Songs of the Humpback Whale Audiobook By Jodi Picoult cover art

Songs of the Humpback Whale

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Songs of the Humpback Whale

By: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Jim Colby, Elizabeth Morton, Jonathan Davis, Carol Monda, Chris Sorensen
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About this listen

The powerful debut novel from New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult, Songs of the Humpback Whale is a moving story of love and family told through the eyes of five people: Jane Jones, her daughter Rebecca, and three very different men in their lives. After a watershed moment in their marriage, Jane leaves Oliver, her renowned marine biologist husband, and begins a journey across the country with Rebecca in search of understanding about her troubled past.©1992 Jodi Picoult (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC Action & Adventure Family Life Genre Fiction Sea Adventures Women's Adventure Women's Fiction

Critic reviews

"This powerful and affecting novel demonstrates that there are as many truths to a story as there are people to tell it." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Songs of the Humpback Whale

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Difficult to follow storyline

I have listened to several of her books and this is the only one that i have found difficult to really understand to meaning behind the story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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speed it up?

yes, I've also been having a problem with the Rebecca narrator...it helps if you speed her up, but then you haveto go back to normal with the rest of the characters. but that takes the fun out of listening! this is a great book, one of my favorite Jodi Picoult's, hope they fix it, I cant listen anymore

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

NOT one of Jodi Picoult’s best books. Weak story. I couldn’t stand the main character, Jane. In fact, many of the characters were dumb. And the narrator for Rebecca was so annoying!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good character development

Liked the whole story—- less the ending. Story moved back and forth. The excellent narration performances helped keep me on track.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Not her best by any means

The story jumped around too much, retelling much of it several times. Would not recommend. she’s written much better ones since her debut novel.

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disappointing compared to her other earlier books

I started the book several times before sticking to it and listening through the end. slow start...slow middle...nothing exciting at the end. my least favorite Jodi novel.

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Loved the book...

I am a huge Jodi Picoult fan, and I enjoyed the book when I read it several years ago.
I did not enjoy it as much when listening to the audio book. This was entirely due to the narrators. Sadly disappointed.

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award for finishing

This was a struggle to finish. I love JP but this wasn't her best.

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Slow & Challenging

J.Picoult has done herself No Favors w this book. Generally
S L O W - kept Hoping for it to get better but for a rare scene once in awhile dully drug to the end. I'm displeased Most with the Mother/Jane - Main character who settles for less rather than grab for Best Self ..... Generally disappointing.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Meh from a great author

I usually love Jodi’s books but this one just wasn’t there for me. It felt like the whole story was for nothing because of the ending. I didn’t dislike the experience or listening to it - I’m glad I didn’t read it that’s for sure. Definitely not one I would revisit but I love Jodi’s other books!

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