You Were There Before My Eyes Audiobook By Maria Riva cover art

You Were There Before My Eyes

A Novel

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You Were There Before My Eyes

By: Maria Riva
Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley
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A woman leaves her Italian village and enters a new world as an immigrant in Detroit in this sweeping novel by a New York Times best-selling author.

In a small village in Italy at the turn of the 20th century, Jane chafes at stifling routine and tradition. So when an opportunity presents itself to immigrate to America, her hunger for escape compels her to leave everything behind. Far away, in Henry Ford's factories in Michigan, a new kind of life is taking shape, and it offers gleaming promise for Jane and her young husband. Determined to survive, and even thrive, she will find herself seeking fulfillment and building a family while navigating not just a new language and country, but a world poised on the edge of economic and social revolution, with the Great War looming on the horizon.

From the chaos of Ellis Island to the melting pot of a Midwestern industrial city, You Were There Before My Eyes is rich with colorful characters and vivid period details, an authentic portrait of the immigrant experience that poignantly captures the ever-evolving nature of the American dream, and "[A] dazzling historical saga of love, adventure, war, hardship, and discovery" (Allan Levine).

©2017 Maria Riva (P)2020 Tantor Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Sagas World Literature War Italy
Fascinating Historical Fiction • Engaging Character Development • Educational Content • Emotional Storytelling
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I loved this story! The author has a way of weaving history into fiction that pulls you not only into the story, but into the era also. The narration is excellent. How the narrator flawlessly navigates all the languages and dialects is truly amazing. you will love this, too!

Excellent in every way.

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Great characters, and sequence of events from leaving European countries to immigrate to Michigan, specifically to work at Ford Motor Co Very interesting and entertaining story.

Flashbacks to Detroit’s Hey Days

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I usually don’t write ‘critiques’ for books that I’ve listened to, but I am compelled to do so with this one. I will start by saying that I loved all of it… except the end. No, I don’t believe this to be a “spoiler”, so please don’t use this as a reason to NOT listen to it.
The story was so wonderfully woven into the happenings in and around WW1 and WW2. The characters were perfectly introduced, and I grew to love them all. Their relationships blossomed and the author allowed me, the listener, to become a part of their lives. The details of their lives were all interwoven with one another, and the unbreakable bonds between the characters made me love them all even more. I fell in love with all of them.
I understand that during the two wars, lives were permanently altered by inconceivable horrible circumstances. And with those circumstances came inevitable family tragedies. But, in my opinion, there may have been an opportunity to continue with some more story…
And then, it was like the author was given 5 minutes to wrap it up. It was as though someone said “Hurry it up! End the book right NOW! We have to leave!”
I finished the book shaking my head in “WTF awe”. I said out loud, “What in the hell was THAT? WHY???
The story had SO much potential for more… but it was just severed. It went straight from "Fantastic Story Potential" to "Over".

Curious ending

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The narrator of this book was incredible. She really brought the story to life with her narration. Her ability to do different voices and to give each character their own voice was wonderful. I will look for more books that she has narrated for audible.
I was fascinated to learn the history of Ford. My extended family lived in Michigan near the Ford factory, but I had no idea of Ford's involvement in politics, World War II, and the social experiments that he conducted with his employees. This is one of those books that teaches you information that you never knew you needed to know. This book will go in my favorites folder to be listened to again and again.

Fantastic read

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In recorrido por los inventors de casa epoca vistas al comparative a America con italian

Los diferentes efectos de cambia de Voz

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This book covered a great deal of history. We got to know so many families and see them through all the different challenges life brings. And it’s well worth a listen.

I love historical fiction. Period.

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I really loved the history lesson woven into a story. Very realistic I still need to find out more. Where are Hannah and Fritz?

Great listen.

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This book gave me so many emotions. As a person who came to the US in my 20s trying to escape my life in a poor and doomed future i really wanted Jabe to have the happy life she so very much deserved. I guess in her last letter she realized that she had all she ever want it all along and stopped being an expectatator. But it destroyed me to know that after so long and so much her John, Hanna, and the rest of the gang were never together again. Just when she finally discovered love and her own humanity. sometimes we are dealt shitty cards. So much loss!!!
I keep a little bit oh hope that in her old age she indeed got to see her kiddos again.
the narrator did AMAZING JOB capturing all the different accents and little details to each personality and that was superb. A big part of the engagement and love for this historical fiction was her ability to bring all the beauty from German, Bohemian, Italian, and other immigrants into the story. I absolutely loved this book and it will be in my special list for ever.
Thank you for the experience. ❤️

I am still holding on to find Jane's happy ending

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This is an excellent historical fictional story of immigration, assimilation, courage and intellect of people who worked in the early years of the Ford Motor Company. These were brave, curious and welcoming people. As all immigrants are. They bring much to our country.

Sadly, it ends during the Depression when the world was on the brink of another war. Two characters in the story are not well resolved at the end, but the unspeakable tragedy we all know they experienced is probably better left unsaid.

Early 20th Century Detroit

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I was riveted from the beginning.
The description of a young woman who was so courageous and the history of the US through immigrants’s eyes during the rise of Henry Ford’s company and vision … so much information I never knew.
So well written and beautifully read… very character so distinct . I just kept being impressed the whole time I have been listening.

A glorious historical fiction

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