Circle of Grace Audiobook, by Penelope J. Stokes Play Audiobook Sample

Circle of Grace Audiobook

Circle of Grace Audiobook, by Penelope J. Stokes Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Kimberly Farr Publisher: Penguin Random House Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 8.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: March 2004 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781415904824

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

42

Longest Chapter Length:

34:21 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

06:48 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

18:40 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

4

Other Audiobooks Written by Penelope J. Stokes: > View All...

Publisher Description

All her adult life, Grace Benedict has been living a lie. Now that deception is about to catch up with her.

Thirty years ago, Grace and her college roommates—Liz, Tess, and Lovey—made a solemn vow: to hold onto their friendship, to support one another, to keep in touch through a circle journal that would make the rounds among them. And they promised always to tell each other the truth.

For three decades that journal has been circulating, carrying stories of Liz's social justice activism in Atlanta and D.C.; of Tess's fulfilling career and perfect home life; of Lovey's dream marriage to a wealthy and powerful former pro football player.

But what is Grace to say? Her friends seem so happy and successful. She can't bear to tell them how her life has spiraled downward since college, and she can't bring herself to be honest about the dismal realities and bitter memories she faces every day.

She never intends to deceive them—not initially, anyway. She simply embellishes the truth a little, presents her life as a bit more respectable than it really is. But over the years one exaggeration leads to another, and the fiction grows …

Until she discovers that she's going to die.

Alone and desolate and with little left to lose, Grace determines to take the risk of a lifetime, to reach out to Liz, Tess, and Lovey again. And when they reunite, her final battle becomes their struggle as well—a quest for trust, honesty, and enduring emotional connection.

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"What an idea! & books on female friendships always grab my eye...this one was worth looking into! Well written. I truly loved the ending. Not contrived. Will look to read others from this author. She has a knack for depth of characters."

— Kari (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Stokes is a competent writer who knows how to craft a well-paced story…adventurous…fans will be surprised.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “With abiding warmth and moving sensitivity, Stokes crafts an inspiring tribute to the power of true friendship.”

    — Booklist

Circle of Grace Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.5 out of 53.5 out of 53.5 out of 53.5 out of 53.5 out of 5 (3.50)
5 Stars: 6
4 Stars: 6
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Well-written novel with wonderfully developed and intelligent characters. Great story of friendship. Good Read!! Will definitely read another novel by this author. "

    — Michelle, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was a pleasant but unremarkable book. "

    — Corinne, 1/29/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good girlfriend book. A look at what happens as we all grow up and stay connected to our friends and see what different tolls our lives take. "

    — Kim, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nice story of 4 girls who were thrown together in college who became best friends. 30 years pass and Grace is dying of cancer and is alone. She decides to bring all her old friends together and confess her lies over the years. Predictable but good. "

    — Carol, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I loved this book, another great selection by our book club. We rock! "

    — Judy, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I LOVE this book so far. It is AMAZING! And, don't worry even with a "religious" title, it isn't. Although God is mentioned...OK...so, it took a SERIOUS religious turn at the end. Not that it bothered me but it did seem a bit trite. The ending felt a bit tagged on and I really felt like the author took the easy way out at the end...but, overall this is a wonderful story with lots of good thought provoking questions. I recommend it. "

    — Valerie, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is a great book about womens friendships and how important they are. "

    — Erin, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Another wonderful Penelope Stokes book. Would highly recommend it! "

    — Amy, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is a good beach/quick read. "

    — Wendy, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is one of the few books I've listened to recently that is exactly the kind of book I like to listen to. I really enjoyed it. "

    — Sherree, 12/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Kind of cliche, but kind of sweet. "

    — Megan, 11/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Not a fast reading book~but a good one! "

    — Jody, 11/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It was a good story of friends who had lost touch over the years and then reconnected "

    — Alicia, 11/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Truthfully it was just drivel-can't believe I wasted time finishing the book. "

    — Julie, 9/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " On the top of my list! "

    — Cammie, 8/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Good story, but I did not appreciate the language. I thought it was a Christian novel, but the swearing was atrocious. "

    — Casey, 3/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A great book about friendships, how we preceive each other and our lives. You will cry and laugh. To Girlfriends.... "

    — Lynett, 10/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book is much as the title suggests and is filled with surprises. One of the few that really made me feel for it's characters. "

    — Advie, 9/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Story of friendship and forgiveness. I group of friends are reunited years later and learn to understand and love each other all over again. "

    — Leigh, 8/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I would absolutely love to sit down with Penelope Stokes sometime and ask her about her journey from books like "The Amber Photograph" to this one. As much as I enjoyed her previous books, this one was extraordinary. "

    — Jennifer, 8/10/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Pretty good, I like her style of writing. "

    — Angie, 7/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Read on vacation for book group. Women in midlife crisis trying to reevaluate their lives and oops - someone has cancer... sorry - yawn. "

    — Kelly, 3/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Four women learn (the hard way) that transparency with true friends leads to intimacy. In spite of the pain, the joys of intimate friendships are worth everything. Stokes tells the stories of 30 years of secrets in these college friends' lives; I could identify with parts of all the stories. "

    — Jane, 6/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I would absolutely love to sit down with Penelope Stokes sometime and ask her about her journey from books like "The Amber Photograph" to this one. As much as I enjoyed her previous books, this one was extraordinary. "

    — Jennifer, 2/19/2011

About Penelope J. Stokes

Penelope J. Stokes is the author of more than a dozen novels, including Circle of Grace. She holds a PhD in Renaissance literature and has taught college level writing and literature.

About Kimberly Farr

Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.