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Amandine Audiobook
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(3.04) - 317 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Marlena de Blasi, best-selling memoirist of A Thousand Days in Venice, makes her remarkable fiction debut with this poignant tale. Deemed an illegitimate child by her royal Polish family, Amandine is abandoned as a baby at a French convent. As she grows, Amandine struggles to accept her orphaned state. She longs to put together the missing pieces of her identity, but as WWII engulfs Europe, her time to find answers may be running short.
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"Heartbreakingly beautiful. I have not read a book before this that touched me deeply enough to not bring me to tears just once but several times. A magnificent blend of the central story of the orphan girl Amandine against the back drop of World War II that culminates into the perfect dance. Who will see and feel the atrocities of war not just through the eyes of a young girl but through the eyes of those who fought against them. The feelings the story evokes will haunt you long after you have finished. For myself I do wish that there was a bit more to the ending. The author alludes to what will take place yet allows the reader to then use their imagination. There is nothing wrong with this type of ending but I admit that I am a reader who likes it all "spelled" out for me. I want to know for sure what takes place not decide what I would like to take place."
— Susan (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Poignant…In de Blasi’s tale of unexpected turns taken during the search for understanding and identity, she balances heartbreak, loneliness, fear, and hope with aplomb.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Amandine’s journey through life are palpable, and the reader shares in the sensual nature of the food described. The story is captivating, the characters are alive, and readers will hunger for more as the novel ends. Truly, de Blasi can be considered the Julia Child of fiction. A wonderful read for both fans of historical fiction and women’s fiction and one that shouldn’t be missed.”
— Library Journal -
“Wartime France provides a vivid, dramatic background, and de Blasi’s experience as a food writer makes her descriptions of meals throughout the book even more evocative.”
— Booklist
Amandine Listener Reviews
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" Interesting to read but not a great book. Follows the life of a young girl of Polish birth who is placed in a French convent by her grandmother just prior to World War II. The girl's mother (Andzelika) has borne the child (Amandine) out of wedlock to the brother of the woman who was her father's lover. Amandine is born with a heart defect, and Andzelika's mother tells her daughter that Amandine died during surgery to repair the defect. She then places Amandine in the convent. The story then concentrates on Amandine and Solange, the woman chosen to care for Amandine - their life in the convent and on the road as they head for Northern France after the German invasion. "
— Trudi, 1/31/2014 -
" I wanted to give this 4 stars, but was so unhappy with the end. There are so many unresolved issues. I also didn't like that the narration skipped around in a pattern that I never figured out. Otherwise, a great story line and generally a page turner. "
— Cheryl, 1/23/2014 -
" Good, but not a page turner. "
— Melissa, 1/19/2014 -
" I almost stopped reading this one in the first few chapters, but I persevered and came to like it more. The characters were great and I enjoyed the look inside the inner workings of a convent. My problem was the slow storyline and the pretentious French vocabulary. (I'm fine with a certain amount, but this was way overboard. I mean, okay, it's set in France, just translate it! ) It was interesting to read about the responses of ordinary French people to WWII, though. I would have given the book three stars, but the cliffhanger supposed-to-be-thought-provoking ending just killed it, even though it did force me to think about what would really constitute a "happy ending" for Amandine. "
— Ronda, 1/13/2014 -
" Since my father was in an orphanage at a very early age I identified some of the scenes in the orphanage with stories he told. Heart wrenching story which touched me deeply. "
— The, 1/9/2014 -
" Some of the characters were a little over the top, but the writing was lyrical, and the imagery was great. "
— Jennifer, 12/30/2013 -
" Just dragged and dragged. Too creepy with incest for me. "
— Mandy, 12/3/2013 -
" Lovely story! Such a nice backdrop in Provence, and the way the story is told unravels in your head so coherently. You can really relate to Amandine and the situation. Possibly the writing style is not always to my taste, but it supports the story. Or maybe I just love the plot... "
— Lel, 11/12/2013 -
" Beautifully written, haunting novel. Am anxious to read Marlena's other books. "
— Teresa, 11/4/2013 -
" I liked this book and thought it a good read with many character studies - It moves along slowly but kept my interest. I was annoyed at the end, somewhat as the author did not completely reveal the ending to the story. A very good read. "
— Sarah, 11/3/2013 -
" Very, very detailed, just not enough plot or dialogue to suit my taste. "
— Dawn, 10/30/2013 -
" Picked this up at the library because one of our family friends has a daughter named Amandine which is such a lovely name. I'm enjoying this book so far, although in some passages, the child's voice is simply not believable for a such a young child. Anyway, still enjoyable. "
— RunRachelRun, 9/30/2013 -
" Absolutely beautiful is the only way to describe this book. So much emotion, many tears, want to read more! "
— Ag, 5/7/2013 -
" Loved it! This is a very captivating book of innocence, loneliness and many family secrets. I was completely wrapped up in the story and in the little girl who survives her past and looks for her future. I highly recommend. "
— Cindy, 7/11/2012 -
" Beautifully written. Set between 1939-1945, the people & places of France are described in great detail - so if you like that era & area it's a good read. Being a story based around the war, it is sad, with small snatches of redemption. "
— Cassandra, 11/18/2011 -
" Fun novel - good from the first to the last. "
— Pam, 4/28/2011 -
" Great book but a little depressing. "
— Katie, 3/31/2011 -
" Beautifully written. Set between 1939-1945, the people & places of France are described in great detail - so if you like that era & area it's a good read. Being a story based around the war, it is sad, with small snatches of redemption. "
— Cassandra, 3/28/2011 -
" Good, but not a page turner. "
— Melissa, 2/19/2011 -
" This book was just ok. There was a beautiful story in there somewhere, but there were some completely unnecessary and inappropriate story lines. The ending was very abrupt and it left me a little cold. "
— Jana, 1/28/2011 -
" A sweet story of survival and love in difficult circumstances. Great characters, lyrical writing, wonderful setting.--Lorraine "
— Staff, 12/4/2010 -
" This was a bitter sweet story about a little girl growing up in a convent right around the time of WWII in France. Definitely sad, with some sweet parts mixed in. "
— Liz, 11/14/2010 -
" Sad... I'd rather read happier books... that end happier.... "
— Mandy, 11/11/2010 -
" I liked this book and thought it a good read with many character studies - It moves along slowly but kept my interest. I was annoyed at the end, somewhat as the author did not completely reveal the ending to the story. A very good read. "
— Sarah, 11/3/2010 -
" ***3.5 stars - review to follow*** "
— Mandy, 9/21/2010
About Marlena de Blasi
Marlena de Blasi, who has worked as a chef and food and wine consultant, lives in Italy, where she assembles and conducts gastronomic tours of the various regions. She is the author of three previous memoirs, A Thousand Days in Venice, A Thousand Days in Tuscany, and The Lady in the Palazzo.
About the Narrators
John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.
Robin Miles, named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, an Audie Award for directing, and many Earphones Awards. Her film and television acting credits include The Last Days of Disco, Primary Colors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, New York Undercover, National Geographic’s Tales from the Wild, All My Children, and One Life to Live. She regularly gives seminars to members of SAG and AFTRA actors’ unions, and in 2005 she started Narration Arts Workshop in New York City, offering audiobook recording classes and coaching. She holds a BA degree in theater studies from Yale University, an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, and a certificate from the British American Drama Academy in England.