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Left

By: Tamar Ossowski
Narrated by: Cassandra Morris, Kim McKean, Rachel Fulginiti
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Publisher's summary

Therese Wolley is a mother who has made a promise. She works as a secretary, shops for groceries on Saturdays, and takes care of her two girls. She doesn’t dwell on the fact that her girls are fatherless, mostly because her own father abandoned her before she was born and she has done just fine without him.

Even though her older daughter regularly wakes with nightmares and her younger one whispers letters under her breath, she doesn't shift from her resolve that everything will be fine. She promises... and they believe.

Until the morning an obituary in the newspaper changes everything. Therese immediately knows what she has to do. She cannot delay what she has planned, and she cannot find the words to explain her heartbreaking decision to her daughters. She considers her responsibilities, her girls, and her promise. Then she does the only thing that any real mother would do. She goes on the run with one daughter... and abandons the other.

Left is told from the perspectives of Franny, the autistic sister who is left behind; Matilda, the troubled older sister who vows to go back and save her; and Therese, a mother on the run.

©2013 Tamar Ossowski (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
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Editorial reviews

A mother must make the tremendously difficult decision to run away with one daughter while leaving her autistic daughter behind. Tamar Ossowski crafts a haunting story, told from the sisters' alternating perspectives, about love, loss, and family. The performances particularly stand out. The three audio artists prove to be talented actors, capturing each character's unique voice. This task is not an easy one, as the point of view shifts around, from desperate, to loving, to childish, to wise. Together, these performers make Left: A Novel jump off the page. Listeners will be carried away by the emotional whirlwind of these characters' lives.

What listeners say about Left

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  • Overall
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Great story

I liked how it was written and how each person has their own story .. But you got to be not interrupted or you will miss something .. thank god for rewind .. but it kept my interest throughout

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful

Beautiful book with twists and turns that make it interesting to listen to. Believable writing from the perspective of someone on the autism spectrum. Even though this book goes back and forth from different people’s perspectives it is easy to follow. Recommend!

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

couldn't wait to get to the end

Enjoyed the story line
couldn't wait to find out why the characters did what they did
well written

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

Interesting, but somewhat sad

What made the experience of listening to Left the most enjoyable?

The diversity of the characters, but different readers, always a plus

What was one of the most memorable moments of Left?

Many

Which scene was your favorite?

Realizing the relationship between all the characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many

Any additional comments?

Good read, somewhat sad, but good

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good book

I loved it. It was hard to put down. the narrator did a great job. Franny was my favorite character. Worth the listen.

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

Beautiful imagery

The writing was colorful and beautiful., The story was strange but intriguing, I liked how each character was given a voice and their perspectives were woven together .

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

Grrrr, very slow storyline

The story was a little slow going for my taste, and it wasn't so bad I just couldn't finish. The narration left something to be desired., The best character for me was Frannie, she was the most believable. The story just drops leaving you thinking there has to be more to the story..... Greatly disappointed 😥

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Strange, but good.

Left is a story with confusion and twists. It’s well written. I didn’t have trouble following the story, as others mentioned. I especially liked the character, Franny. Like others, I found Matilda’s voice irritating & had to turn down the volume when she narrated. I was caught off guard with the ending! So strange but overall a good book.

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

Love the story!

Well done! The story line and performances were well done. Characters were all shaped well and had depth. A surprise ending which gave me hope for all the characters!

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

What a great story

I loved listening to this book. A good read and well written. The characters are on point and very real.

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