequel, like The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, explores the most inspiring and passionate terrain: The human heart.

©2014 Jan-Philipp Sendker (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Contemporary Contemporary Romance Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Romance World Literature Heartfelt War

Critic reviews

"An absorbing, moving sequel." ( Booklist)
"Sendker [is] a mesmerizing storyteller." ( Kirkus Reviews)
Beautiful Storytelling • Captivating Narrative • Magnificent Performance • Complicated Protagonist • Meaningful Philosophy
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We all go through life on particular paths, some of which don't fit as we travel them. This book explores what happens when Julia jumps off, or maybe is pushed off, her regular life. Beautifully written and faithfully translated, the story captures you immediately and subtilely transforms you. If you don't want to change then don't engage with this book. You may find yourself quietly watching both nature and those around you with new interest.

Listen to your heart

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Beautiful storyline.
Some places I would have liked more details but it doesn't take away from the story.
The narration was just to softly spoken and slow for me.

Beautiful story!

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great story and I really want a third book in the series! The author is a great storyteller

Amazing

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This is a story of love, truth, and bravery. I was stuck by the honesty of the author’s crafting of words. It was simply mesmerizing and left me wanting more.

Hauntingly Beautiful!

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What made the experience of listening to A Well-Tempered Heart the most enjoyable?

The whole book was well written and performed. I was enthralled, taken right into the lives of the characters. I couldn't stop listening. It was poignant & sad at times, beautiful at others, with a gentle philosophy flowing throughout the book. We are left, in the end, not sure what will happen, but that's ok, life's like that.
I loved this book.

What about Cassandra Campbell’s performance did you like?

Understated, calm, natural, very pleasant to listen to

Any additional comments?

I loved it

What a beautiful story

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Any additional comments?

In this emotionally driven and passionate sequel to "The Art of Hearing Heartbeats," Julia returns to Burma to find her brother and answers to her own heartbeats.

Sendker Does it Again

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I loved the Heart of Hearing Heartbeats but this read makes me love it more. Also great narration.

New Favorite

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What did you love best about A Well-Tempered Heart?

I read his first book - "The art of hearing heart beat" which is pretty much a must to start with before reading this one. They are both written like a poem , like a melody of one's spirit. The book left me thinking and wondering about one's choices in life and the always existing opportunity to forgive and move on. Listening to one's Intuition is the key element which spoke to me.

What other book might you compare A Well-Tempered Heart to and why?

the first book -" The art of hearing heartbeat" and "on thousand white woman" by Jim Fergus.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me walk more as this is when I listen to my books and volunteer to every carpool suggested so I could listen to it in the car.......

Any additional comments?

Grab!

a book that touches all senses

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If my friend had read The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, yes.
It was interesting to follow up on some of the same characters from the first book but at the same time I found this story lacking in continuity in the end. I can't say more about it because I don't want to ruin it for other listeners.
As for the narration Cassandra delivers another magnificent performance in this book. She is at the top of the list for me.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jan-Philipp Sendker? Why or why not?

Not sure at this time.

Which scene was your favorite?

It wasn't so much as one scene but the bond between two siblings that have lived apart all their lives, and come from such different backgrounds. I found that very moving.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

Anybody who has read Kate Norton's books might understand what I meant by lack of continuity. Norton has a real gift when it comes to tying up all the loose ends beautifully at the end of the story.

NOT AS GOOD AS THE FIRST ONE

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I could not stop listening to the story.
Can’t recommend it highly enough.
The narration was perfect.

Wonderful

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