And the Dark Sacred Night
A Novel
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
And the Dark Sacred Night
Buy for $22.50
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Mark Deakins
-
By:
-
Julia Glass
About this listen
In this richly detailed novel about the quest for an unknown father, Julia Glass brings new characters together with familiar figures from her first two novels, immersing listeners in a panorama that stretches from suburban New Jersey to rural Vermont and ultimately to the tip of Cape Cod.
Kit Noonan is an unemployed art historian with twins to help support and a mortgage to pay—and a wife frustrated by his inertia. Raised by a strong-willed, secretive single mother, Kit has never known the identity of his father—a mystery that his wife insists he must solve to move forward with his life. Out of desperation, Kit goes to the mountain retreat of his mother’s former husband, Jasper, a take-no-prisoners outdoorsman. There, in the midst of a fierce blizzard, Kit and Jasper confront memories of the bittersweet decade when their families were joined. Reluctantly breaking a long-ago promise, Jasper connects Kit with Lucinda and Zeke Burns, who know the answer he’s looking for. Listeners of Glass’s first novel, Three Junes, will recognize Lucinda as the mother of Malachy, the music critic who died of AIDS. In fact, to fully understand the secrets surrounding his paternity, Kit will travel farther still, meeting Fenno McLeod, now in his late fifties, and Fenno’s longtime companion, the gregarious Walter Kinderman.
And the Dark Sacred Night is an exquisitely memorable tale about the youthful choices that steer our destinies, the necessity of forgiveness, and the risks we take when we face down the shadows from our past.
©2014 Julia Glass (P)2014 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
Vigil Harbor
- A Novel
- By: Julia Glass
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Kimberly Farr, Jeremy Davidson, and others
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 50
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 43
A decade from now, in the historic town of Vigil Harbor, there's been a rash of divorces among the yacht-club set; a marine biologist despairs at the state of the world; a spurned wife is bent on revenge; and the renowned architect Austin Kepner pursues a passion for building homes designed to withstand the escalating fury of relentless storms. Austin's stepson, Brecht, has dropped out of college in New York and returned home after narrowly escaping one of the terrorist acts that, like hurricanes, have become increasingly common.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good performances of this overly ambitious novel
- By Jeff Lacy on 08-08-22
By: Julia Glass
-
The Widower's Tale
- A Novel
- By: Julia Glass
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 17 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 527
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 271
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 270
In a historic farmhouse outside Boston, 70-year-old Percy Darling is settling happily into retirement: Reading novels, watching old movies, and swimming naked in his pond. His routines are disrupted, however, when he is persuaded to let a locally beloved preschool take over his barn. As Percy sees his rural refuge overrun by children, parents, and teachers, he must reexamine the solitary life he has made in the three decades since the sudden death of his wife. No longer can he remain aloof from his community.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Shedding old skin ...
- By Kelly on 09-23-10
By: Julia Glass
-
A House Among the Trees
- A Novel
- By: Julia Glass
- Narrated by: Mary Stuart Masterson
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 161
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 141
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 139
When the revered children's book author Mort Lear dies accidentally at his Connecticut home, he leaves his property and all its contents to his trusted assistant, Tomasina Daulair, who is moved by his generosity but dismayed by the complicated and defiant directives in his will. Tommy knew Morty for more than four decades, since meeting him in a Manhattan playground when she was 12 and he was working on sketches for the book that would make him a star.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Glass Fan
- By G Eliot on 07-17-17
By: Julia Glass
-
Shrines of Gaiety
- A Novel
- By: Kate Atkinson
- Narrated by: Jason Watkins
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 725
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 635
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 635
1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time. The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Rich characters of all stripes
- By Glorious Lorius on 11-09-22
By: Kate Atkinson
-
The Best of Me
- By: David Sedaris
- Narrated by: David Sedaris
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,630
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,169
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,139
For more than 25 years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to listen without laughing.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Almost No New Material
- By Lizardectomy on 11-05-20
By: David Sedaris
-
Small Mercies
- A Novel
- By: Dennis Lehane
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,452
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,297
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,297
In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessey is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave that stubbornly adheres to tradition and stands proudly apart. One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train under mysterious circumstances. Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Sadly these streets are my home…
- By shipyardjay on 05-10-23
By: Dennis Lehane
-
Vigil Harbor
- A Novel
- By: Julia Glass
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Kimberly Farr, Jeremy Davidson, and others
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 50
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 43
A decade from now, in the historic town of Vigil Harbor, there's been a rash of divorces among the yacht-club set; a marine biologist despairs at the state of the world; a spurned wife is bent on revenge; and the renowned architect Austin Kepner pursues a passion for building homes designed to withstand the escalating fury of relentless storms. Austin's stepson, Brecht, has dropped out of college in New York and returned home after narrowly escaping one of the terrorist acts that, like hurricanes, have become increasingly common.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good performances of this overly ambitious novel
- By Jeff Lacy on 08-08-22
By: Julia Glass
-
The Widower's Tale
- A Novel
- By: Julia Glass
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 17 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 527
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 271
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 270
In a historic farmhouse outside Boston, 70-year-old Percy Darling is settling happily into retirement: Reading novels, watching old movies, and swimming naked in his pond. His routines are disrupted, however, when he is persuaded to let a locally beloved preschool take over his barn. As Percy sees his rural refuge overrun by children, parents, and teachers, he must reexamine the solitary life he has made in the three decades since the sudden death of his wife. No longer can he remain aloof from his community.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Shedding old skin ...
- By Kelly on 09-23-10
By: Julia Glass
-
A House Among the Trees
- A Novel
- By: Julia Glass
- Narrated by: Mary Stuart Masterson
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 161
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 141
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 139
When the revered children's book author Mort Lear dies accidentally at his Connecticut home, he leaves his property and all its contents to his trusted assistant, Tomasina Daulair, who is moved by his generosity but dismayed by the complicated and defiant directives in his will. Tommy knew Morty for more than four decades, since meeting him in a Manhattan playground when she was 12 and he was working on sketches for the book that would make him a star.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Glass Fan
- By G Eliot on 07-17-17
By: Julia Glass
-
Shrines of Gaiety
- A Novel
- By: Kate Atkinson
- Narrated by: Jason Watkins
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 725
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 635
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 635
1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time. The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Rich characters of all stripes
- By Glorious Lorius on 11-09-22
By: Kate Atkinson
-
The Best of Me
- By: David Sedaris
- Narrated by: David Sedaris
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,630
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,169
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,139
For more than 25 years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to listen without laughing.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Almost No New Material
- By Lizardectomy on 11-05-20
By: David Sedaris
-
Small Mercies
- A Novel
- By: Dennis Lehane
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,452
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,297
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,297
In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessey is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave that stubbornly adheres to tradition and stands proudly apart. One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train under mysterious circumstances. Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Sadly these streets are my home…
- By shipyardjay on 05-10-23
By: Dennis Lehane
-
Fates and Furies
- A Novel
- By: Lauren Groff
- Narrated by: Will Damron, Julia Whelan
- Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4,947
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,415
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4,436
From the award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, Florida and Matrix, an exhilarating novel about marriage, creativity, art, and perception. Fates and Furies is a literary masterpiece that defies expectation. A dazzling examination of a marriage, it is also a portrait of creative partnership written by one of the best writers of her generation. Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Paean to Marriage, Mythology and Theatre
- By W Perry Hall on 09-20-15
By: Lauren Groff
-
True Biz
- A Novel
- By: Sara Novic
- Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan, Kaleo Griffith
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,198
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,055
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,052
True biz? The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history finals, and have politicians, doctors, and their parents stop telling them what to do with their bodies. This revelatory novel plunges listeners into the halls of a residential school for the deaf, where they’ll meet Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who’s never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school’s golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing; and February, the hearing headmistress.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A good story with added features both intriguing and informational
- By A Signing Mom on 05-15-22
By: Sara Novic
-
Fellowship Point
- A Novel
- By: Alice Elliott Dark
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 507
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 433
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 430
Celebrated children’s book author Agnes Lee is determined to secure her legacy—to complete what she knows will be the final volume of her pseudonymously written Franklin Square novels; and even more consuming, to permanently protect the peninsula of majestic coast in Maine known as Fellowship Point. To donate the land to a trust, Agnes must convince shareholders to dissolve a generations-old partnership. And one of those shareholders is her best friend, Polly.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Too far fetched at the end
- By JMNE on 08-25-22
-
North and South
- North and South Trilogy, Book 1
- By: John Jakes
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 30 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,042
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,698
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,701
Two strangers, young men from Pennsylvania and South Carolina, meet on the way to West Point.... Thus begins this brilliant novel of antebellum America, spanning three generations and chronicling the lives and loves of two great family dynasties. The Hazards and the Mains are brought together in bonds of friendship and affection that neither jealousy nor violence can shatter - until a storm of events sunders the nation and brings the cataclysm of war!
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Captivating novel of the Civil War
- By 9S on 01-12-13
By: John Jakes
-
By Order of the President
- Presidential Agent, Book 1
- By: W. E. B. Griffin
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 20 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,629
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,107
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,086
Two armed men board a 727 that has been all but forgotten at an airfield in Angola. Hijacking the jet, they then slit the throat of the lone crew and fly to parts unknown. The consternation is immediate, as the CIA, FBI, and other agencies race to find out what happened, in the process elbowing one another in the sides a little too vigorously. Fed up, the president of the United States turns to an outside investigator to determine the truth.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Could have been better ...
- By Ragna on 02-08-11
By: W. E. B. Griffin
-
By the Rivers of Babylon
- By: Nelson DeMille
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 17 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 996
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 766
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 768
Lod Airport, Israel: Two Concorde jets take off for a U.N. conference that will finally bring peace to the Middle East. Covered by F-14 fighters, accompanied by security men, the planes carry warriors, pacifists, lovers, enemies, dignitaries - and a bomb planted by a terrorist mastermind. Suddenly they're forced to crash-land at an ancient desert site. Here, with only a handful of weapons, the men and women of the peace mission must make a desperate stand against an army of crack Palestinian commandos....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A good story, but a lot of characters
- By Patrice on 12-09-10
By: Nelson DeMille
-
The Bastard
- The Kent Family Chronicles, Book 1
- By: John Jakes
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,173
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,039
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,036
Set against the colorful tumult of events that gave rise to our fledgling nation, this novel of romance and adventure introduces Phillipe Charboneau. The illegitimate son of an English nobleman, Phillipe flees Europe and, as Philip Kent, joins the men who set our course for freedom. The Bastard is the first volume in the Kent Family Chronicles, a series of novels that details one family's journey in the early years of the American nation.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An Amazing Tale
- By will on 11-06-13
By: John Jakes
-
A Promise Kept
- By: Robin Lee Hatcher
- Narrated by: Windy Lanzl
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 25
Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy...but years later, that joy was extinguished by unexpected trials. The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised healing - but it became clear she’d misunderstood. Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent
- By Kathy Beliveau on 09-20-23
-
The Intercept
- A Jeremy Fisk Novel, Book 1
- By: Dick Wolf
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 682
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 597
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 596
Days before the July Fourth holiday and the dedication of One World Trade Center at Ground Zero, an incident aboard a commercial jet flying over the Atlantic Ocean reminds everyone that vigilance is not a task to be taken lightly. But for iconoclastic NYPD detective Jeremy Fisk, it may also be a signal that there is much more to this case than the easy answer of this being just the work of another lone terrorist. Fisk suspects that the event might also be a warning sign that another scheme has been set in motion.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Page turner
- By Katherine on 12-31-12
By: Dick Wolf
-
Every Last One
- By: Anna Quindlen
- Narrated by: Hope Davis
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,553
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 766
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 774
In this breathtaking and beautiful novel, the #1 New York Times best-selling author Anna Quindlen creates an unforgettable portrait of a mother, a father, a family, and the explosive, violent consequences of what seem like inconsequential actions.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Almost Unbearably Sad, Completely Wonderful
- By Kimberly on 04-28-10
By: Anna Quindlen
-
Unaccustomed Earth
- Stories
- By: Jhumpa Lahiri
- Narrated by: Sarita Choudhury, Ajay Naidu
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 956
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 512
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 513
From the internationally best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a superbly crafted new work of fiction: eight stories that take us from Cambridge and Seattle to India and Thailand. In the stunning title story, Ruma, a young mother in a new city, is visited by her father, who carefully tends the earth of her garden, where he and his grandson form a special bond. But he's harboring a secret from his daughter, a love affair he's keeping all to himself.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Simply Beautiful
- By Eileen on 11-21-08
By: Jhumpa Lahiri
-
The Given Day
- By: Dennis Lehane
- Narrated by: Michael Boatman
- Length: 23 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,317
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 982
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 973
The Given Day explores the crippling violence and irrepressible exuberance of a country at war with, and in the thrall of, itself. As Danny, Luther, and those around them struggle to define themselves in increasingly turbulent times, they gradually find family in one another and, together, ride a rising storm of hardship, deprivation, and hope that will change all their lives.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
As Good As It Gets
- By D. Jay Ritt on 02-02-09
By: Dennis Lehane
Editorial reviews
Critic reviews
“Winner of the National Book Award for her 2002 debut, Three Junes, Julia Glass takes another sympathetic look at the complexities of contemporary life in this novel about family secrets. . . Examining complicated family relationships among several families whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways, this warm and engaging story about what it means to be a father will appeal to most readers.” —Library Journal
What listeners say about And the Dark Sacred Night
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patricia P. Christ
- 12-05-18
Multifaceted cast of leading characters
Very good character development and cast of many leading characters, each with their own stories and intersecting lives. Love explored in many forms.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Annie M.
- 06-22-14
Phenough is back!
Would you consider the audio edition of And the Dark Sacred Night to be better than the print version?
I cannot read the hard copy due to vision problems. So I can't answer this.
What other book might you compare And the Dark Sacred Night to and why?
Well, obviously I'm going to compare it to its predecessors. I loved THREE JUNES, and it was really nice to read yet another installment of in the ongoing family saga. It's like catching up with old friends.
What about Mark Deakins’s performance did you like?
There are a lot of characters in this book, both male and female, young and old. It must be difficult to put voice to all those people. Deakins did a nice job.
If you could rename And the Dark Sacred Night, what would you call it?
Along the lines of THREE JUNES...maybe TWO SUMMERS & A THANKSGIVING. This is why I'm not in the publishing business, naming books.
Any additional comments?
My only comment I guess is that I did not love this book as much as I have past Julia Glass novels, and I think this has to do with Kit. He has a compelling story...and I was happy to follow him on his quest for his identity...but he did not grab me as much as other Glass characters have. Still, well worth the read in this continuation of a great story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Janet
- 04-30-14
Starts strong and peters out at the end
Any additional comments?
The story takes awhile to get rolling, but once Kit really starts seeking out his parentage, it gets interesting. The novel goes along at full boil until the last couple of hours, when it starts to disappoint. Plot points you can see coming from a mile away, meaningless jumps back and forward in time, the unnecessary demise of a main character and far more time spent in Kit's head than any reader would desire. The author spends so much time tying up the loose ends that the book becomes predictable and boring--the opposite of what it was earlier on. Four stars for the first three-quarters of this novel.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ray Stewart
- 04-24-14
Lost the Protagonist
An interesting twist on a man searching for his biological father, with lots of other characters involved in their lives. So many detailed personalities, that I sometimes wondered what happened to the main guy. Very descriptive, easy to imagine the scenes.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Pamela Harvey
- 04-27-14
Unfocused
Unlike other books by Julia Glass, this read meanders directionless, and is largely a series of short stories about family members through several generations.
I don't know the original publish date (or am not finding it when I try to look it up) but it reads like a first effort. The reader only has time to participate in one family's issues, only to be abruptly transported into the stories of another back story of the same family. Yes, they are all related genetically or in terms of extended family, but it's still a jarring transition, and it creates for me a negative animus toward the author, whom I have come to love, and whose books I always purchase without a preview.
Topping that off, the focus is generally on the male perspective, with very little nuanced insight.
I found myself really surprised by the characters' lack of introspection and continuous emotional blank slate.
I dislike when an author seems to declare through character development and story arc, "this is the main story" and then goes off on another tangent which in turn becomes the "main story". It's like getting off at the wrong bus stop, and it's all just too much. Perhaps this is a personal issue, having moved in my life many times geographically, but I ended up with emotional whiplash after reading this.
I did not think this read was nearly as "good" on many levels, as other books by this author.
But I am hopeful for more work from her.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Mary
- 07-02-14
A Disappointment from Julia Glass
Any additional comments?
I purchased "And the Dark and Sacred Night" by Julia Glass, one of my favorite authors. Since this latest book is a sequel of sorts to "Three Junes", I thought I would re-listen to refresh myself on the characters. Once again, I loved "Three Junes", the way it was read, the different and interesting characters, the way the same event can be interpreted so differently by one character versus another, and the way Julia Glass links characters across time and country. Re-listening was like visiting old friends and being part of their lives once again. Unfortunately, "And the Dark and Sacred Night" was a huge disappointment. Most of the characters lacked the same color and dimension, the reading was poor, especially for Fenno (after the wonderful presentation in Three Junes), and the story dragged on endlessly. Sadly, the additional information presented about the characters from The Three Junes detracted from them in this sequel instead of enhancing the perception of them by the reader. I encourage readers of this review to listen to Three Junes and not bother with And the Dark and Sacred Night.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Noëlle505
- 08-04-14
Well written, in-depth characters
Would you consider the audio edition of And the Dark Sacred Night to be better than the print version?
In this case yes, because of the skill of the narrator and the emotional depth of the characters.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Melody
- 08-14-14
Interminable
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
This book was too long for its story line by about 9 hours. I love audiobooks and never give up on a plot, but this came to be excrutiating. I couldn't connect with any of the characters.
What was most disappointing about Julia Glass’s story?
Meandering and melodramatic.
What didn’t you like about Mark Deakins’s performance?
Wooden, clipped and overly formal delivery. I felt like every character was played ri a stereotype
What character would you cut from And the Dark Sacred Night?
The gay couple --- a 3 hr unnecessary and unbelievable plot diversion.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- julie kiteley
- 05-07-14
Can I have my money back
What would have made And the Dark Sacred Night better?
I couldn't really care about the characters. When was the point going to be made in the story.
Has And the Dark Sacred Night turned you off from other books in this genre?
No
Would you be willing to try another one of Mark Deakins’s performances?
The performance was okay.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- B. L. Morrison
- 06-15-14
Disappointing after Three Junes novel
What disappointed you about And the Dark Sacred Night?
Dull story line, dull characters, too much description of day to day life without anything happening..
What was most disappointing about Julia Glass’s story?
Narratives about dull routines went on and on.. Never captured me though I tried twice to get thru it.
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
Yes
What character would you cut from And the Dark Sacred Night?
They all had a part. Jaspar was the only character that had any depth and was interesting
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful