Blessings Audiobook By Anna Quindlen cover art

Blessings

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Blessings

By: Anna Quindlen
Narrated by: Joan Allen
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Late one night, a teenage couple drives up to the big white clapboard home on the Blessing estate and leaves a box. In that instant, the lives of those who live and work there are changed forever. Skip Cuddy, the caretaker, finds a baby girl asleep in that box and decides he wants to keep the child . . . while Lydia Blessing, the matriarch of the estate, for her own reasons, agrees to help him. Blessings explores how the secrets of the past affect decisions and lives in the present; what makes a person or a life legitimate or illegitimate and who decides; and the unique resources people find in themselves and in a community. This is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and personal change by the Pulitzer Prize–winning writer about whom The Washington Post Book World said, “Quindlen knows that all the things we ever will be can be found in some forgotten fragment of family.”

©2002 Anna Quindlen (P)2002 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc. Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Sagas Emotionally Gripping

Critic reviews

"Immensely appealing." (Publishers Weekly)
"Quindlen writes with power and grace." (The Boston Globe)
"Written with intelligence, clarity, and heartrending directness." (Newsday)
Beautiful Storytelling • Believable Characters • Emotional Depth • Engaging Plot • Elegant Voice • Pitch Perfect Reading
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Rich characters are exquisitely brought to life by actress Joan Allen; a very enjoyable listen. Neither too heavy nor too lite.

A terrific listen

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I been reflecting for several days about Blessings. Was it the excellent reader I enjoyed so much, or the insight on a life lived in a particular time, a particular style? I've pondered the remaining scent of an old house occupied by a woman at the end of her life - a house and grounds filled with memories and natural beauty. The story of this place and the story of how people, without regard to age, can learn and discover inner truths will linger in my mind. I savored Blessings, and enjoy the lingering thoughts of it, like the dust motes disturbed in the Blessings attic, and like the echo of the wildlife at the Blessings pond.

Luminous Descriptions and Wonderful Reading

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Maybe partly due to the fact that I am currently a full-time dad, I found this novel especially touching... But in any case I think it is a great story and a wonderful audiobook.

Unique and touching

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This was an interesting story but I found that it lacked depth and the ending left me unsatisfied. I thought that Joan Allen did a great job of narrating and I did like the characters. I would recommend this story to someone who is looking for an interesting story that you don't have think too hard about.

Just Okay

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Although this book was a little slow, I did enjoy it. The story was interesting and the descriptions were beautiful. Enjoyed the narrator also. It was just a little slow with all of the memories of the past. I guess I was a little more interested in the present.

Nice Blessings

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I find myself thinking of this book often. You really get to know the characters, and want them to succeed. It is beautifully written and narrated.

A Very Moving Story

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I waited to the end to find I really enjoyed this book. Slow start but worth it.

A beginning and end.

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This was a bookclub choice and it was well received... often we choose more "complicated" reads than this story ~ however, upon discussing it, we discovered there were many layers to this story. We all felt we got to know the characters well but did disagree at times regarding their motivations and character perceptions. We had a great discussion which reflected that Quindlan managed to get us to care about the story and the characters in it.

A book club favorite

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i liked this story.. in fact i like books like this.. narrator was great.. good character development.

good story..

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I couldn't wait to take my morning walk, so I could listen to this book. Her descriptions of people, places, and things put detailed pictures in my mind. I felt as if I had been there. A must-listen book. Now that I have finished it, I want to listen to it again, paying attention to each character.

Exceptional

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